I think my tank is leaking??

[SeeCrabRun]

I've been noticing some salt creep around the plastic rim of my tank the past few weeks, but I thought it was just from splatter and I must just suck at aiming...

Now there's a little puddle in the same area.

Is there any way to stop the leak without taking the tank apart?????

Please help!!!

 

[leptang]

What type of tank is it, glass? Acrylic?

 

[leptang]

Is the SC in the corners?

 

[SeeCrabRun]

It's a glass tank. The salt creep is kind of in the middlish on the bottom right rim, but the puddle is more towards the corner. I've been cleaning it up and it keeps coming back.

 

[leptang]

You should at least try to get a new tank asap.... Your tank may blow out on you if it is leaking from the bottom.
If you have buckets I would drain as much water as you can to reduce pressure, if you don't have enough buckets to put your live rock, corals and fish in before you can get another tank.

 

[SeeCrabRun]

This is my reef tank, is there any reef safe way to fix it and not take everyone out?

Can I move everything over to the other side and run some silicone along the inside? Is there a silicone that is safe to use like that??

 

[leptang]

Silicone sealant needs a dry surface to cure

 

[SeeCrabRun]

I have a brute trash can, but I'm new to coral. Won't moving them cause a cycle? Or moving them into a new tank? Will I have to cycle the new tank?

 

[SeeCrabRun]

We've been having a lot of temp swings lately and my house hasn't been able to stay stable, could this have caused it? The tank temp has been fluctuating despite heaters and fans.

 

[leptang]

If you have a large clean cooler or plastic trash can you can store your reef in it for a couple days with a power head and a heater, buying you time to other get a new tank or having your tank rebuilt.

 

[leptang]

Is you tank level? What kind of surface is it sitting on?

 

[SeeCrabRun]

will I have to cycle the new tank? How do I keep it from cycling when I move everything? Do I put the sand in the bucket too?

 

[SeeCrabRun]

It's as level as I could get it. I used some shims and tried to get the bubble as perfectly centered between the lines of the leveler, but they aren't quite center.

It's on a real wood stand that is painted, should I worry about water damage to the stand?

 

[leptang]

If its not level, or it is over hanging the edge of a counter, or your stand it tweeked and or warped may cause it to start leaking then blow out

 

[leptang]

How old is your tank?

 

[SeeCrabRun]

I've had it 6 months now. I got it from petco's sale during their January dollar per gallon. I feel like I noticed the salt creep a couple months ago. At first I thought I was just being clumsy, but then I was trying to be careful and still saw it. But it wasn't like it was there every day, it seemed to come and go in different intervals. But the puddle has been happening all day today. It's just small, not running off the stand or enough to soak a rag, but I wipe it up and a few hours later it looks about the same.

 

[leptang]

Over time weight that is pressing down on the shims can alter the flatness of the surface that tank is sitting on.

 

[leptang]

Maybe a defective tank

 

[SeeCrabRun]

so what do I do? I can't fix it, I have to take everyone out?

Do I put the sand in the bucket? Will moving everything cause a cycle? I don't want to lose the corals I have! Will I have to cycle the new tank before I put everyone back in?

I lost my very first corals to a mini cycle, I'm really scared about this.

 

[leptang]

If its leaking from the bottom I would at least other; A. Buy a new tank or talk to the Petco with your receipt to get it replaced. Or B. Have your tank rebuilt by someone that knows how to do it.