Help, leak in silicone

[cmcoker]

Set up a Red Sea Reefer 250 end of December. Today I have a pinhole leak in the silicone, I am not sure what to do for the weekend... I have contacted Red sea but obviously it Friday night..

It's about 3 inches from the top on the front glass seam.

Debating whether to drain tank below this level and just run powerheads.. or go to home depot get a brute can and move everything into that..

#reefsquad

 

[justjes45]

Of course – these things always happen on a Friday. I just dealt with a similar situation.
Do you think you would be able to smear silicone on the outside of the glass?

Or if your tank could handle it just lower the water below that leaking area. I don't think I would risk transferring things to a bucket. That backfired on me so I'm sort of sensitive to that.

 

[melypr1985]

That's a pretty slow leak, though still scary. Can you just put a towel there to catch the drips and keep an eye on it? At least until you hear back from Red Sea?

 

[cmcoker]

Of course – these things always happen on a Friday. I just dealt with a similar situation.
Do you think you would be able to smear silicone on the outside of the glass?

Or if your tank could handle it just lower the water below that leaking area. I don't think I would risk transferring things to a bucket. That backfired on me so I'm sort of sensitive to that.

I'm hesitant to try and alter anything on it until I contact Red Sea...

 

[Murica]

Sometimes Jerry rigging is the best way to go. I vote you should try to just patch it up. If that doesn't work then either lower water level or completely fix.

 

[Maritimer]

I would drain to below the leak & run powerheads. Your lights are already there, but you may need to move your heater into the display.

Can you rig something for skimming?

~Bruce

 

[ngoodermuth]

This might sound backwoods...but what about a little piece of duct tape?

 

[cmcoker]

That's a pretty slow leak, though still scary. Can you just put a towel there to catch the drips and keep an eye on it? At least until you hear back from Red Sea?

I'm just worried it will worsen when I am gone. I have to work tomorrow of course... I think I'm leaning toward draining below leak and move the heater up to the display.. as Bruce mentioned

This might sound backwoods...but what about a little piece of duct tape?

Haha, I've thought about it but again, I have had such bad experiences lately with another aquarium company. I don't want to do anything that would be used to void the warranty..

 

[Cherub]

 

[jsker]

I would drain to below the leak & run powerheads. Your lights are already there, but you may need to move your heater into the display.

Can you rig something for skimming?

~Bruce

+1

 

[melypr1985]

I'm just worried it will worsen when I am gone. I have to work tomorrow of course... I think I'm leaning toward draining below leak and move the heater up to the display.. as Bruce mentioned

Yeah, since you wont be home, then I have to agree with draining to below the leak and so on... much safer that way.

 

[cmcoker]

Ha, funny enough my wife suggested we should get some of that a couple months ago

 

[prsnlty]

I have wondered about this stuff often . If it works this well it makes you wonder if it'll come off when it needs to come off. Lol

 

[prsnlty]

+1 To Bruce's suggestion, at least until you hear from red sea

 

[melypr1985]

I have wondered about this stuff often . If it works this well it makes you wonder if it'll come off when it needs to come off. Lol

A very good question! Now who wants to be the first one to test it out!

 

[cmcoker]

I drained a couple inches below the leak,and moved the heater up. Hopefully red sea can get this taken care of asap

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

Nope, nope and nope. drain it completely.

 

[Marlon2024]

FLEX SEAL

 

[smokin'reefer]

I recently had a leak on my Red Sea 450. Mine was on the bottom back so my only option was to drain the whole tank. I had everything in several 27 gallon totes with heaters and powerheads.
And, like you, total bad timing. Noticed Saturday morning and determined it wasn't the sump or plumbing that evening. Drained it that night and sent lfs owner a text the next morning. His manager contacted me shortly after and offered to meet me at their store that was still closed and gave me a loaner tank.
I sent Red Sea a message on their website and I had lfs owner work them from his angle. Had to send RS pics and within a couple days a new tank was on the way. They definitely stand behind their product. [emoji106][emoji106]

 

[d2mini]

I agree that your livestock is much safer keeping it in the tank for now, just draining below the leak.
Hopefully RS can get you a new tank in a week or so.
Start working on a plan to transfer. Buckets, tubs, heaters, airstones, etc.
You also might want to add an airstone to the display to increase oxygen levels.