Aquarium leak? Advice needed

Dcozine · Feb 4, 2021

Hi All,

I just set up a new 125 gallon aquarium last weekend. It has been filled with some amount of water for a week, and totally full with pumps running for about 5 days.

Starting yesterday, I noticed some salt crusted along the bottom edge of the tank and wiped it away. I thought maybe some water splashed over the edge when the power heads changed speed. Today there is another little layer there.

Is this something that is likely to get better, get worse, or stay the same? I currently don't have any fish in the tank, but was hoping to put one in this weekend. Should I drain the tank and attempt a repair now, or ride it out and deal with it if/when it gets worse?

Thanks!

Siberwulf · Feb 4, 2021

My $.02 is to fix it before you have to figure out what to do with livestock. Best Case is you drain it, store the livestock somewhere, then refill it. Worst case is that the leak gets worse and you get water all over the place and then have to execute the Best Case.

Dcozine · Feb 4, 2021

I snapped a picture of what it looks like.

Jekyl · Feb 4, 2021

Drain it and verify the leak. With a tank that large for sure. When full there's a ton of weight pushing on the glass.

Tiki Reef Joshua · Feb 4, 2021

Yea, you need to verify what’s happening first. You can’t not know what’s going on here.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 4, 2021

Are there bulkheads above?
If not, salvage all the water in buckets and UNFORTUNATELY drain tank, down to 3" and see if it seeps again and where and plan on replacing entire bead once leak is confirmed.

Dcozine · Feb 4, 2021

Thanks guys. That was what I was fearing I'd need to do, but needed to hear someone else say it. I marked the edge with a dry erase to see if it changes at all over the next day and a half. If it does, I know what my weekend project is. If it doesn't, I may keep an eye on it for a bit longer.

When I first filled the tank last weekend, my overflow box, at the opposite side of the tank, had a minor leak. That is now fixed, but it makes me wonder if some moisture got it between the glass and plastic from that, travelled down the length of the tank, and is just now evaporating and making salt crystals.

Dcozine · Feb 4, 2021

vetteguy53081 said:
Are there bulkheads above?
If not, salvage all the water in buckets and UNFORTUNATELY drain tank, down to 3" and see if it seeps again and where and plan on replacing entire bead once leak is confirmed.

Showing off my newbie prowess here... Didn't realize bulkhead was synonymous with overflow box. So yes, there is one at the opposite end of the tank that did have a leak 5 days ago. If I'm reading your reply correctly, you're thinking that could be a reasonable explanation and don't drain it quite yet?

Jekyl · Feb 4, 2021

I'd test what you can before draining. I think the consensus is that you have to verify the leak before going any further. This sort of thing only gets worse.

Mastiffsrule · Feb 4, 2021

Hi,

I agree, before draining test more. It is not an emergency. Dry everything again. Maybe place paper towels or tissue paper in the area to see if it absorbs water. That would show an active leak

If there is a leak Do Not repair. It is a new tank, contact the manufacturer. I am guessing there is no issue and that may have been trapped water in the frame . But, always be safe and never guess.

ca1ore · Feb 5, 2021

I agree! Strikes me that there is a high probability that it is still splashed water that is wicking up to create that salt creep. Water under the trim can wick for few days. If you see pooled water around the tank then that is a problem, but wicked salt creep is almost certainly splashed water. FWIW, I have had this happen hundreds of times .... until I went with a tank with no trim LOL.

Dcozine · Feb 5, 2021

Today's update: after drawing a border around the salt creep with dry erase marker yesterday, there is no change in size or shape after 24+ hours. I'm feeling much better about it.