My 180 is leaking :(

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

My 180 started leaking at the front right yesterday morning. It is a small leak at the base, but I needed to empty the tank.

So, here I go again, breaking down the tank (didn't I do this one and a half years ago?) so that I can put a new one in. Aquatic Cove in Madison is helping me with a new tank. They said that they can get it delivered quickly. My livestock are all in containers. They seem to be doing okay at the moment. I am hoping and praying that they will hold up until the new tank is plumbed up and ready to go.

AlexStinson · Nov 30, 2017

Boo!

eric.battani · Nov 30, 2017

If you need anything let me know. I'll help however I can.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

Thank you. I hope that I can get it all taken care of soon, but in a pinch, I will take you up on your offer.

Doclight · Nov 30, 2017

Did the seal break or the glass? Just curious.. Got a 180 on order

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

Doclight said:
Did the seal break or the glass? Just curious.. Got a 180 on order

I believe so. I had the tank moved when I moved to a new house a year and a half ago (a risky thing, I know.) It's built back in June 2009. It took a year and a half to develop a leak.

Brew12 · Nov 30, 2017

Tomoko Schum said:
My 180 started leaking at the front right yesterday morning. It is a small leak at the base, but I needed to empty the tank.

So, here I go again, breaking down the tank (didn't I do this one and a half years ago?) so that I can put a new one in. Aquatic Cove in Madison is helping me with a new tank. They said that they can get it delivered quickly. My livestock are all in containers. They seem to be doing okay at the moment. I am hoping and praying that they will hold up until the new tank is plumbed up and ready to go.

I'm pretty busy, but I may be able to help if needed. Depends on the timing. I actually have 4 x 220lb suction cup lifting devices coming in today (I hope) for a new tank I'll be installing soon.

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

I also bumped my Geo Ca reactor and broke the seal on its uni-seal. I cleaned the seal and put it back with silicone grease, but it lost its ability to seal. I am waiting for the replacement uni-seal to arrive, too.

I also had to return a brand new Apex system that Reilly bought for me for birthday (the end of October) due to a strange case of water in the bags of mounting screws and calibration solution. Nothing was wet except for the Energy Bar cord and the things in the bags. The Apex was replaced but I had to wait for two weeks. When I started calibrating the probes (which did not cooperate with me well, but that's another story), my tank started leaking.

So I had a string of misfortune lately...

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

Brew12 said:
I'm pretty busy, but I may be able to help if needed. Depends on the timing. I actually have 4 x 220lb suction cup lifting devices coming in today (I hope) for a new tank I'll be installing soon.

Thank you for the kind offer. I am waiting on a new tank at the moment. Aquatic Cove in Madison should be delivering it to me this weekend. They told me that they will recut the holes for the drain pipes (the overflow boxes on the new tank are not in the corners) and set the tank on the stand for me. I am hoping and praying that everything will go well as planned.

Brew12 · Nov 30, 2017

Tomoko Schum said:
Thank you for the kind offer. I am waiting on a new tank at the moment. Aquatic Cove in Madison should be delivering it to me this weekend. They told me that they will recut the holes for the drain pipes (the overflow boxes on the new tank are not in the corners) and set the tank on the stand for me. I am hoping and praying that everything will go well as planned.

Hope the old tank holds on for you!

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

Brew12 said:
Hope the old tank holds on for you!

I have emptied it out last night/ this morning.

77railer · Nov 30, 2017

Well that just sucks...not sure how I would handle that situation...Do I need to have an emergency fund setup just for the tank? SMH Hoping for the best outcome for ya.

Brew12 · Nov 30, 2017

Tomoko Schum said:
I have emptied it out last night/ this morning.

Great! Missed that you already had moved the livestock into containers.

I do have a few HoB filters and heaters laying around from my QT setups if you need some smaller filtration.

beaslbob · Nov 30, 2017

Tomoko. Seeesh! Sorry to hear.

Let us know if we can help

Bob and verdell

Porpoise Hork · Nov 30, 2017

Before you tear it down to seal it back up check to make sure it's perfectly level. Any variation in a tank level can cause leaks like this to complete failures.

Doclight · Nov 30, 2017

I was going to suggest checking the level.. Things settle over time. But then if you have a tank that big, I'd assume you knew that..

Tomoko Schum · Nov 30, 2017

I took a level to it just in case since the ground settled due to the drought last year. It seems to be level. The trim at the top of the tank may not be completely level anymore, but my level show the bubble in the center.

H@rry · Dec 1, 2017

My tanks are in a sun room that was once a carport and the floor is sloping slightly. The water line on a 6 foot 190 is 1/4 inch higher on one end than the other. The tanks don't have to be level but have to be "flat", that is supported on all edges and not rocking. I have 4 tanks in the room that have been running since April '09 with no leaks.

I suspect Tomoko's issue might be due to some rough handling during the move that compromised a silicone seal. Still, it's weird that it went a year and a half before starting to leak.

Crabs McJones · Dec 1, 2017

Sorry to hear

but good luck!

Tomoko Schum · Dec 1, 2017

I have been very careful about using algae scraper blade. I don't think I was close to the silicone last time, which would have been a week or so ago. That would be the only thing that I can think of that might have caused the tank to start leaking.