Tank sprung a leak - I averted disaster but now what?

[miket]

Sometime around 1am last night my tank sprung a leak, could have been the small earthquake near LAX (we felt it, like a truck hitting a tree out front). Maybe 10 gallons hit the floor, I woke the wife and we started cleaning out some plastic bins for the rocks corals and fish.

A few hours later in the middle of the night and we are done, tank is drained and floor is cleaned up and drying in the small spot that got most of the water.

Fish and corals seem ok in one bin, the other bin is more water and the non coral covered live rock. Both bins have pumps and heaters. The live sand is just in a bucket, the sump is pretty full too... I only had to toss about 15% of the total volume.

I am going to go to bed now, but need to figure out what to do... here is what I am thinking....

- buy a new tank and stand tomorrow (I really don't have the money for this right now) and just put everything in a new tank.

- just sell all the livestock, rock and corals (and sand), then decide what to do in regards to keeping fish/corals (I haven't been really feeling it lately, and I am super busy with my work)

- On top of all of this I had a gout attack in my foot all day (and still do) so doing all that work with water and rocks hurt like crazy. Going to hurt like hell tomorrow dealing with the rest of it too...

- Really angry about the whole situation, but I guess it could have been much worse...


Any tips on how to figure out what happened to the tank and fix it, water was fast dripping out the entire time, from between the bottom of the glass and the top of the stand, where the bulkheads are wasn't that wet so I am thinking a seam split somewhere...

 

[jesuses]

ouch, good luck. The fish and coral should be fine for a few days in the bins, that would give you some time to figure things out. Maybe sell a few and get a smaller tank? That might be less work to maintain seeing that you are busy

 

[SPEARGUNHUNTER]

sorry to hear this Mike, please lmk if you need help.

 

[wickedfish]

That super sucks Mike, do any of the regulars from SCRK have a spare tank? Maybe you can set up a borrowed reef tank for now till you are ready to make a decision.

I know how much you enjoy having a tank in the house. Seems like it's hard for people to make the choice to break it down. I know Sanh took almost a year to do it. And there are others that you saw the signs and ultimately did it but way later than they needed to.

It's not that hard to get back in and collect things you acquired. If you have coral you want to bank chose a good friend and give them a good chunk of what you want to have when you come back. GL

 

[ep3n3wp]

Hey op...
Check out this set up that's for sale... It has a really nice stand!!!

http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41955

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[thresher]

Bummer, that's one of the things I have nightmares about.

 

[Reef Bullet]

So sorry to hear this! I think like thresher said, we all have nightmares about this happening to us someday. What size is the tank? I know the ultimate decision to get out will be a hard one, especially after doing it for so long, but I know whatever decision you make will be the right one for you. Good luck

 

[reefes pieces]

Sorry to hear this happen. What size was that tank? I'm sure someone on here has a spare tank they can lend you or you can possibly work a trade for some livestock/coral for one. I'm sure you probably already did it but make sure to pull the stand from the floor and let it dry really good to prevent staining.

 

[lurking]

Sucks Mike, just when the tank was getting back on track for you.

I have a 55 gallon tank you can have for free but would need an over flow box. I can also coral sit some stuff for you if needed or lend a hand if you just need some help. Let me know and good luck buddy.

 

[BeanMachine]

I'm really sorry to hear Mike. Depending how long you'll need to get a new or used tank, I would either sell the livestock or have some of us hold the pieces.

 

[brizhound]

Hey op...
Check out this set up that's for sale... It has a really nice stand!!!

http://www.socalireefs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41955

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

^ +1 this was what I was thinking as well. Good luck and sorry to hear that. Do you have a lfs around that has a qt tank that you can put your livestock in? Or if someone has a larger frag tank that is no full. Just thinking out loud...

 

[Adrock]

that's really s h I t y Deluxe and im real sorry to hear Mike is like the nicest guy I know next to cody and james MIke I sent you a pm if there is any way I can help I will do my best I think chance has a 80 or 90 tall in his garage I can see if he would let you borrow it until you find what you are looking for but again not sure if that helps, get well soon and let me know what I can do for you!!!

 

[Adrock]

if the tank is empty you might be able too test it find out where leak is and seal it cut out bad silicone and put in new silicone not sure how bad it is but there is a chance it may be fixable

 

[Six2seven]

wow sorry to her mike. I would take this opportunity to sell all your livestock and buy new tank that you like. you can always go back and get some pieces from the people you sell to.

 

[wickedfish]

So sorry to hear this! I think like thresher said, we all have nightmares about this happening to us someday. What size is the tank? I know the ultimate decision to get out will be a hard one, especially after doing it for so long, but I know whatever decision you make will be the right one for you. Good luck

I think it's a shallow tank that ZoaGirl use to have. But I haven't been to his house since I helped him carry it in. It's like a 90 gallon shallow if I remember correctly.

 

[toomuch420]

I thought my bottom panel cracked a few weeks ago was getting ALOT of water in between panel & stand.
Found out it was bulkhead in overflow
(Sigh)
Hopefully this is same 4 you.



*rAzOr*

 

[lowbudget]

let me guess its rimless?

 

[solitude127]

let me guess its rimless?

Ya, I'm pretty sure it's rimless.

If you need anything from me, let me know, I'm in Torrance.

 

[miket]

Thanks for all your kind words and advice...

After discussing it with the wife I think I am going to sell off all the livestock, rock and corals and take a break while I deal with the leaking tank.

I know I want to take a break, but I have had some of these fish for over 8 years, I hate the idea of getting rid of them, I just want to make sure they go to a good home...

Fish list:
- Large yellow tang, about 8-9 years old
- Medium sized (same size as tang) Desjardini tang - A beautiful fish
- Mating pair of false percs
- Good sized Lawnmower Blenny
- 4 blue-green chromis
- A royal Gramma (whomever buys the rock may get this guy, I didn't net him out, last time he hid in a rock)
- A smaller 6-line wrasse (like the Gramma I never actually caught it, it hid in a rock when I transferred to the bins)

Inverts:
- We fished out at least two large peppermint shrimp
- A large orange tipped amemone (I think it's a BTA, never seen one like it), it's a big one was spreading out like a dinner plate yesterday
- Two huge brittle stars

Corals:
- Lots of palys and zoas, never did an inventory, some is high end stuff, some is basic stuff that ran away on me
- One large rock covered with clove polyps (the fleshy colored ones that really expand)
- Some Daisy polyps (I forget the name, won it at MAX two years ago)
- Green toadstool leather
- More

Live rock
- I have maybe 60-70lbs of rock (maybe more), all of it is a nice color purple and cleaned of algae, a few rocks have a stray aiptasia here and there (was taking care of that with the peppermints, they were finally making headway)

I'd like everything to go fast, fish to a good home please.

I'd take as little as $100 for all the fish. Best offer for the rock, corals I try and take pics to sell the better pieces before I just offer up it all for nothing...

- MikeT

 

[mark.a.smith405]

Dang that is a scary thought.... My house would be trashed carpet + wood = no bueno