HELP Aquarium Leak

[hadams356]

Christmas eve discovered leak. Naturally, bottom corner the best I can tell. It's a 180 gallon tank so draining it is not an option. Full of sps, LPS, fish etc.

Question anybody know of a product that can be used underwater and reef safe.

Just bought Dap product but says dry and cure for 48 hours. Can't do!

 

[Dom]

Christmas eve discovered leak. Naturally, bottom corner the best I can tell. It's a 180 gallon tank so draining it is not an option. Full of sps, LPS, fish etc.

Question anybody know of a product that can be used underwater and reef safe.

Just bought Dap product but says dry and cure for 48 hours. Can't do!

Sorry about this.

Can you provide pictures so we can see exactly what you're dealing with?

I don't see how you can repair and trust a leaking 180 without draining. And with the leak location, that is where water pressure will be at the maximum.

Is it a leaking seam? if so, you can get a long clamp and two pieces of wood to clamp the tank together as a temporary solution.

 

[Cell]

What you are saying is not an option will likely be your only option in the very near future if the leak is as you say. There are no long term solutions that do not involve draining the tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Do you have pictures of the leak? How bad is the leak ( is it just a little leak or is it this big leak where water is draining rapidly).

 

[mfinn]

Every single tank I have seen that is leaking from a bottom seam has been unfixable long term. Unless the tank is drained and the glass taken apart and all pieces re-siliconed ( after proper cleaning), long term it's nothing is really going to fix it.
Have you found the location of the leak?
Look to make sure it's not a leaking bulkhead or fitting and is dripping water on the top of the stand. I've had that happen before.

 

[Dom]

Every single tank I have seen that is leaking from a bottom seam has been unfixable long term. Unless the tank is drained and the glass taken apart and all pieces re-siliconed ( after proper cleaning), long term it's nothing is really going to fix it.
Have you found the location of the leak?
Look to make sure it's not a leaking bulkhead or fitting and is dripping water on the top of the stand. I've had that happen before.

The OP stated the leak is at the bottom, so not a bulkhead.

 

[mfinn]

The OP stated the leak is at the bottom, so not a bulkhead.

I had a leaking bulkhead once that put water all the way around the top of the stand. Made it really look like a seam leak. I was just pointing this out so maybe the OP would look again to make sure it wasn't a simpler fix.

 

[fishguy242]

not many options here ,pics needed , check level of tank both directions to see if water is seeking lowest point

 

[brandon429]

what brand is this tank/ I need that for pattern tracking purposes

 

[hadams356]

It's a very small leak, placing kitchen towel in area only dampens towel over 12 hrs. Can't really see where leaking but know it on the end in front corner. Sounds like I need temporary fix till I get a plan together.

 

[ZoWhat]

Define "leak"

I have a 180. It started dripping a drip every 3 secs along a bottom seam about 2-3 years ago.

I put a bucket underneath and blew a boxfan directly on the leak for a month.

What started as a 1 gal per day leak SLOWED and eventually crusted over with dried salt creep from the continuous blowing of air.

Encrusted salt outside the tank can be as hard as concrete...

LFS owners and everyone and their brother said it would eventually become unmanageable.

Here I am 2, maybe 2.5 years later... ZERO drips.

I know not to mess around in that area with cleaning rags and such.

Guess I'm lucky every day..... I don't even think about it much anymore


.

 

[Dom]

I had a leaking bulkhead once that put water all the way around the top of the stand. Made it really look like a seam leak. I was just pointing this out so maybe the OP would look again to make sure it wasn't a simpler fix.

Thats a good point!

It could very well be that a leak from a bulkhead up top may be giving the appearance of a leak at the bottom...

 

[mfinn]

Define "leak"

I have a 180. It started dripping a drip every 5 secs along a bottom seam about 2-3 years ago.

I put a bucket underneath and blew a boxfan directly on the leak for a month.

What started as a 1 gal per day leak SLOWED and eventually crusted over with dried salt creep from the continuous blowing of air.

LFS owners and everyone and their brother said it would eventually become unmanageable.

Here I am 2, maybe 2.5 years later... ZERO drips.

I know not to mess around on the area with cleaning rags and such.

Guess I'm lucky every day..... I don't even think about it much anymore


.

Lucky maybe?
IDK.
But my 240 started with a tiny drop of water appearing every 3-4 seconds turned into a 6" wide slit in the bottom seam in 4 months.

 

[fishguy242]

is tank in basement ?
seep can turn into blowout at any time !!
Temp fix ,don't believe an option, plan now, think of the losses and damage to home if worse case scenario.
couple of 100 gallon tubs to put water and livestock until resolved

 

[RedoubtReef]

I'd be looking for a couple 100-gallon Rubbermaid stock tanks to move things to until you can confirm where the leak is coming from. Cheap insurance.

 

[mfinn]

It's a very small leak, placing kitchen towel in area only dampens towel over 12 hrs. Can't really see where leaking but know it on the end in front corner. Sounds like I need temporary fix till I get a plan together.

It has been my experience that once a leaker, always a leaker, ( and on to total disaster)so I only have that to go on.
Others may have different experiences.
If I were you I would start planning out finding a new tank now.
Find holding tanks for fish and corals, start rounding up help to do the move and make a schedule.