Tank is leaking!

[MichaelClark55]

I did this successfully on a 240g and 360g. I used to own a full line pet store and resealed tanks for customers from 20 to 150g

Please share your experience. I'm not convinced yet it is a good idea or not. Building stand tomorrow, tank delivery Wed.

 

[MichaelClark55]

deleted this post with the sketch since it was a screwup;)

 

[MichaelClark55]

Agree with hotrocks. . . . . . . . .

Obtain a bin. Stick your heater in it and using the tank water and transfer everything to the bin. Have an air stone or small power head for water movement.
Flush tank out with freshwater. Fill with freshwater and see if you can find area where it is leaking from. ( you can do two inches at a time also and once leak begins, you know where on tank or area it is leaking from). Use a razor blade and scrape away silicone from that area and clean with rubbing alcohol. Then apply aquarium SEALANT such as all glass, aqueon or marineland silicone)
Allow to dry at least 12 hrs- better yet 24 hrs and water test with tank full. if properly sealed, no leak should be the result and you can then repack your tank. ( now will be the time to re-scape, add rock and enjoy the tank once again).

If you are not comfortable with resealing, you can empty and buy a new tank, this way you are repacking in a couple of hours. Tub and sealant may cost about $29 whereas you can apply that $20 to a new tank

I am going to reseal this tank (eventually) Need a fast changeover due to at least 30 corals, some large colonies so I bought a new larger tank. I am going to place the coral in a holding tank and the rock in a couple brute cans with the water.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I am going to reseal this tank (eventually) Need a fast changeover due to at least 30 corals, some large colonies so I bought a new larger tank. I am going to place the coral in a holding tank and the rock in a couple brute cans with the water.

Yes- I understand.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Felt would trap water between the tank base and the hardwood flooring when a spill occurs :(

I've just about abandoned that idea. After cracking sump tank today I can't take anymore hickups.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Yes- I understand.

Take a look at the stand design and tanks placement, give me your thoughts.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Take a look at the stand design and tanks placement, give me your thoughts.

I like it. Nice clean layout

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

First draft....what do you think? Is this too tall? Wife wanted it 5' tall, impossible with 3 tank stack. Already have very short above tank access on fug and sump @ 6" & 7" respectively. May try to slide fuge over to accommodate taller ATO.

You'll need a ladder to do anything in the big tank :)

 

[vetteguy53081]

You'll need a ladder to do anything in the big tank :)

No biggie. I use a ladder all the time in my 360 and now have a 660g on the way

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

No biggie. I use a ladder all the time in my 360 and now have a 660g on the way

It will be especially fun when the tank is built into the wall :) I think he should build an access panel in the wall above the display tank .

 

[Nokiaec11]

Not sure about the type of floor it is on, but I plan on putting my next stand/tank on 4-6 of those large furniture sliders and then leveling it etc. It would be nice to be able to slide the whole thing 6-8 inches (slowly with help) for cleaning purposes every once in awhile

I would be very cautious if moving a filled tank...The water pressure on the walls of tank could cause some serious issues when pushing, and the force of the water swings to one side.

 

[Nokiaec11]

Drain the tank...Now is the time to decide to go bigger, or just replace the tank with same size, or to get out of the hobby...If you are thinking of repair, the entire seal for that side needs to be replaced, do not just patch the area of the leak.

 

[JDtimk]

First draft....what do you think? Is this too tall? Wife wanted it 5' tall, impossible with 3 tank stack. Already have very short above tank access on fug and sump @ 6" & 7" respectively. May try to slide fuge over to accommodate taller ATO.

What level is the floor at in that diagram? I must be missing something. It looks like the base of the DT tank is over 7 feet high lol.

 

[MichaelClark55]

What level is the floor at in that diagram? I must be missing something. It looks like the base of the DT tank is over 7 feet high lol.

wow, that shows how exhausting stress can be! I enlarged the drawing and the dimensions increased accordingly and I didn't even notice it. I got to slow down! The top of the tank in that drawing should be 6'-3".
At any rate, I'm ditching that idea and going with a single 55g sump. I will divide it so I have a refugium section. Simpler is sometimes better. I need to appease the wife too she wanted the top of the tank at 5'.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Drain the tank...Now is the time to decide to go bigger, or just replace the tank with same size, or to get out of the hobby...If you are thinking of repair, the entire seal for that side needs to be replaced, do not just patch the area of the leak.

I am replacing. Maybe reseal that one for another room eventually but that's another day.

 

[MichaelClark55]

I would be very cautious if moving a filled tank...The water pressure on the walls of tank could cause some serious issues when pushing, and the force of the water swings to one side.

I agree. Not doing that.

 

[MichaelClark55]

No biggie. I use a ladder all the time in my 360 and now have a 660g on the way

Haha, yeah my wife is 5' tall. Gotta try and keep her happy. Redesign coming later today. Gotta get this leaker drained today. Can't contain the leaks anymore.

 

[tony'stank]

Sorry for your troubles. The same thing happened to me with my Oceanic 90 G bow front. I drained my tank and put all my corals and fish into Rubbermaid bins. It took about three weeks for me to find, purchase and set up my new tank. I ended up losing all my corals and one fish. No one was interested in resealing the old tank, even when I offered it for free.

 

[JDtimk]

wow, that shows how exhausting stress can be! I enlarged the drawing and the dimensions increased accordingly and I didn't even notice it. I got to slow down! The top of the tank in that drawing should be 6'-3".
At any rate, I'm ditching that idea and going with a single 55g sump. I will divide it so I have a refugium section. Simpler is sometimes better. I need to appease the wife too she wanted the top of the tank at 5'.

Ah. That makes sense.
IMO I actually think the better height for a 5' tall person to view the tank would be top of the tank at around 5'6", that way she is looking directly into the tank rather than at the top of the tank. Unless she is not concerned with viewing height and has other reasons she wants the tank top at 5'. I know my wife would not care about best viewing height, but would care if it didn't somehow work with the layout of the room or something.
The top of my 120 is at about 5'8" and i am 6' tall. I have to bend down for the best view of the tank, especially when i need to get up close to see coral. It just wasn't practical to put the tank up much higher due to needing room above the tank for lights and maintenance. I have plenty of room underneath for equipment and maintenance.

 

[MichaelClark55]

Sorry for your troubles. The same thing happened to me with my Oceanic 90 G bow front. I drained my tank and put all my corals and fish into Rubbermaid bins. It took about three weeks for me to find, purchase and set up my new tank. I ended up losing all my corals and one fish. No one was interested in resealing the old tank, even when I offered it for free.

Wow sorry you lost your corals. I just finished transferring all the livestock into a holding tank. Going to hang my light on a rough temp stand so the corals don't freak out. My 3" Yellow Wrasse hid from me when I was dipping fish. I thought I would never find him, had to go through all the sand!