Emergency advice needed

mike_dani · Mar 7, 2010

I just set up my 300 gallon tank 72Long 36 Deep 27 Tall and look at what I have found

What do I do looks as if the pane of glass was chipped and the glued in place and is now leaking Very Slowly......

The chip is in the piece of glass that is 36 wide and 27 tall at the bottom behind the sand

SaraB · Mar 7, 2010

I this a brand new tank? If so, I'd call the manfacturer ASAP in the morning.

Do you have it filled with livestock already or can you drain it?

Did you not notice the leak when you were testing it or did it get chipped on the trip into the final resting place?

mike_dani · Mar 7, 2010

just finished filling it with fish and all of my corals and yes it is brand new.... Can I leave it up over night?

SaraB · Mar 7, 2010

mike_dani said:
just finished filling it and yes it is brand new.... Can I leave it up over night?

I know more about acrylic than glass, so hopefully someone else can answer that.

One way or another, you are going to have to drain it and I'd personally feel better about not having it full with a leak is all.

Make sure you take alot of photos for the manufacturer.

AlexStinson · Mar 7, 2010

if it's leaking at all i'd be worried... but I am sure it will be fine overnight

Mariner · Mar 7, 2010

Wow Mike, so sorry! I have absolutely no expertise here. I do know that chipped glass can hold for a long time, or crack and spread rapidly. From the pic, it doesn't look like something that is threatening the intregrity of the tank, and it might be that some sort of glue or epoxy would stop the leak...but again I really don't know. Obviously you could move everything back into your other tank...and you may have to do that eventually anyway to repair/replace the 300. It is just a question of whether you have the energy or the time to do it now
Mariner

mike_dani · Mar 7, 2010

yes agreed, I had the tank up for two weeks and didnt see it so I am going to leave it up over night and if I need to call the insurance company to replace mt walls and flooring I will. Jason will be up in the am and we are tearing it down then. I have sold the 110 and it is gone so I have no tank other than the 300 gallon tub in the garage so I can use it for a while. the chip is on the inside so I cant get to it I have place towels all around so I can catch the leaking water and we will take it from there.

mike_dani · Mar 7, 2010

Hey everyone I have a fully stocked 300 for sale...... Just kidding

LegoZ81 · Mar 7, 2010

oh man good luck what a nightmare

Troylee · Mar 7, 2010

The whole pane of glass needs to be replaces..

sorry dude.. I would drain it asap..

8BALL_99 · Mar 8, 2010

I wouldn't leave it filled if it were me.. It could hold for years with a slow leak or it could burst with not warning in a few mins.. Last time I upgraded tanks I kept all my livestock in a stock tank and a sump for about a month.. Sure it wasn't as pretty as the tank but anything that can hold water will work for as long as you need it..
Sucks about your new tank!
Here is a pic of my stuff in limbo.

byeung · Mar 8, 2010

i like your limbo tanks.

lamarine23 · Mar 8, 2010

Definitely drain it....all the pressure is on the bottom, don't leave it like that or you risk coming home to a flood...

Tomoko Schum · Mar 8, 2010

Yikes, I am sorry to hear about your problem. Do you recall seeing the shell like chip in your glass pane before moving the tank? A couple of years ago, when someone got a tank from Ty, there was a fan shaped chip at the base of the front glass just like yours. Luckily Ty replaced the tank before anything happened. The fan shaped chip occurs occasionally when glass sheet is cut. The pane with the chip is normally rejected and be reused to produce smaller panes. I hope you can get your tank replaced or fixed quickly.

Howell05 · Mar 8, 2010

call the manuf. and tell em to get their ***** in gear.

stunreefer · Mar 8, 2010

lamarine23 said:
Definitely drain it....all the pressure is on the bottom, don't leave it like that or you risk coming home to a flood...

Agreed, drain into your 300 tub.

At the least drain 75% out to reduce pressure on that seam.

mike_dani · Mar 8, 2010

The tank is now drained thanks to those who came over and called about helping. I contacted the manufacture and he was quick to offer up a tank replacement however it would again be three weeks. Instead I asked if that pane Can be replaced with a new one in place and it can so on Wednesday he will be out. I chose this route for two reasons one it will be down for a week not three and I don't have to move 600 pounds of glass again.

I amtry ing to figure out what I should ask for as far as compisation. Day off of work for me and two other people will suffice. Do I just ask or do I demand, the manufacture was quick to respond with a solution. You tell me

kfennell · Mar 8, 2010

If you can't proove that it was like that when you got it, i.e. you didn't cause it yourself I don't think you can expect much in the way of compensation. Unless people feel that it is impossible that you did this yourself by accident.