Not My DAY!

gistsc · 05/03/2007, 07:34 PM

I just noticed that my tank is cracking on the bottom. One of my PH blew the sand out of one corner of the tank and I noticed what looked like cracks. Sure enough, from the bottom it looks like three small cracks in the corner. The longest is about 4 inches long. I have no corals or fish in the tank, just 60lbs of rock and clean-up crew. I know the answer to this already, but I will ask it anyway. How long do you think I can get away with this condition? I could replace it in a week or so, but I need time to get the tank and paint the back. Also, how determental will it be to move everything over to another tank? I have been looking forward to adding my first corals in about a month. I have a small rock in my QT with some shrooms, and some green star polyps that have been there for about two weeks now.

This bits!

rkelman · 05/03/2007, 07:46 PM

I'd move everything into a large brute or similar container.. Why take the chance of having a blowout. I wouldn't think it will impact your cycle at all. No worries. Well almost none

MTB · 05/03/2007, 07:48 PM

As long as you use the water and everything else from the old tank, you should get a minimal cycle. The brute can is the easiest/cheapest way IMO.

joekr · 05/03/2007, 07:54 PM

The first signs of cracking I would get everything out of there now. Even 29 gallons of salt water would make a helluva mess. The cycle should still proceed normally...

Felix1021 · 05/03/2007, 07:55 PM

i know your pain..mine cracked on Sunday and i have everything in buckets...i didnt have any fish just the CUC...i was able to get a replacement tank but i'm still waiting to set it back up because i think the crack was due to stress (not a well leveled table/stand) so im waiting for a specialist that is going to come in and take a look at the table from the furniture store and i might even get a full refund or a new table...

just take your time and you should be fine..DONT RISK IT TAKE EVERYTHING OUT PRONTO!!! dont take the risk of coming home to a big mess and maybe losing some equipment in the process...

Run to Home Depot and get those big garbage buckets and put everything in it...

I have a little station set up right now where i have a filter running which keeps water circulating *my original water that i had in my tank* and i have a spot light keeping my temp at good standings...my CUC seems to be doing fine...and its Thursday...

Sorry for the long reply but I KNOW WHAT U ARE GOING THROUGH but just go ahead and move things quickly...

GOOD LUCK

Shagsbeard · 05/03/2007, 07:55 PM

Be glad you caught it... not a bad day at all. The price of a new tank is minimal when you consider the costs that could have happened if you didn't catch it. I'd see it as saving thousands of dollars on clean up, replacement of the tank, livestock, no smelly mess... definately a good thing. I think I'll go check mine... just to be sure.

get a new tank. get that one repaired and then sell it, or sell it to someone willing to repair it.

t5Nitro · 05/03/2007, 08:23 PM

If you are moving it from a 29 gallon to another, I would just transfer as much water as you can and you will most likely have no cycle, and if you do, probably really small. This gives you an opportunity to upgrade though

Glad you found it soon though!

stuccodude · 05/03/2007, 08:31 PM

is it glass or acylic? just curious

Felix1021 · 05/03/2007, 08:32 PM

yup..very lucky!!!...not me though lol...but yeah im taking my time now because i know i wont probalby be going through another cycle so im happy about that...so i can just probably run the tank adn then two weeks after that...i can get my fish and all that...but yeah i would upgrade ...plus u have a lot of LR for that 29g tank...

gistsc · 05/03/2007, 09:27 PM

Thanks guys. I will get another tank Saturday. I will start moving things tomorrow after work, or I will start mopping after work. Hopefully it will be OK until tomorrow. I think it will. The tank is glass. I believe it was a Top Fin brand. I am going to a larger store in the city and see if I can get a better quality tank.

gistsc · 05/06/2007, 05:09 PM

Well, go the new tank put in place. After removing the old one, it appears it was not a crack. What I was seeing was sealent coming out of the corners. Even after scrapping it off a little, it still looks like a crack. I guess better safe then sorry. I also learned I have another Mantis shrimp. I cought one a few weeks ago in my QT. When I was pulling the rock out to swap tanks, I was hit in the finger by something. It hit me with some force. Luckly I had not picked up the rock yet, as I jumped back and would have certenly droped it. Anyways, I found lots of dead hermit crab parts, and empty snail shells in the area where I took the hit. Only conclusion I can come to is Mantis. Traps are set and I will get the little bugger.

joekr · 05/06/2007, 05:12 PM

well, that's good it wasn't a crack. I had the same thing happen with my 90 where some of the glue slop looked like cracks. I made darn sure they weren't before a drop of water went in it.

