Disaster

[ecotack]

12 noon today I get a call from my wife, the fish tank has sprung a leak.

Thankfully it was my lunch hour and I only live a mile from where I work. Still the message didn't specify which tank.

Luckily it was the goldfish's 3' tank. There was only about 4" of water left in the tank by the time I got home. The puffers tank underneath was overflowing, where this morning the water line was 3" from the top. Goldfish are now in a bucket, awaiting their temporary accommodation in a plastic tough crate (biggest thing I can fill with water).

That's the second tank this year that has burst on that stand. Its one of those two tier steel ones that just supports the edges. I need to get the puffers tank off there quickly, but don't have any more big tanks. Would he (golden pufferfish) be OK in a 48ltr tank for a few weeks while I build a better tank stand and dig an pond for the gold fish? He's still only small (1.5"). I'll check Pets at Home tomorrow, to see what they have available.

Two dehumidifiers and an osculating fan are currently drying out the extension, luckily there is no carpet in that room. Only managed to collect 10 gallons out of a 25 gallon tank

 

[Puffdaddy]

I'm sure it will be fine in that tank for a short period of time as you suggest. Just make sure you have good filtration and do frequent water changes.

 

[SouthernCross]

Do you have a big piece of poly foam for the tank to sit on on the stand?

It's best to use one of these as it helps aborb shocks (even from things like people walking past) which over time can weaken and crack tanks...

Also if it only supports the edges and the bottom is breaking maybe you need to look at a way of making some slats for extra support?

 

[tbright]

Not as bad as when my brother chucked a pool/snooker ball at me and it missed and hit the tank behind me leading to mass water coming out on the top floor of the house. In the end a hoover was used to suck it all up before it went through the roof to downstairs and amazingly I lost no fish even though I had to pick some up off the soaked carpet!

 

[Don Trinko]

I put a peice of flake board or plywood between the stand and tank. Also make sure that all 4 legs of the stand rest on the floor evenly. Don T.

 

[ecotack]

That stand never looked safe. I'm moving the tanks into the back bedroom soon, so the kitchen can be moved into the extension. I'll make my own shelves/stand with a water tray and drain underneath (like a shower base), just in case and to help when cleaning.

My son smashed one of my tanks with a foam ball, well it was the candle stick the ball knocked over that smashed the tank. The whole tank emptied within seconds. T'was the goldfish that time as well.

Any one in South Cumbria with a big (cat free) pond who would like four 12+ year old comets just ask and they are yours.

 

[Benauld]

I would think that your metal stand was probably warped to some degree (even if you couldn't see it), leading to irregular loading and the creation of stress points in the glass/sealant. Just out of curiosity, you could stick a spirit level on all the edges of the stand and make sure it is/was level and square. Either that, or you have been VERY unlucky!

 

[ecotack]

The tank did move when you walked past, it also moved a lot when I clean the class with the magnetic brush, especially with the algae problem in that tank.

 

[Biulu]

Even though my tanks have full support, I always put a layer of polystyrene under the whole length of the tank. This helps to level out pressure and avoids cracks.

 

[K.J.]

!!! My parents cheaped out and bought the same stand, how can I prevent this from happening?

 

[Biulu]

!!! My parents cheaped out and bought the same stand, how can I prevent this from happening?

Put a piece of wood/hardboard in together with polystyrene on which your tank will sit .