Emergency! Tank leaking!! Help needed!

[shock]

I am freaking out. I came home to find some water on the floor and power off. I had done a water change and I belive I added back too much -- I presume my hang on filter overflowed. However, the biggest problem I discovered was I have a pinhole leak on one corner of the tank. I don't know what to do. My tank is a 30 gal long. It's not leaking heavy.. a drop or two will come out every so often. Sometimes a few drips at a time. The leak appears to be about 2-3" from the top of the tank.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am supposed to go out of town on Tuesday for my sister's wedding!

I can be reached at 770 380 4811 or mjspector@mindspring.com

Thanks!

[autochek]

Drop the water level 2 inches below the leak, add a power head for circulation unless you have a closed loop that will still be under water. Clean the area real well and reseal the area with silicone from the inside. If you can do this and let it sit for aprox 12 hours you should be ok. I know they say to let it sit 24 hrs but 12 should work out just fine.
How long will you be gone? can you just drop it below the leak and use power heads to arreat and break the surface for a few days till you can fix it right.

[yousuredo]

where are you located....excactly...so if you need someone to help you or hold stuff for you you can find out who is near you...

[shock]

I am going to be gone a week. I would prefer to do something all-day Monday if necessary, or put some temp fix that will last a week or so. The weird thing is, the leak isn't continuous; I haven't seen it drip for 20 minutes. I am puzzled about its behavior. To me, a leak is a leak -- it should flow at a constant rate. I am pretty sure it is a leak though. The water is originating from the the corner -- not from the top spilling over.

I live in Dunwoody -- near Perimeter mall.

[Loverotties]

A new tank(30 long) is cheap.Buy a new one and move everything over!Then you won't be thinking of it all week long.

[autochek]

Hey Chris did those stars and anthelia open up?

[shock]

Moving it would obviously solve the problem, but the prospect of moving everything is not such a fun thing.

The leak started up again... a few drips... then it seems to stop. I'm not sure if I will be able to sleep tonight -- I will defintely drop the water level below the leak. Is there any danger of other leaks occuring? I don't know what caused this one.

[autochek]

Can you keep some flow and aeration in the tank with the ware down?

[shock]

I can keep my powerheads and I think even my HOF running with the reduced water level.

[shock]

How long can I keep my tank running with the reduced water level? I have my remora hang on, as well as a MJ 900 plus heater running. All corals are beneath the water level. Any adverse affects?

[shock]

If anyone has experience fixing leaks and wants to come give me a hand I'd be more than happy to supply lunch/dinner/beer.

Thanks.

[autochek]

AS long as you can keep flow and oxygenation for the live stock you will be fine.
Take a razor blade and remove the sealant where the leak is and then place a small bead of silicone in the corner. Then run your finger along it to smooth it out.
You will be fine. Is someone gonna come in and take care of it while your gone?

[SShindell]

We live very close to you and I we can baby sit any livestock in my sump for a week, but if the leak is toward the top, do as they described below. Give me a call at work if you need help. 404 605-0485.


Steve

[Ray1214]

First thing, is the leak coming from the corner like the glass or where the silicone meets the glass. I ask this because, I had a pin hole leak in a 40 gal breeder. Unfortunatly it was down at the bottom corner. But after the repairs, the actual leak was in the silicon all the way at the top. If I overfilled my tank and the water level got over a certain level (Within one inch of the top, right underneath the plastic strip that runs across the top of the glass), I had water that made it over the silicone apparently and oozed out like a drop or two per 2-3 minutes near the bottom of the tank, like the silicon had made a tunnel between the glass and the bottom corner (about 4 inches from the actual bottom of the tank) was the only place it would leak. This tank was a 40 gall breeder All-Glass Tank. I couldn't figure out why it was leaking, only that when my overflow backed up and my water level got to the top of the tank, would it leak. Of course I replaced all the silicon to be sure.

Hope this helps.

Ray

[shock]

Ray,

The situation you describe sounds like a very good candidate for my scenario. I had just done a WC and the water level was higher than it had been in a while. I believe the leak is from where the silicone meets the glass. If indeed, my problem is like yours, can I make the repairs while the tank is still stocked? If I have to drain and remove everything, I might as well upgrade my tank while I'm at it.

Can I test your theory by squirting the top part of the silicone with some fresh water? I'd rather not raise the entire water level back up just now.

I have a friend looking after my tank while I'm gone -- he's taken care of my fish previously so that is not a concern -- I was slightly worried the leak might be a symptom of a larger problem, but it sounds likely the overall stability of the tank is ok.

Thanks to all for the info -- I have calmed down for the most part. :-)

Originally Posted by Ray1214

First thing, is the leak coming from the corner like the glass or where the silicone meets the glass. I ask this because, I had a pin hole leak in a 40 gal breeder. Unfortunatly it was down at the bottom corner. But after the repairs, the actual leak was in the silicon all the way at the top. If I overfilled my tank and the water level got over a certain level (Within one inch of the top, right underneath the plastic strip that runs across the top of the glass), I had water that made it over the silicone apparently and oozed out like a drop or two per 2-3 minutes near the bottom of the tank, like the silicon had made a tunnel between the glass and the bottom corner (about 4 inches from the actual bottom of the tank) was the only place it would leak. This tank was a 40 gall breeder All-Glass Tank. I couldn't figure out why it was leaking, only that when my overflow backed up and my water level got to the top of the tank, would it leak. Of course I replaced all the silicon to be sure.

Hope this helps.

Ray