Leaking Tank!

[Farrant91]

ARGH!!!!!!! Just noticed tank is leaking!!!! As I type this I am taking as much water as possible out. I think it is leaking from the back. The tank hold close to 200 litres so is very heavy and I don't think I will be able to move it.

There are only 2 small fish in atm.

Suggestions?

 

[Caprichoso]

Is it possible that it's NOT the actual tank leaking but that the water is emptying out by way of the filter or heater cord, etc. Check it out before you do anything drastic. You'll need to find the source before doing anything else. Let us know what you find.

Good luck

 

[gavinjayanand]

Place a bucket and catch as much water as possible. Disconnect all electrical supply cables and move them far away. If you have any kids or pets, move them as far away as possible from the leak.

Next, try and siphon water out of the tank until water stops leaking. A sealant may have given way. If there's a crack, you will have to drain the tank. Move the two fish out into another tank ASAP.

 

[Farrant91]

filter pipe works fine, heater is internal,the cords dry. I think it might be a split seal on the back corner

Currently have water emptied (by me) to past halfway. Gonna just wait a few minutes and see if it's stopped (fingers crossed).

 

[kk911]

ARGH!!!!!!! Just noticed tank is leaking!!!! As I type this I am taking as much water as possible out. I think it is leaking from the back. The tank hold close to 200 litres so is very heavy and I don't think I will be able to move it.

There are only 2 small fish in atm.

Suggestions?

give me your number, i'll come and help you babe i know you xx

 

[micko]

Any ideas yet?

 

[Farrant91]

Update: Tank is drained to around 1/4. Stripped of everything bar gravel, bit annoyed really as I had almost finished my 'scape. Very carefully monitoring the water level. I think the leak has stopped. I'm unsure though as all the panels and seals above where the water is now are dry, so theoretically the leak must be lower than the water level. Just gonna keep a close eye on it for the next hour or so.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone

 

[Mikaila31]

ARGH!!!!!!! Just noticed tank is leaking!!!! As I type this I am taking as much water as possible out. I think it is leaking from the back. The tank hold close to 200 litres so is very heavy and I don't think I will be able to move it.

There are only 2 small fish in atm.

Suggestions?

give me your number, i'll come and help you babe i know you xx

This stalker gets the creepy post award.

 

[Farrant91]

I have found the source; a big dirty crack! On the bottom pane. The tank now has no water in. Any ideas on whether this is fixable? I'm thinking (hoping) aquarium sealant would work. Or would the integrety of the tank now be compromised with a crack? I will post up a new thread about this in Tropical Discussion tomorrow, just hoping someone reading this now would know?

Any advice much appreciated. James.

 

[nosoup4you]

You'll need to replace the entire bottom panel...easier said than done. what make is the tank and how old is it?

 

[mattbleasby]

ARGH!!!!!!! Just noticed tank is leaking!!!! As I type this I am taking as much water as possible out. I think it is leaking from the back. The tank hold close to 200 litres so is very heavy and I don't think I will be able to move it.

There are only 2 small fish in atm.

Suggestions?

give me your number, i'll come and help you babe i know you xx

All i have too say too this is "WOW" Deffinatly a creep.

I hope you sort your tank though atleast you have now found the source of the problem, I wouldnt say its fixable without getting a new bottom pain, Do able, But not easy.

 

[micko]

[/quote]

give me your number, i'll come and help you babe i know you xx
[/quote]


I love this comment. Will you give me a hand on saturday? I have about 350 block pavers to lay. Early start and early finish. You'll even get a fry up!

 

[Caprichoso]

I have found the source; a big dirty crack! On the bottom pane. The tank now has no water in. Any ideas on whether this is fixable? I'm thinking (hoping) aquarium sealant would work. Or would the integrety of the tank now be compromised with a crack? I will post up a new thread about this in Tropical Discussion tomorrow, just hoping someone reading this now would know?

Any advice much appreciated. James.

From what I've read about this, your problem cannot be fixed long term with a sealant, as you've stated, the integrity is now compromised. Also, replacing part of the glass is beyond daunting and I can assure you it's not worth it. Replacing old silicone is one thing, but replacing and resealing an entire tank bottom is a whole other story. It's not to say it can't be done but do you really want to lay awake at night wondering if your tank is going to blow out? Paying a professional to do it would probably be more expensive than replacing the whole tank.

Very frustrating I know, that's just my opinion on it, maybe someone else has done this successfully? I just know when I was researching this, I heard lots of bad outcomes with trying to fix cracks, especially when you consider the water pressure that is placed on the bottom of a tank.

Best of luck to you though

 

[raptorrex]

I have found the source; a big dirty crack! On the bottom pane. The tank now has no water in. Any ideas on whether this is fixable? I'm thinking (hoping) aquarium sealant would work. Or would the integrety of the tank now be compromised with a crack? I will post up a new thread about this in Tropical Discussion tomorrow, just hoping someone reading this now would know?

Any advice much appreciated. James.

can you post a pic of the crack. it may just be possible to put a band aid on it.

strip and clean the tank. then use tooth paste to scrub around the area of the crack. clean this off. you now need a bit of glass that covers the crack. it must over lap the crack by several inches on all side. now, scrub the area with tooth paste, as with the base. put a layer of silicone all over the "bit of glass. place the glass on the prepared area of the tank. ;leave to cure for the time, stated on the silicone.
now this will not stand up to much movement. but if the tank is in permanent situe. this should prove a good fix.

but replacing the whole sheet is not as hard as some seem to think. the most difficult thing is removing the old bottom. you will need to build a, crude, jig to hold the tank square. but apart from that, it just takes patients. i guess you could get kk911 to hold it for you even.

for those wondering why "scrub with toothpaste"? this puts fine scratches in the glass. this should help the silicone adhere, as tight as possible, to the glass base.