Aquarium frame splitting!

Swoody · Nov 28, 2017

A lot of sage advice given so far and I would add that if you are using wavemakers, that you lower the setting and place it in a steady flow mode versus a mode which actually causes wave action to reduce additional stress on what is clearly a failing tank.

Reefing Madness · Nov 28, 2017

MnFish1 · Nov 28, 2017

bluneon said:
How much time do you think the bar clamp buys me? I have people that could help swap in a new tank in about a week and a half.

You really could do it yourself in a couple hours if you have some extra saltwater made up - just buy 2 of the 40 gallon plastic cans - put the rock in one - siphon enough water to cover. Siphon the rest of the water +fish coral into the other. Put the heater in with the fish and a powerhead or something for flow.
take the old tank - if you want to keep the sand - maybe keep only some - not all. rinse the sand with fresh Salt water just to get some of the gunk out - put the new tank on the stand rearrange your rock and pump the water or bucket the water back in - and youre done - it really wont take much time - and you should be able to lift the tank yourself.

MnFish1 · Nov 28, 2017

Reefing Madness said:

Those are great videos - but they also take time to do /cure. in the mean time he still has all of his stuff out of the tank.

Reefing Madness · Nov 28, 2017

MnFish1 said:
Those are great videos - but they also take time to do /cure. in the mean time he still has all of his stuff out of the tank.

You don't need to remove all the water from the tank to do all this. 1/4 of it, to do the work.
Or remove the water fish and corals to the bathtub, do the work and put em all back. Ive done it a few times, its not a big deal. Oh, one tank was a 125g and the other was a 240g.

MnFish1 · Nov 28, 2017

Reefing Madness said:
You don't need to remove all the water from the tank to do all this. 1/4 of it, to do the work.
Or remove the water fish and corals to the bathtub, do the work and put em all back. Ive done it a few times, its not a big deal. Oh, one tank was a 125g and the other was a 240g.

Yeah - that makes sense - for a 55 - might be best to just get a new one though.

st0rmtr000pa · Jan 1, 2018

I agree I would replace the tank! I wouldn’t take a chance with it.

Rakie · Jan 1, 2018

Man, that is a ticking timebomb. Get a big sterilite ready if you have to, and find a replacement asap

revhtree · Jan 1, 2018

Any updates?

kevyg · Jan 2, 2018

I just bought myself two 20 gal longs for QT tanks at petco for $20 each today. Additionally, anything above 29 gallons, it is 50% off. You could upgrade to a 75 gallon and get more depth. You will have the same dimensions in height, but you will have MUCH more room front to back. Anyways, a 40B tank was going for $50, so if there was a time to get a new tank, right now IS the time.

bluneon · Feb 1, 2018

revhtree said:
Any updates?

I decided not to order a frame and just go with a new tank all together.

flat6guy · Feb 2, 2018

Your tank gave you a heads up that failure is imminent. Replace the tank before it fails completely. You wanted a bigger tank anyway didn't you? No better time than now! Way easier to be proactive on replacing the tank than reactive. Like above members mentioned, petco does have $1 gal sales regularly.

My tank gave no warning and decided that 2:30am was when it tore a seam 3/4 the way down. I had to improvise rapidly and ended up losing my live stock. Then there was the mess of 60 gallons of water spraying, not leaking onto the floor.