Should I Test My New Tank For Leaks Before Mounting It In The Wall

[jamesmacc]

hi all, tank arrived a few days ago and i wondered if its a good idea to fill it up and check for leaks before it gets built into the wall, the tank will be fully removable from the wall but maybe its a good idea to test it first? if it makes any difference its a 50x18x26 tank brand new made by ac aquatics.
thanks, james

 

[StandbySetting]

Yes, test it first.

 

[Aqua Tom]

Yes, test it first.

+1

 

[Miles_hot]

Are you feeling lucky, are you?

 

[Overload]

Are you feeling lucky, are you?

Hell, I tested mine twice and it still cracked when I filled it for real!

 

[jamesmacc]

Are you feeling lucky, are you?

Hell, I tested mine twice and it still cracked when I filled it for real!

was it a brand new tank? im worried now, the mrs will murder me if i flood our house that we just built

 

[Overload]

Are you feeling lucky, are you?

Hell, I tested mine twice and it still cracked when I filled it for real!

was it a brand new tank? im worried now, the mrs will murder me if i flood our house that we just built

no, it was 2nd hand, and been through a car crash getting it home. It did not really flood, more trickle, so between the syphon and bailing less than 10% ended up on the floor. I think I was very unlucky

 

[Katch]

Chances are very slim that you'll have any problems but it does happen.

Just fill it right up out on the lawn or something and watch for leaks. If you get none then do a longer leak test on a table somewhere. Just make sure you put polystyrene or rubber matting under the tank as not doing so is a common cause of failure.

 

[Dav]

I would test to just be on the safe side

 

[holidayinn]

best to test it to be on safe side, but never had a problem with my ND tank and never heard of anyone having issues with them either.

*just re-read and its ac aquatics, not nd, had no experience with ac am afraid, sorry.

 

[jamesmacc]

just been out and filled it. quick question, i filled it right up past the bracing bars untill the bottom slider was basicly sliding on the water surface and the upper slider is just a few mm above the water line, is that too high or is that fine?

 

[Miles_hot]

Seems fine - you're doing a stress test after all

 

[jamesmacc]

so would i be best to lay rubber matting or some polystyrene under my tank when its built into the wall? i was just going to sit in on the wood but i suppose it could have some slight unlevel bits?

 

[ctsv510]

Definitiely test for leaks, it's too easy to do and not worth finding out you have a problem while it's in the wall. You'll want to shim the tank so it's level once it's in there. Rubber isn't a bad idea, anything that absorbs shock is always good when it's protecting glass holding that much water.

 

[holidayinn]

Polystyrene would help prevent any high pressure build up on the base of the tank i.e. a grain of sand or something, using poly the tanks would lay perfectly flat on the surface it sits on.