Uh oh! Tank leaking.

[AydenLincoln]

Well shoot! I think the silicone on Hewbie’s tank is starting to separate. I leave for vacation in the morning. It seems to be above the water line and I can’t feel or see a crack. It also is not like dripping water. There’s moisturise/water getting in between the rim and the top of the tank. I keep checking on it. Should I panic? Is this a ticking time bomb? It’s at the top opposed to the bottom which is why I’m not like omg my tank is about to burst. The tank is a six year old Marineland and either it’s been like this for awhile or I screwed it up/made it worse with my magnetic glass cleaner today. It’s not like dripping or shooting out water as I keep going to check on it but there is definitely water what seems to be above the water line as I take a paper towel and can see it get damp. This particular video was after I splashed water in that area to confirm my suspicions. Other than that it’s not dripping or soaking a paper towel 100%!
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/9bok...fHv6vCtc?rlkey=6j37inwyqbvfnajz7syudhzlx&dl=0
But I will be gone for the next week. And I will probably start looking for a new home for him.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Maybe a condensation leak and the solution is drop the water level. Hmmm.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would be more inclined to think it is condensation. You said it is above the waterline? Coming from under the top trim? Is there a lid?

 

[AydenLincoln]

I would be more inclined to think it is condensation. You said it is above the waterline? Coming from under the top trim? Is there a lid?

Yes it’s an egg crate style lid. And I keep checking on it and it does in fact wet the paper towel and then it gets completely dry and doesn’t continue to drip. And it does wet the paper towel at the top of it above the water line. Is this normal?

 

[BeanAnimal]

The only way water can be getting under the trim is via condensation or capillary action or salt creep. Are your returns over the top? Is there salt creep built up anywhere?

 

[AydenLincoln]

The only way water can be getting under the trim is via condensation or capillary action or salt creep. Are your returns over the top? Is there salt creep built up anywhere?

Yes and yes it’s a HOB overflow but it’s on the other side of the tank.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Check everywhere, water can get pulled around due to capillary action if it splashing onto the underside of the trim.

 

[AydenLincoln]

Check everywhere, water can get pulled around due to capillary action if it splashing onto the underside of the trim.

I will check on it tomorrow if it passes the paper towel test then it was probably my fault when I was splashing water everywhere and cleaning the glass etc. passed the paper towel test just now again. And also Hewbie splashes around too especially at dinner time!

 

[AydenLincoln]

I learn something new everyday I had no idea what capillary action was. Now I know how salt creep builds up under the rim too lol!

 

[AydenLincoln]

BUMP

 

[Devaji]

he 'sprob. messing with you. spiting water and you are thinking it a tank leak.

great way to get him a new home and you not to go on vacation....haha

I do hope you figure it out, so you can have a great relaxing trip.
could be a small drip from the HOB overflow??

 

[exnisstech]

My rimmed 180 with hob overflows always had salt creep around the top rim. I suppose I may have been able to wick water into a paper towel but I never tried. I think you'll be fine.

 

[AydenLincoln]

he 'sprob. messing with you. spiting water and you are thinking it a tank leak.

great way to get him a new home and you not to go on vacation....haha

I do hope you figure it out, so you can have a great relaxing trip.
could be a small drip from the HOB overflow??

Could be and I think so too lol! I checked before I left this morning and the paper towel was dry!

 

[AydenLincoln]

Very happy to report I came back from vacation to a very dry floor and it passed the paper towel test with flying colors!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Glad your tank isn't leaking!