Tank with a crack in it. Help!

[CJ Monty]

So its just about 11pm where I am so everything is closed. Please keep that in mind.

I have a 10 gallon QT tank I setup on Saturday with 2 fish (wrasse and blenny) for observation. They are eating but clearly stressed from transit. What I did not notice was the tank was damaged. There is a chunk of one of the corners missing and a hair line crack in the back panel (no idea if the crack is getting larger as I just noticed). The crack is where the silicone is. Its 2 inches off the bottom of the tank.

Home depot opens at 6am and Petco opens at 9am. If it was during business hours I would just replace the tank.

The ideas I came up with to survive the night are (but am open to suggestion):

1. Pray
2. Duct tape the corner
3. Get reef safe silicone at 6 (duct tape and pray until then)
4. Gorilla Super Glue (which I know is reef safe)
5. I have a 5.5 gallon tank laying around that I can move them to. Worried about that small of volume water with 2 fish and stressing them by having to move them 2x's (once to the 5 and then back to something larger).
6. Others?!?!?

 

[truben1010]

So its just about 11pm where I am so everything is closed. Please keep that in mind.

I have a 10 gallon QT tank I setup on Saturday with 2 fish (wrasse and blenny) for observation. They are eating but clearly stressed from transit. What I did not notice was the tank was damaged. There is a chunk of one of the corners missing and a hair line crack in the back panel (no idea if the crack is getting larger as I just noticed). The crack is where the silicone is. Its 2 inches off the bottom of the tank.

Home depot opens at 6am and Petco opens at 9am. If it was during business hours I would just replace the tank.

The ideas I came up with to survive the night are (but am open to suggestion):

1. Pray
2. Duct tape the corner
3. Get reef safe silicone at 6 (duct tape and pray until then)
4. Gorilla Super Glue (which I know is reef safe)
5. I have a 5.5 gallon tank laying around that I can move them to. Worried about that small of volume water with 2 fish and stressing them by having to move them 2x's (once to the 5 and then back to something larger).
6. Others?!?!?

You could try using a larger container to house the fish temporarily, once you get a tank tomorrow you can just take them out and put them in there. Just keep it oxygenated

 

[Brett newell]

I am by no measure an expert on this but I would duck tape it to hold it. If it's not leaking it should be ok, 10 gallon isn't much pressure on the seams. This is the reason I've convinced the wife I need the 6 running and the 6 empty ones in the garage.

 

[CJ Monty]

You could try using a larger container to house the fish temporarily, once you get a tank tomorrow you can just take them out and put them in there. Just keep it oxygenated

The 2 largest container best I could think of would be the 5.5 gallon tank. I could move the biowheel and heater over. Just worried about stressing them and ammonia over night. It is a newly setup QT. I did put a piece of live rock from my main tank in it.

 

[CJ Monty]

I am by no measure an expert on this but I would duck tape it to hold it. If it's not leaking it should be ok, 10 gallon isn't much pressure on the seams. This is the reason I've convinced the wife I need the 6 running and the 6 empty ones in the garage.

Yeah dumb for me not to inspect in entirely when I picked it from Petco. I will not be happy with them tomorrow.

I might try this and keep an eye on it (not much sleep for me tonight anyway). I watched some you tube videos of big tanks (150 gallon) with cracks and they kinda were just leaking not the flood gates I was expecting.

 

[truben1010]

The 2 largest container best I could think of would be the 5.5 gallon tank. I could move the biowheel and heater over. Just worried about stressing them and ammonia over night. It is a newly setup QT. I did put a piece of live rock from my main tank in it.

 

[truben1010]

The 2 largest container best I could think of would be the 5.5 gallon tank. I could move the biowheel and heater over. Just worried about stressing them and ammonia over night. It is a newly setup QT. I did put a piece of live rock from my main tank in it.

I wouldn’t be worried too much about the ammonia as long as you put them in the new tank as soon as possible .

 

[eatbreakfast]

As long as the crack isn't wet there shouldn't be any overnight tank failure.

A bucket with an airstone can suffice overnight.

 

[CJ Monty]

Crisis adverted. Duct Tape was fine over night. Got them in a new tank this morning. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Large tub is adequate and MAKE SURE IT IS CLEAN before use.

 

[Dom]

I'd like to see a pic.

But in general, I'd say you can relax. As was mentioned in a previous post, a 10 gallon isn't that much pressure on the glass.

That being said, you should get right on it as soon as stores open in the morning.

 

[CC13]

1. Pray
2. Duct tape the corner
3. Get reef safe silicone at 6 (duct tape and pray until then)
4. Gorilla Super Glue (which I know is reef safe)
5. I have a 5.5 gallon tank laying around that I can move them to. Worried about that small of volume water with 2 fish and stressing them by having to move them 2x's (once to the 5 and then back to something larger).
6. Others?!?!?

Can you post a picture of how bad the crack is? and is it leaking currently?

To be honest, I would break it down now, place your fish in a smaller 5.5 gallon with an air stone and replace the tank tomorrow. You are going to have to break it down tomorrow anyways so mine as well do it now and sleep with peace of mind.