OP
OP
I pulled the stand out from the wall today and peeled up the yoga mat that was under the sump. Turns out the back panel and the floor of the stand were also made of particle board, which has also disintegrated.
That stand and the 60 gallon acrylic tank were the first things I bought 27 years ago when I got into the hobby. I was a complete newbie at that time and had no idea what I was doing. My bad for not even knowing what my stand was made of and for not thinking about it since then.
Here is what the back of the stand looks like:
That particle board at the bottom left is so swollen it is sticking out more than an inch! At least the plywood siding seems to have held up. I thought the whole stand was made of plywood!
Here is the inside of the stand where the sump was. You can see the blue yoga mat on the left. When I pulled it back it took the white laminate layer of the particle board with it, revealing a layer of sawdust. You can see the little hole I dug in it in the second picture:
Its frightening to think that this has been going on for years without my knowledge. I really dodged a bullet. Thanks again to everyone who urged me to empty the tank right away!
That stand and the 60 gallon acrylic tank were the first things I bought 27 years ago when I got into the hobby. I was a complete newbie at that time and had no idea what I was doing. My bad for not even knowing what my stand was made of and for not thinking about it since then.
Here is what the back of the stand looks like:
That particle board at the bottom left is so swollen it is sticking out more than an inch! At least the plywood siding seems to have held up. I thought the whole stand was made of plywood!
Here is the inside of the stand where the sump was. You can see the blue yoga mat on the left. When I pulled it back it took the white laminate layer of the particle board with it, revealing a layer of sawdust. You can see the little hole I dug in it in the second picture:
Its frightening to think that this has been going on for years without my knowledge. I really dodged a bullet. Thanks again to everyone who urged me to empty the tank right away!
