what to do when a tank leaks

[Sean]

So I have a client that bought a tank from me that I had a local vendor make for me. It was an acrylic tank 84x24x30 I had the tank made 3 years ago and all was fine.
then a year ago the tank started splitting. The manufacturer claimed it was the heat from the 3 400 watt lights. So he made another one. took that tank down and replaced it with the new tank he made to replace the old one.

Well that one took 4 month to leak.

Took that one down and had a new one made out of glassfrom a different vendor. Well that tank just came on monday and I've been working on this for the past two days and am sharing some pics from this.

I have more pics but I have to dig them up

The first pictures are of the temporary tank I set up while the glass tank was being made.

 

[Dace]

pray, who made the tank

 

[Bikinisalt]

pray, who made the tank

I was going to say CRY...

 

[Sean]

then I drained the tank and placed all the animals into 55 gallon cans

 

[Sean]

no one here so don't worry.

The client wanted to save a few bucks

lesson learned.

I trusted this guy but this was the largest tank he's made for me. Smaller tanks seemed to be no problem

 

[Sean]

Here's the new tank all shinny and pretty

 

[Sean]

here it is filling with water it's a little cloudy but I'll take some better pictures soon when it clears up

 

[kimoyo]

Brings back memories!! That new tank looks hot! I can't believe that temporary tank actually held up those months lol.

 

[Sean]

paul thanks for helping me out

that crappy tanks been through a lot with me but I just threw it out when I was done with it.

finally a real tank that holds water.

It looks great if you're in Brooklyn and want to check it out let me know I'll let you see the corner one as well it is f'in hot.

 

[cali_reef]

I need to find the thread where someone said acrylic tanks don't leak:scratchch

Nice work.

 

[Awibrandy]

Veryyyyyyyyyyy niceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Love that cabinet as well. Did you make the cabinet/stand the tank sits on?

 

[jhale]

what a project Sean. I like the sharks on top of the tank, did you add those?

 

[Sean]

Awibandy I didn't personally make it but my friend that a great carpenter made it. It's a great solid stand thats made from cherry. the grain matches on the door which is always a ice sign when you pay for quality.

I do have a sister stand thats 72x24x40 the hight may be wrong) thats sitting in storage.

Jhale If a client wants a shark tank you have to make them happy.

 

[Sean]

here's the sad parts

I haven't added a fish or coral in this tank in a year and a half.

The original tank started leaking in February of 2007 the second tank didn't come till June. In that time I lost a lot of coral but no fish.
Corals lost
blasto
two large leather corals
two ricordea mushroom rocks
a few mushroom and zoanthid rocks
and two euphyllias

all of these were in the same tank and wiped out. all the coral in another tank are still fine.
after setting up the second tank in June it began to leak so I had to bring in a temporary tank and transfered everything into it. No problems everything lived I think it was because Paul helped.

now I had to transfer them again hopefully the last time. This time i lost 4 fish. A small damsel got his way into the impeller of a large rio pump killed himself and took 3 others with him a long nose hawk, a Chevron tank (I've had in there since the first month, It turned from Juv to adult), and one half of a breeding pair of bangii cardinals (the most upsetting of them all).

Well now it's up and running as you all should know it was a lot of back breaking work. imagine moving a 300 gallon tank fully stocked three times in one year. I'm just thankful most of the original inhabitants are happily swimming around in there. Finally I get to go shopping for this tank so I stay positive and look to the future.

 

[bigbris1]

What to do when a tank leaks

Hit it on the nose with a newspaper. No. No. Bad tank!

 

[kimoyo]

I need to find the thread where someone said acrylic tanks don't leak:scratchch

Lol, I remember that thread also...all I can say is that I've learned a lot since then, hehe.

after setting up the second tank in June it began to leak so I had to bring in a temporary tank and transfered everything into it. No problems everything lived I think it was because Paul helped.

:lol2: I didn't do much. All I remember is walking over to the rubbermaid containers and saying you sure those fish aren't gonna die. And you walking over splashing the water around and saying ohh their fine.

 

[Sean]

Here's some pictures took yesterday the tank is about 90% clear in about 12 hours

And here's the filtration

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I need to find the thread where someone said acrylic tanks don't leak:scratchch

Nice work.

Any tank made of any material will leak if not made properly.

Sean, ask the guy who made it for you are using different kinds of glue or different acrylics. Inspect all joints(whatever material it's made of) to see if all seams are good. And make sure the buyer and the maker don't skim on the thickness of the wall because the stress on thin wall and tall tank is very strong. I know you know there is a calculator in RC which will tell you the proper thickness vs height on the material. Hmm, but probably everyone should double the wall though.

 

[Sean]

material and thickness was fine 3/4"

I'm sure it was the shoddy craftmanship

ask kimoyo he helped me tear it apart