Tank Leak!!

[Tedd Jacobs]

it's not a major leak, (i think).

on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle board
underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking for a while.
at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the initial
panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).

what do i need to do? and what are my options?


thanks!

tedd.

[Marcus Fox]

"Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
...
> it's not a major leak, (i think).
>
> on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle board
> underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking for a
while.
> at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the
initial
> panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).
>
> what do i need to do? and what are my options?

I would say you will eventually need to strip the tank down, scrape away the
old sealant in that area (not the stuff between the glass sheets obviously),
replace with new silicone sealant (not the bathroom stuff), cure for 72
hours, then gradually re-fill the tank to test for leaks over the period of
a week or so. You will be needing somewhere else to keep your fish, gravel,
plants and biofilter for that time, maybe some kind of large bucket or
rubbermaid? Or buy a new tank, couldn't be more than $40 for a 25 gallon,
(I'm in the UK and estimating, tanks are more expensive here) and just
transfer everything over. Repair the other and just use it as a hospital or
quarantine tank.

Marcus

[STEELHEAD]

25 gal? buy a new one

"Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
...
> it's not a major leak, (i think).
>
> on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle board
> underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking for a
while.
> at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the
initial
> panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).
>
> what do i need to do? and what are my options?
>
>
> thanks!
>
> tedd.
>
>

[TYNK 7]

(snipped)
>Subject: Re: Tank Leak!!
>From: "Marcus Fox"
>Date: 1/25/2004 8:56 AM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: >
>

>> it's not a major leak, (i think).
>>
>> on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle board
>> underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking for a
>whi

>I would say you will eventually need to strip the tank down, scrape away the
>old sealant in that area (not the stuff between the glass sheets obviously),
>replace with new silicone sealant

I agree.
I believe even a small leak is like a ticking time bomb...just waiting to
explode.
Just make sure you get the right type of sealant...nothing that has anti-
mildew, etc.
Most bathroom/kitchen sealant does, so stay clear of those.
Marcus makes a good point aboutusing a rubbermade tub if you don't have another
tank to house the fish in.
Personally, I once used a 5g bucket and since it's tall and rigid I was able to
attach my submersible heater (depending on the fish type you have you may want
to think about that when chosing a copntainer).
Oh...and I would also double the curing time on the package.
Good luck Ted.
That is a hobbysist's nightmare for sure!

[Boris]

Excellent reason to get a new, and hopefully bigger, tank.

"Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
...
> it's not a major leak, (i think).
>
> on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle
board
> underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking
for a while.
> at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the
initial
> panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).
>
> what do i need to do? and what are my options?
>
>
> thanks!
>
> tedd.
>
>

[NetMax]

"Popeye" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 02:34:37 -0700, "Tedd Jacobs"
> > wrote:
>
> >it's not a major leak, (i think).
> >
> >on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle
board
> >underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking
for a while.
> >at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the
initial
> >panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).
> >
> >what do i need to do? and what are my options?
> >
> >
> >thanks!
> >
> >tedd.
> >
>
> If you just have to replace the tank, it won't be that expensive. That
> may be the way to go for you as other's have suggested. If you want to
> attempt repair, this link has some good information on it.
>
>
http://saltaquarium.about.com/c/ht/00/07/How_Repair_Small_Leak0962933581.htm
>
> It's not that difficult, just takes a bit of time for the aquarium
> safe silicone to fully cure.
>
> Brian

The only thing I can add to the already excellent advice is that, "this
is one of the ways it starts ;~)"

A little leak, so you get an identical replacement tank (cheap, as you
already have everything else). Not content with having a leaky tank for
gerbils or reptiles, you repair it and test your efforts. If it works,
you have a handy quarantine tank, which ends up holding fry, so it needs
a small filter, heater, cover, lights and a bit of gravel... and then you
need to house your growing population, and you already have 2 tanks, so
what's a third? ;~)

ps: the unevenness of the stand can sometimes be corrected by putting a
3/4" sheet of plywood underneath. This presses the swollen particle
board down, but ymmv as it depends on how bad it is, as whether it has
effected the integrity of the stand.

NetMax

[Marcus Fox]

> A little leak, so you get an identical replacement tank (cheap, as you
> already have everything else). Not content with having a leaky tank for
> gerbils or reptiles, you repair it and test your efforts. If it works,
> you have a handy quarantine tank, which ends up holding fry, so it needs
> a small filter, heater, cover, lights and a bit of gravel... and then you
> need to house your growing population, and you already have 2 tanks, so
> what's a third? ;~)
>
> ps: the unevenness of the stand can sometimes be corrected by putting a
> 3/4" sheet of plywood underneath. This presses the swollen particle
> board down, but ymmv as it depends on how bad it is, as whether it has
> effected the integrity of the stand.
>
> NetMax

I use quarter inch polystyrene tiles.

Marcus

[Tedd Jacobs]

"Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
...
> it's not a major leak, (i think).
>
> on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle board
> underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking for a
while.
> at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the initial
> panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).
>
> what do i need to do? and what are my options?

i'm sorry for appearing to have cried wolf, but thankfully i found the problem.
i feel like an idiot, but i'm glad is was something simple;

condensation that accumulated in the hood was collecting in that corner and
dripping down the outside of the tank and landing right where the base frame
meets the glass in the corner. there's no streaks on the glass or anything else
to indicate the water was coming from the hood, it was just a perfect drop right
straight down, i only noticed it when i put my hand right on the spot and got
about a half teaspoonful of water.

thanks for all the rapid reply's and help. i'm going to see if i can milk this
one out and convince the wife i have to get another tank to put the fish in so i
can repair it. ;-)

thanks again.

tedd.

[Marcus Fox]

> thanks for all the rapid reply's and help. i'm going to see if i can milk
this
> one out and convince the wife i have to get another tank to put the fish
in so i
> can repair it. ;-)

While you're at it, you should buy a condensation tray or two.

Marcus

[John >]

There, the perfect excuse to purchase a new bigger tank. "Honey, but what
if it DID start leaking" We need a new tank right away.

I keep getting LARGER fish so I have to get a bigger tank to house the
growing children.

JOhn ><>


"Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Tedd Jacobs" > wrote in message
> ...
> > it's not a major leak, (i think).
> >
> > on my 25 gal. at the bottom back corner there is water, the particle
board
> > underneath has swelled so it would appear as if it has been leaking for
a
> while.
> > at the moment everything looks stable (including myself now that the
initial
> > panic of 'my tank is going to explode!' is over).
> >
> > what do i need to do? and what are my options?
>
> i'm sorry for appearing to have cried wolf, but thankfully i found the
problem.
> i feel like an idiot, but i'm glad is was something simple;
>
> condensation that accumulated in the hood was collecting in that corner
and
> dripping down the outside of the tank and landing right where the base
frame
> meets the glass in the corner. there's no streaks on the glass or anything
else
> to indicate the water was coming from the hood, it was just a perfect drop
right
> straight down, i only noticed it when i put my hand right on the spot and
got
> about a half teaspoonful of water.
>
> thanks for all the rapid reply's and help. i'm going to see if i can milk
this
> one out and convince the wife i have to get another tank to put the fish
in so i
> can repair it. ;-)
>
> thanks again.
>
> tedd.
>
>