URGENT Tank Advice Needed - LEAKING!

[exnisstech]

Uh i meant the other Hillary

 

[KrisReef]

Uh i meant the other Hillary

Poor OP posts up a disaster thread and we rank the scene with politics, tang over crowding, and recycling Koi ponds.

Have mercy on us!

 

[nim6us]

Update for the day, lights are up!

I did try to build a mount with PVC, it looked great, even used Weldon to make it solid. Problem is with the length of the pipe and weight of 2 Radions it was bowing dangerously in the middle just didn’t trust it.

Took the advice and made a second attempt with pine, much more solid! I even drilled some holes in the lip of the bin and zip tied the legs of the brace to the bin.

Having the lights makes so much difference!
Tomorrow tear down the old tank and clean all the gear.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

well done!

 

[nim6us]

Yeah I was freaking out Sunday really melting down. But as I’ve been taking it one crisis at a time I’m getting a bit more confidence and starting to believe I can do this!

Again thanks for all the support reef fam!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

i know how i would be! i think youve done a fabulous job!

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

It's astonishing how often you see posts like this. Way outside of anything I've ever seen.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

It's astonishing how often you see posts like this. Way outside of anything I've ever seen.

You mean setting up setting up temporary holding tanks? Ha.

Nice to have the old hands untied. Remember back in 2019ish when the 750’s were splitting? If I remember right (which never happens) a certain popular YouTube tank sprung a leak… Ok, I’m just having fun no harm intended!

 

[FishLvR]

You bought another Red Sea? I will look for your tank build thread. I follow EVERY RED SEA TANK BUILD. All. Of. Them.

 

[FishLvR]

You mean setting up setting up temporary holding tanks? Ha.

Nice to have the old hands untied. Remember back in 2019ish when the 750’s were splitting? If I remember right (which never happens) a certain popular YouTube tank sprung a leak… Ok, I’m just having fun no harm intended!

Just about three weeks ago now there was two Red Sea G4's on semi popular channels that both had seam failures.

 

[rtparty]

Poor OP posts up a disaster thread and we rank the scene with politics, tang over crowding, and recycling Koi ponds.

Have mercy on us!

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Just about three weeks ago now there was two Red Sea G4's on semi popular channels that both had seam failures.

I moved corals from the RS750 to the 360 because I was told to look for sandy particles getting between the silicone and glass . Once I saw them we emptied the tank. I think this was the first model that was acknowledged as a problem.

Im certain I had “free tank” blinders on when I used them after that. After seeing all of the leaks on IG and here there is zero chance I’d use one now, even free.

 

[FishLvR]

Just about three weeks ago now there was two Red Sea G4's on semi popular channels that both had seam failures.

I moved corals from the RS750 to the 360 because I was told to look for sandy particles getting between the silicone and glass . Once I saw them we emptied the tank. I think this was the first model that was acknowledged as a problem.

Im certain I had “free tank” blinders on when I used them after that. After seeing all of the leaks on IG and here there is zero chance I’d use one now, even free.

I follow them all when I spot the builds. But im also a hypocrite. I have their doser and ato. They work so far very well, but the app is so horrid.

 

[DHill6]

I agree with @AydenLincoln that stock bin will hold your stuff for a very long time. It may not be the best looking or easiest to view your corals but will work great. You have time to set up your new tank how you want it. You could build a simple light stand out of wood to mount your lights if you haven't done so already. Dont rush the new tank youll be kicking yourself in the future. Just keep up on the maintenance on the bin, dosing, feeding whatever you did on the previous tank.

I should’ve used a stock tank it would’ve been a lot easier than keeping them in a brute trash can for a couple months while waiting on Cade arrival.

 

[reneeL]

The silicone sealant takes a full 7 days to cure under ideal conditions… it will cure somewhat faster when exposed to high humidity…

You should definitely get three bar clamps, and two ~2ft lengths of 2x4 lumber! — place the lumber flat along the length of the front/rear seam… clamp the three clamps equally spaced snug, not tight with the 2x4 lumber between clamp jaws and tank glass!

This will essentially create a rigid “structure” pressed against the full length of that front/rear vertical seam, preventing the long panes from spreading any further apart!

We did this and it worked until we had things prepared to move into their new tank. It worked great. Sorry this is happening to you. I found information that RS was really leaky after I purchased one, mine was used from a LFS. I did come out because of all the set up. I am much happier with my new set up. Our fish all survived and we did not have that many corals, they did survive.

 

[forestsofkelp]

Good job ! You should consider yourself lucky you found it and solved it before coming home to an exploded/failed tank.

Enjoy setting up the new tank with all the livestock safe.

Solving problems like this makes experienced, confident reefers ;-)

 

[Ryan - Serious Reefs]

Just to let you know you are not alone. A local friend of mine texted today with "Hey man, if you got a second, could you give me a call? My red Sea tank is spewing water all over my floor. Just curious what I should do."

It was a 250. I didn't know this happens on smaller tanks... This is where he landed hours later, taking it down.

 

[Soronus]

My Current Tank Set up, CDA

 

[UncommonSense]

Just to let you know you are not alone. A local friend of mine texted today with "Hey man, if you got a second, could you give me a call? My red Sea tank is spewing water all over my floor. Just curious what I should do."

It was a 250. I didn't know this happens on smaller tanks... This is where he landed hours later, taking it down.

Oof… another one bites the dust…

I’ve even seen multiple 170L Red Sea system failures… even their nanos are splitting at the seams…

I was doing the same as you for a local reefer just five weeks ago… (Red Sea Reefer 425XL, G1)

 

[Peair]

Well this was a post I was hoping I wouldn't have to ever make but here we are!

I was just about to do a WC and I noticed water on the floor. I thought I'd spilled something but no it was a leak.

I traced it back to the seam on the side panel that connects to the back wall of my Red Sea Reefer 42XL. You can see from the video it's a very tiny slice. Not sure if I did it some how, or the cat perhaps pawing at the fish? Either way it's a very slow stream, it's not gushing but it's definitely streaming out.



Where it's leaking from is about 4 inches from the top of the tank. My plan is to drain the water down to where it's leaking from so it's dry. From there I can try to put a temporary patch.

My questions...

What do I patch it with? I have super glue, silicone, or Maxspect coral putty to hand.

Can I fill it back up after it dries? Draining 4 inches down will leave corals exposed, and means water can't go down the overflow, so ideally I need to fill it back up is that an option?

How long do I have? I know this is a tough question to answer, but is this a "you need to get everything out of that tank ASAP!" or "if you patch it it should be fine for 2-3 weeks while you setup a new tank".

I can't stick around for answers, I need to go mop up water and drain the tank down but will be back soon. Any advice is very welcome.

You should have tried Super Glue for Silicone for a quick fix, it’s best to lower the water down to leak and dry if you can before first application of Super Glue Silicone, I used this stuff on a seam leak and my tank held up over a year, I then tore the tank down and used this stuff inside and out two applications, it’s best to strip and recoat the inside with quality aquarium glue first and let dry then put two coats of Super Glue for Silicone over it, and on the outside of tank just use Super Glue Silicone over existing RS silicone, you can use painters tape for about two minutes for clean lines then take off, if you have success please post here, for my tank is still holding up over two years now after complete recoat, I think this one of the few glues that really work, it’s incredibly strong, I see you have Red Sea so I would still keep the tank in the basement, you never know something else could happen with their tanks. I bought Super Glue for Silicone on Amazon, you can PM me for more information.