Tank Leaks And Then Doesn't Leak...what?

[caliskier]

Ok so I need a little help here. I had or still have a little leak in my 125 gallon tank. Little as in 1 drip every 5 minutes. I drained it and removed it from the stand to see a wet stain on the stand that started half way across the back and went to the left rear corner, down to the front, and 1/4 of the way across the front, basically a "C" shape with a long top. This makes me think that the leak is in the rear corner.

But, something strange happened when I was draining it. After the tank was drained half way and stayed that way for about 3 hours, the dripping stopped, probably a pressure issue, but I have since emptied it completely, moved it onto the ground onto fresh cardboard, and no leak is showing up.

Has anyone had this problem? It is very frustrating, I don't want to set it back up and have it start leaking again.

The tank is 11 years old and is rectangular, freshwater.

Does anyone have advice on how to fix it if it truely is leaking?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Are you positive the tank actually had a crack or weak point in the sealent holding the glass together causing a leak or it was just condensation running down the tank from the tank hood ?

 

[caliskier]

Are you positive the tank actually had a crack or weak point in the sealent holding the glass together causing a leak or it was just condensation running down the tank from the tank hood ?

That is a good question, I did check the glass, it was dry, but did not check the class behind the backdrop. Doesn't the water in the tank have to get colder than room temperature for condensation to be a problem? I don't fully understand condensation outside of my glass of cocacola.

 

[Bloo]

I have a Tropiquarium tank, and if I overfill it just slightly (above the level recommended) it starts to drip from the top rim. And my other smaller tank often has slight condensations leaks as well.
So explore those avenues as well before going into panic

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Nope caliskier, all tropical tanks will get condensation- the water vapour rises only to get trapped by the tank hood and forms droplets of water, usually they just drain back into the tank but if the tank hood is not placed on the tank exactly the water can drain down the back/side of the tank; i had a similar situation in one of my smaller tanks where i thought it was leaking, only to find it was just condensation running down the back of the tank because i had knocked the hood slightly to the side.

 

[caliskier]

I have a Tropiquarium tank, and if I overfill it just slightly (above the level recommended) it starts to drip from the top rim. And my other smaller tank often has slight condensations leaks as well.
So explore those avenues as well before going into panic

Yes, I don't want to start taking a razor blade to this thing just yet.

How do you stop condensation if that is the problem?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I have a Tropiquarium tank, and if I overfill it just slightly (above the level recommended) it starts to drip from the top rim. And my other smaller tank often has slight condensations leaks as well.
So explore those avenues as well before going into panic

Yes, I don't want to start taking a razor blade to this thing just yet.

How do you stop condensation if that is the problem?

You can either buy a condensation tray from your local fish store which is basically a peice of corregated plastic that you put on your tank that traps the condensation and prevents in from going down the tank sides, or just find out where the condensation is escaping from your tank hood and deal with it that way .

 

[caliskier]

Nope caliskier, all tropical tanks will get condensation- the water vapour rises only to get trapped by the tank hood and forms droplets of water, usually they just drain back into the tank but if the tank hood is not placed on the tank exactly the water can drain down the back/side of the tank; i had a similar situation in one of my smaller tanks where i thought it was leaking, only to find it was just condensation running down the back of the tank because i had knocked the hood slightly to the side.

Duh, now I know what you are talking about. That is a possibility. I will let it sit full for the next 24 hours and see if I see any leaks.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Good luck with your tank, keep us updated on your situation if you can

 

[Mr.September15]

USE SUPER GLUE!!! Just kidding well I think people use sealent like someone said up there ^^^^^ a drip every 5 minutes isnt so bad, but I guess you will have to fix it before it gets bigger.

-Arrowhead

 

[Durbkat]

Where are you putting the fish during this?

 

[lilmolly]

I had a similar problem with my 29gal. It went away on it's own. Very weird.