Salt Creep on Front Glass

albertan22 · 10/22/2009, 09:23 AM

So my tank has been cycling for about 7 weeks now and this morning I noticed that a small patch of salt has formed on the outside of the front panel glass. It's about a 1/2 inch in size, and is coming from the black plastic bracing. I hadn't noticed it before because it's pretty well hidden by my stand. Is this going to be a problem? There doesn't seem to be any moisture there, but the salt creep is an indication of a leak isn't it? I'm not sure what, if anything, I should be doing about this...

lordofthereef · 10/22/2009, 10:07 AM

Is there a lot of flow? The bracing generally isn't sealed very well (because it doesn't need to be watertight (at least I don't think) so any splashing that gets up there and slowly trickles back down and then dries will create salt creep. I have seen this on my smaller glass tank. I don't think it's a problem.

thegrun · 10/22/2009, 10:34 AM

It could be an issue or nothing at all. Is it possible that is was the result of a splash or spill? If I follow your description correctly, the salt creep is at the top of the tank above the waterline, which would lead me to believe that it was caused by a wave, a splash or a spill. Are your returns causing waves to wash up onto the brace?

albertan22 · 10/22/2009, 11:36 AM

The creep is actually at the bottom of the tank, at the lower black frame. It is very possible that it's the result of a drip down the front of the tank though (I hadn't considered that), as I recently took a lot of rock out which resulted in a bunch of water all over the place. Guess I'll clean it off and see if it re-forms.

10/22/2009, 09:23 AM	#1
albertan22 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 83	Salt Creep on Front Glass So my tank has been cycling for about 7 weeks now and this morning I noticed that a small patch of salt has formed on the outside of the front panel glass. It's about a 1/2 inch in size, and is coming from the black plastic bracing. I hadn't noticed it before because it's pretty well hidden by my stand. Is this going to be a problem? There doesn't seem to be any moisture there, but the salt creep is an indication of a leak isn't it? I'm not sure what, if anything, I should be doing about this...

10/22/2009, 10:07 AM	#2
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	Is there a lot of flow? The bracing generally isn't sealed very well (because it doesn't need to be watertight (at least I don't think) so any splashing that gets up there and slowly trickles back down and then dries will create salt creep. I have seen this on my smaller glass tank. I don't think it's a problem. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/22/2009, 10:34 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It could be an issue or nothing at all. Is it possible that is was the result of a splash or spill? If I follow your description correctly, the salt creep is at the top of the tank above the waterline, which would lead me to believe that it was caused by a wave, a splash or a spill. Are your returns causing waves to wash up onto the brace?

10/22/2009, 11:36 AM	#4
albertan22 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 83	The creep is actually at the bottom of the tank, at the lower black frame. It is very possible that it's the result of a drip down the front of the tank though (I hadn't considered that), as I recently took a lot of rock out which resulted in a bunch of water all over the place. Guess I'll clean it off and see if it re-forms.