Help! Major Leak In Tank

rmills · 05/21/2007, 12:57 PM

I came home for lunch and heard my sump pump sucking air, just topped off before work W.T.F. Niagara falls leaking from the bottom of my 55 gallon display tank. Lukily there was a 20 gallon sitting under it that I was gonna turn into a sump. I took everything out except for the live sand and have it in the 20 gal. I pumped the rest of the water out the window and avoided flooding the house. Now I have a Problem, 1 I need a new tank fast. Which brings me to my second problem, I now have only 20 gallons of cycled water. If I buy a new 55 gallon tank and have to top off with 35 gallons of uncycled water will that screw every thing up! If it will I would rather put everything into a friends already established tank and buy a larger tank and cycle it and then move what I have back.

mujtba · 05/21/2007, 01:31 PM

u can put the 20, and all the LR in there. you may not need 35g of uncycled water to fill it. possibly just 15-20g will fill the tank.

not to mention, you can fill it 3/4 of the way, and wait a week and then fill it more...

u shud be fine.

MrSpiffy · 05/21/2007, 01:44 PM

You could fill it up with well-mixed "uncycled" water. That shouldn't be a problem. The live rock and sand have the bacteria in them that help break down the ammonia and nitrites. If you keep the rock and sand in water, there should be little cycle when you fill up the tank again. I'd recommend blowing off detritus while you have them out of the tank, too. It would probably help minimize any cycle, if you do have one.

The only time I'd suggest being careful is if you had a deep sand bed (DSB) in your tank. Disturbing a DSB can be toxic to a tank. You might want to rinse the sand pretty well before using it again, if you had a DSB (we're talking 3"-4" or more deep).

The Saltwater Kid · 05/21/2007, 01:58 PM

If you're worried about new freshly made R/O water causing a new cycle you might be able to purchase 20 or however many gallons you need from your LFS tanks that is already cycled...as long as they're tanks are healthy looking.

stevebla · 05/21/2007, 02:05 PM

I change water all the time just mix get the temp right age a little and use. Stiring everything up might cause a problem but fresh salt water with the right temp and spec. gravity should be ok.

05/21/2007, 12:57 PM	#1
rmills Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: jax. florida Posts: 21	Help! Major Leak In Tank I came home for lunch and heard my sump pump sucking air, just topped off before work W.T.F. Niagara falls leaking from the bottom of my 55 gallon display tank. Lukily there was a 20 gallon sitting under it that I was gonna turn into a sump. I took everything out except for the live sand and have it in the 20 gal. I pumped the rest of the water out the window and avoided flooding the house. Now I have a Problem, 1 I need a new tank fast. Which brings me to my second problem, I now have only 20 gallons of cycled water. If I buy a new 55 gallon tank and have to top off with 35 gallons of uncycled water will that screw every thing up! If it will I would rather put everything into a friends already established tank and buy a larger tank and cycle it and then move what I have back. __________________ 55 Gallon, 45lbs. live rock, 2" live sand bed, 250watt MH, Coralife RO/DI filter for water supply. Sump with L.R. and mag5 for return. 1 SEIO 850 G.P.H. for flow. 6 mexican turbo snails. 1 coralshrimp, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 snail not sure free loaded in on a rock. 3 blueleged hermit crabs. 1 Yellow tang, 1 Clown. Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef tank

05/21/2007, 01:58 PM	#4
The Saltwater Kid Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Barre, VT Posts: 2,586	If you're worried about new freshly made R/O water causing a new cycle you might be able to purchase 20 or however many gallons you need from your LFS tanks that is already cycled...as long as they're tanks are healthy looking. __________________ Oceanic Biocube 14g Nano Tank w/middle chamber refugium mod 2 Ecoxotic Power Pro LED Modules (1 - 12K/Royal Blue combo, 1 - Royal Blue) MaxiJet 900 return, VorTech MP10 circulation Livestock: Higher End Z's & P's, few mushrooms, Aussie Duncan, Maxi Mini Carpet Anemone

05/21/2007, 02:05 PM	#5
stevebla Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: N. California Posts: 116	water change I change water all the time just mix get the temp right age a little and use. Stiring everything up might cause a problem but fresh salt water with the right temp and spec. gravity should be ok.

05/21/2007, 01:31 PM	#2
mujtba Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 693	u can put the 20, and all the LR in there. you may not need 35g of uncycled water to fill it. possibly just 15-20g will fill the tank. not to mention, you can fill it 3/4 of the way, and wait a week and then fill it more... u shud be fine.

05/21/2007, 01:44 PM	#3
MrSpiffy Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,300	You could fill it up with well-mixed "uncycled" water. That shouldn't be a problem. The live rock and sand have the bacteria in them that help break down the ammonia and nitrites. If you keep the rock and sand in water, there should be little cycle when you fill up the tank again. I'd recommend blowing off detritus while you have them out of the tank, too. It would probably help minimize any cycle, if you do have one. The only time I'd suggest being careful is if you had a deep sand bed (DSB) in your tank. Disturbing a DSB can be toxic to a tank. You might want to rinse the sand pretty well before using it again, if you had a DSB (we're talking 3"-4" or more deep).