Fish Tank seam burst!

[romiko]

Hi guys,

Last night, I was enjoying a beer and watching the fish in my 240 ltr tank, when one of the sides burst and all the water came gushing out.

I managed to clean the water, and moved the fish a small tank.

But now.....

I do not know what to do, I had the tank for 2 months.

Should I buy a new one or repair it?

 

[squidlips]

it is definately be a fixer they cost too mutch to replace....unless you are loaded and need an extra room to put the boxes of money in id fix it but thats not easy for a novice. i am a legendary tank repairer and. . builder .did the water came out the bottom in the center or an end ? usualy they need a complete rebuild . you brought it second hand or new ? i can tell you why your tank let go by where it leaked from and wether it was built properly in the first place.

 

[karrihug]

you said you had it 2 months. how big and who is the manufacturer if you bought it new? if used then warranty is not an issue. perfecto has a good warranty on their new tanks, don't know about anybody else though.

 

[romiko]

Hi,


I bought it from a friend, who had the tank for 10 years, he kept a turtle in it.


So i have no guarantee.

Basically, what happend, is the front left corner came loose, the silicone gave way, and water started gushing out about 1 quarter up the length of the joint, when i look at it now, the entire corner is loose, I can wigle it.

it is the vertical joint in the one corner that is lose, the silicone is black colour and seems old.

This is a big blow, really spend allot of time and effort on teh tank, and Im really not sure what to do...

Any help or advice on repairing it will be appreciated

 

[squidlips]

it needs a rebuild 4 sure .10 years is about all its got . if you have a nice flat area to rebuild it i can direct you through the whole thing if you like.?
where do you live ?

 

[romiko]

That will be great!


I can re-arrange my living room to rebuild the tank.

I live in Luxembourg, between Belgium, France and germany.

I have put all my fish in a small 25 litre tank for now, also, my tank is heavily planted, so i will need to find a place for them to live during the rebuild, at home, for the moment, the gravel and plants are still in the tank, minus the water of course.

I have some basic tools (Pliers, spanners, razor blade, screw drivers), no clamps(not work bench or tools to hold joints etc)

So whatever I do to fix it, will be in the living room.

Look forward hearing from you!

 

[semper fi]

maybe this will help you out. relatively easy to repair a seam. just make sure that you take it slow and allow everything to cure.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=42516

good luck

 

[Barday]

I feel for you romiko cleaning up 240ltrs of water must have been a mission huh! Any water damage??

 

[squidlips]

That will be great!


I can re-arrange my living room to rebuild the tank.

I live in Luxembourg, between Belgium, France and germany.

I have put all my fish in a small 25 litre tank for now, also, my tank is heavily planted, so i will need to find a place for them to live during the rebuild, at home, for the moment, the gravel and plants are still in the tank, minus the water of course.

I have some basic tools (Pliers, spanners, razor blade, screw drivers), no clamps(not work bench or tools to hold joints etc)

So whatever I do to fix it, will be in the living room.

Look forward hearing from you!

romiko i disagree with the next post because a seam only lets go with age . that means your entire tank is in the same state as the silicone that let go in the first place . fix it and the next seam lets go and leakes again and you fix again and it leaks again . fix it good the first time and its good for another ten years . ...
are the sides on top of the tank base or beside it ?same on ends ? i hope they are against the base and not on top . because it was a turtle tank i must ask if there is a glass brace across the center of the tank...on top ? if you look closely atbetween the glass joints is there smokey silicone or bubbles in it ? a tank that age and condition should be easy to pull apart clean and rebuild .

 

[romiko]

Hi,

I agree, since it is only a matter of time for the other seals to break.


Ok, I am at the office at the moment, I will be home in 2 hours, when I get home, I will answer the following questions:

1. Are the sides on top of the tank base or beside it?
When I get home will check, i think it is beside it, but will confirm.

2. is a glass brace across the center of the tank...on top?
The top of the tank has no braces directly attached to the glass, it has a plastic rim, that goes around the glass, which is designed to be taken off easily.

However the two large glass plates, have a 5cm glass rim perpindicular to it and 5 cm away from the top of the glass.

here is a picture of the tank, later tonight, I can make more details pictures.

 

[romiko]

In regards to water damage, luckily I was home and witnessed it, I was on the Sofa, when I saw the tank burst, I lifted my feet off the floor, waited for the electricty trip switch, so not to electrocute myself, by this time 80 -100 litres was on the floor, in a matter of 60 seconds. As soon as the lights went out, I managed to hold the glass together. Then reach for two hose pipes, which were in the tank cabinet and siphoned the rest of the water on my outside balcony.

I managed to soak up all the water in the lounge with towels and my dirty washing. Luckily my appartment is tiles, so no carpets and wood.

I must say, dispite this tragedy, I am really happy it happend when I was chilling at home!

 

[squidlips]

Hi,

I agree, since it is only a matter of time for the other seals to break.


Ok, I am at the office at the moment, I will be home in 2 hours, when I get home, I will answer the following questions:

1. Are the sides on top of the tank base or beside it?
When I get home will check, i think it is beside it, but will confirm.

2. is a glass brace across the center of the tank...on top?
The top of the tank has no braces directly attached to the glass, it has a plastic rim, that goes around the glass, which is designed to be taken off easily.

However the two large glass plates, have a 5cm glass rim perpindicular to it and 5 cm away from the top of the glass.

here is a picture of the tank, later tonight, I can make more details pictures.

ok iwill have to catch up tomorow eve as it is midnight here .
if the sides are as you think ...it will be easy to rebuild have no fear ......
some strong flat blades .some steel wool or fine steel scourer pads .silicone .silicine gun. some standard glass cleaner and me .
tiles could be a bit of a problem . the floor must be flat and level or you may have to lash out and buy a bit of flat piece of ply to build it on.. when you take it apart you wont believe how it held water for that long . i will check in on you in about 8 hours .gnite

 

[romiko]

Hi!


Ok, checked out the tank, the sides of the glassa are mounted on the sides of the base glass, so we in luck!

Today will go to hardware shop and get all the Paraphernalia!

Also, will ensure I buy non-poisinous silicon.

 

[millym]

oh you poor thing - i had a similar experience last feb, 150L tank seam burst (again 2nd hand tank) & i found myself in a lake, not good when you live in a 1st floor flat, never mind the increasingly panicked looking 30+ fish inside the tank as their home gushed away! to cut a long story short we put all our fish in our tiny hosp tank till we got more buckets & bought a new tank that day (had to call my husb home from work to help with the disaster)
personally i would not try to fix it if at all possible unless you can re-silicone/seal all the joins,but then im no use at fixing anything really- just remember you dont want the same thing happening again
we managed to save all of our fish except our hillstream who died a few days later (too much stress i guess) i hope all your fish are ok
good luck

 

[squidlips]

Hi!


Ok, checked out the tank, the sides of the glassa are mounted on the sides of the base glass, so we in luck!

Today will go to hardware shop and get all the Paraphernalia!

Also, will ensure I buy non-poisinous silicon.

do not buy selleys allclear dont anybody touch your tanks with the stuff it doesn work and silicone will never stick to the glass where its been.
sellys clear glass silicone is ok ish .. i use stuff thats called contractors silicone.