tank leaking from somewhere

trace1 · Sep 21, 2005

well last nite hubby notices that the unit i,ve got my little tank on (55 litres) is wet, this is the tank that is about a week n half into cycling :grr:

. so we have no choice but to take all the water out along with heater filter sand :grr:

. anyway we sat the now empty tank on the table & put a bit of water in it & guess what it don't appear to be leaking now

. in my total disgust at having to take apart a tank half way through a fishless cycle i forgot to anything with the filter so if the water was just a result of condensation & not leaking i,ve gota start all over again. but have just thought about it & put the filter in my big tank so at least its got a start. why do these things happen to me :crazy:

andywg · Sep 21, 2005

Leave it with water in overnight and then run a paper towel over it to se if you pick up any water anywhere.

pseud · Sep 21, 2005

Ugh, sounds like you had a really crappy night.

trace1 · Sep 21, 2005

yeah just a bit, noticed this bout 11ish last nite :grr:

. silly thing is that its now sat on table in dining room & not a drop of the water has come out today. had to move it last nite just case as it was on a unit with a plug socket behind it :blink:

.

Inchworm · Sep 21, 2005

Hi trace1

Tracking down leaks can be a frustrating experience. :hyper:

Sometimes they can leak from around the top so don't forget to fill it all the way up when you are testing it. Don't forget to check your filter too, since they can leak as well, and sometimes they splash water out.

On the other hand, if it's a new tank, I'd just bring it back and get a replacement for it.

trace1 · Sep 21, 2005

hi inchworm, i,m gona sort a spot on table for it later & fill it up again. starting to wonder now if its just condensation from the lid as i,ve not got a condensation tray on the top of the tank.

thinking of going to our lfs in a bit seeing what the price is for a new tank but this new 1 is gona be 4 foot as least :hyper:

oh yeah don't think it will be the filter as its a fluvel 2 1 thats goes in the water

Inchworm · Sep 21, 2005

thinking of going to our lfs in a bit seeing what the price is for a new tank but this new 1 is gona be 4 foot as least

It sounds like a good time to get one! You have a great excuse now, and it you check out your "leaking" tank later and it isn't really leaking, well...................

Mind you, this is advice from someone with MTS! :hyper:

trace1 · Sep 21, 2005

well went to lfs & guess wot, i just put deposit on a 240litre 4 foot tank :hyper:

. already got mts inchworm this new 1 will be the third tank lol

yvez9 · Sep 21, 2005

you could always put the filter in a bucket with water ad ammonia to keep the cycle going for now. When the tank problem is sorted out, your filter will be cycled!!

Inchworm · Sep 21, 2005

Hi trace1

Congratulations! :clap:

You are really going to enjoy having having your big tank!

Have you given any thought to what you will keep in it? :unsure:

Dubby · Sep 22, 2005

trace1;

Best of luck with your tank!!

One way to find out the source of the leak is to add a dye to the water. This will make it easier to locate the leak.

trace1 · Sep 22, 2005

eeeerrrrmmmm now i'm going to sound really thick :blink:

but how will dye help me locate the leak ???. lol have started refilling it now, just do it a bit at a time to see if it is leaking & if no water gets on table by the time its full gona set it up how it was before & see if any water then if not then it was condensation & i can just get a tray then

Dubby · Sep 23, 2005

trace1 said:
eeeerrrrmmmm now i'm going to sound really thick but how will dye help me locate the leak ???. lol have started refilling it now, just do it a bit at a time to see if it is leaking & if no water gets on table by the time its full gona set it up how it was before & see if any water then if not then it was condensation & i can just get a tray then

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When you see colored water come out its far more easier to locate the source. Also if its condensation thats causing the problem then this water will not be colored since the dye does not evaporate and recondense!!!

Inchworm · Sep 23, 2005

Hi Dubby

What a good idea that is! A few drops of methylene blue would do the trick and would wash away when the job was done. Food coloring from the store would be safe to use too.

If she did that, and set the tank up on an old sheet or towel, it would absorb the colored water and wick it outward. She could find the leak right in the middle of where the stain is.

trace1 · Sep 23, 2005

oh yeah, not that is a good idea, right time to set it all back i think. just don't wana put filter back in yet as i,ve got it in my other tank so it will collect all the bateria it needs, far easier than messing about with ammonia :hey:

lol. going to our caravan tonight so will prob just start messing with it proper on sunday night or monday. just been & paid some more of my new tank so hopefully will have that to set up soon as well :drool: