Help ! My first tank leak !

mling · 11/12/2007, 08:54 AM

Guess I have been lucky since this is my first tank (glass) leak in over 20 years !
Problem is I have no clue what to do. It is a slow leak at one of the seams of my 50 Gal FOWLR, like a tear drop every 3 seconds. It is about 6" from the bottom of the tank. Discovered it late last night when we returned home from a weekend trip. Lucky for us, it must have started just a few hrs before we got home since that was not much water damage.

What I have done to stop to leak is to reduce the water pressure at the leak point by taking out about 60% of the water. I've applied some glue on the leak spot ( the Hot Gun plastic stuff used for arts and crafts, only thing I had at 11:30pm ). Obviously this is a temporary fix.

What do you do with such a leak ? I guess some kind of silicon glue to have to be used. Is there one brand that is better than others ? Can I just drop by home depot to get a Silicon based calk ?

Do you have to glue both the inside and outside of the tank ?

Thanks in advance for any advise.

Giga · 11/12/2007, 09:52 AM

simple get some silicone GE 1 from lows, HD and patch it up. What I would do is just upgrade to a new tank. The reason I would get a new tank if there is one leak then you fix it another could pop up. I know for myself is that I would never have piece of mind unless I just got a new tank(plus it's fun to upgrade)

michika · 11/12/2007, 11:10 AM

If you are opting to repair the tank, I highly recommend you empty the tank. Wet silicone in the tank may cause deaths, or unneeded stress on your livestock.

fishquaria · 11/12/2007, 11:39 AM

This is what I'd recommend. Reduce the water level to below the leak. Generously use silicone sealant (Aq grade) to patch up. Wait for 12 to 24 hours and top your tank. This should last for sometime. But try getting a new tank. Generally The silicone starts giving way after long periods. How old is this tank?

fishquaria · 11/12/2007, 11:40 AM

By the way the silicone goes outside the tank. Wet silicone inside the tank may cause you to take the whole tank down anyway, if you get the drift.

Demonic · 11/12/2007, 11:49 AM

I would try to leave it for now. I had a small leak on my tank, like yours 1 drop every 3 to 4 seconds. I left it alone to see if the salt creep fixed it. And walla no more leak. It stopped after 24 hours or so.

mling · 11/12/2007, 01:43 PM

This tank is old, 13 years old. Yes, I know it has probably out lived it's usefullness. However, I am planing to move in the next 6 months. That is when I plan to upgrade the tank to a 100G +.
I have heard horror stories of tank moves and won't want to do it if I don't have to.

I am also toying with the idea of combining the FOWLR and Reef in to a real biggie with LR seperating the fish that won't get along.

So looks like I will start patching the outside of this tank and hope to will hold till I move.

blackthunda77 · 11/12/2007, 04:27 PM

what you can do also, like you said. since your gonna try to patch the oustide till you move.....you ccan patch the inside with some putty just so it temparily stops the leak for and hour or so and then that gives you a chance to dry the outside of the tank since glue wont set on a wet surface. then you can silicone it or glue it up and let it dry for a couple hours (if the putty on the inside is blocking the leak) then you can remove the putty on the inside or leave it, whatever you want. I didnt read through the whole tread cuz i didnt have time, so maybe someone already sugested it.

11/12/2007, 08:54 AM	#1
mling Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 176	Help ! My first tank leak ! Guess I have been lucky since this is my first tank (glass) leak in over 20 years ! Problem is I have no clue what to do. It is a slow leak at one of the seams of my 50 Gal FOWLR, like a tear drop every 3 seconds. It is about 6" from the bottom of the tank. Discovered it late last night when we returned home from a weekend trip. Lucky for us, it must have started just a few hrs before we got home since that was not much water damage. What I have done to stop to leak is to reduce the water pressure at the leak point by taking out about 60% of the water. I've applied some glue on the leak spot ( the Hot Gun plastic stuff used for arts and crafts, only thing I had at 11:30pm ). Obviously this is a temporary fix. What do you do with such a leak ? I guess some kind of silicon glue to have to be used. Is there one brand that is better than others ? Can I just drop by home depot to get a Silicon based calk ? Do you have to glue both the inside and outside of the tank ? Thanks in advance for any advise.

11/12/2007, 09:52 AM	#2
Giga Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Virginia beach, VA Posts: 1,709	simple get some silicone GE 1 from lows, HD and patch it up. What I would do is just upgrade to a new tank. The reason I would get a new tank if there is one leak then you fix it another could pop up. I know for myself is that I would never have piece of mind unless I just got a new tank(plus it's fun to upgrade) __________________ "You said it didn't bite!"......."Well"......"It didn't bite me." Current Tank Info: cool

11/12/2007, 04:27 PM	#8
blackthunda77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: East Coast/West Coast Posts: 4,887	what you can do also, like you said. since your gonna try to patch the oustide till you move.....you ccan patch the inside with some putty just so it temparily stops the leak for and hour or so and then that gives you a chance to dry the outside of the tank since glue wont set on a wet surface. then you can silicone it or glue it up and let it dry for a couple hours (if the putty on the inside is blocking the leak) then you can remove the putty on the inside or leave it, whatever you want. I didnt read through the whole tread cuz i didnt have time, so maybe someone already sugested it. __________________ - John *blackthunda stands for a black Mistubishi 3000GT with black rims I used to own. Don't get any funny ideas! Current Tank Info: 200 Gal custom tank with dual corner overflows, 80 gal custom sump/refugium, Neptune Apex controller, Dual Lumenmax Elite reflectors with 250 Radiums, SWC 160 Cone Skimmer, 2x Jebao WP-25....and some other stuff.

11/12/2007, 11:10 AM	#3
michika red headed step child Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Land of Polar Bears & Poutine Posts: 1,994	If you are opting to repair the tank, I highly recommend you empty the tank. Wet silicone in the tank may cause deaths, or unneeded stress on your livestock.

11/12/2007, 11:39 AM	#4
fishquaria Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 170	This is what I'd recommend. Reduce the water level to below the leak. Generously use silicone sealant (Aq grade) to patch up. Wait for 12 to 24 hours and top your tank. This should last for sometime. But try getting a new tank. Generally The silicone starts giving way after long periods. How old is this tank?

11/12/2007, 11:40 AM	#5
fishquaria Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sri Lanka Posts: 170	By the way the silicone goes outside the tank. Wet silicone inside the tank may cause you to take the whole tank down anyway, if you get the drift.

11/12/2007, 11:49 AM	#6
Demonic Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Minot, ND Posts: 815	I would try to leave it for now. I had a small leak on my tank, like yours 1 drop every 3 to 4 seconds. I left it alone to see if the salt creep fixed it. And walla no more leak. It stopped after 24 hours or so.

11/12/2007, 01:43 PM	#7
mling Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 176	This tank is old, 13 years old. Yes, I know it has probably out lived it's usefullness. However, I am planing to move in the next 6 months. That is when I plan to upgrade the tank to a 100G +. I have heard horror stories of tank moves and won't want to do it if I don't have to. I am also toying with the idea of combining the FOWLR and Reef in to a real biggie with LR seperating the fish that won't get along. So looks like I will start patching the outside of this tank and hope to will hold till I move.