Good luck w/ the mantis. Just so you know, when you do capture it, they are in demand here and @ LFS'...

elegance coral · 05/06/2007, 05:16 PM

I hate to see this happen to anybody but thats the funniest thing i have heard all day.

gistsc · 05/06/2007, 05:22 PM

Ya, I guess we must have a sence of humor in this hobby right?

05/03/2007, 07:34 PM	#1
gistsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California, USA Posts: 131	Not My DAY! I just noticed that my tank is cracking on the bottom. One of my PH blew the sand out of one corner of the tank and I noticed what looked like cracks. Sure enough, from the bottom it looks like three small cracks in the corner. The longest is about 4 inches long. I have no corals or fish in the tank, just 60lbs of rock and clean-up crew. I know the answer to this already, but I will ask it anyway. How long do you think I can get away with this condition? I could replace it in a week or so, but I need time to get the tank and paint the back. Also, how determental will it be to move everything over to another tank? I have been looking forward to adding my first corals in about a month. I have a small rock in my QT with some shrooms, and some green star polyps that have been there for about two weeks now. This bits! __________________ 29 gal tank LPS w/10 gal fuge 60 lbs LR Shallow sand bed started 3/1/2007 Current Tank Info: 29 gal reef

05/03/2007, 07:48 PM	#3
MTB Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illannoy Posts: 1,365	As long as you use the water and everything else from the old tank, you should get a minimal cycle. The brute can is the easiest/cheapest way IMO. __________________ Got Frags? Current Tank Info: 40 breeder. Kessil lights. Reef octopus skimmer. Vortec mp40 x2.

05/03/2007, 07:54 PM	#4
joekr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 661	The first signs of cracking I would get everything out of there now. Even 29 gallons of salt water would make a helluva mess. The cycle should still proceed normally... __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef

05/03/2007, 08:23 PM	#7
t5Nitro Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,384	If you are moving it from a 29 gallon to another, I would just transfer as much water as you can and you will most likely have no cycle, and if you do, probably really small. This gives you an opportunity to upgrade though Glad you found it soon though! __________________ ATI T5 club Current Tank Info: Left the hobby, looking to re-enter in the future

05/03/2007, 08:31 PM	#8
stuccodude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: sanger Posts: 1,040	is it glass or acylic? just curious __________________ fear the wrath of patrick willis!!! no offense is safe. Current Tank Info: 240 all the goodies,hydra 26 led lights, chiller etc

05/03/2007, 07:46 PM	#2
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	I'd move everything into a large brute or similar container.. Why take the chance of having a blowout. I wouldn't think it will impact your cycle at all. No worries. Well almost none

05/03/2007, 07:55 PM	#5
Felix1021 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 739	i know your pain..mine cracked on Sunday and i have everything in buckets...i didnt have any fish just the CUC...i was able to get a replacement tank but i'm still waiting to set it back up because i think the crack was due to stress (not a well leveled table/stand) so im waiting for a specialist that is going to come in and take a look at the table from the furniture store and i might even get a full refund or a new table... just take your time and you should be fine..DONT RISK IT TAKE EVERYTHING OUT PRONTO!!! dont take the risk of coming home to a big mess and maybe losing some equipment in the process... Run to Home Depot and get those big garbage buckets and put everything in it... I have a little station set up right now where i have a filter running which keeps water circulating my original water that i had in my tank and i have a spot light keeping my temp at good standings...my CUC seems to be doing fine...and its Thursday... Sorry for the long reply but I KNOW WHAT U ARE GOING THROUGH but just go ahead and move things quickly... GOOD LUCK

05/03/2007, 07:55 PM	#6
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Be glad you caught it... not a bad day at all. The price of a new tank is minimal when you consider the costs that could have happened if you didn't catch it. I'd see it as saving thousands of dollars on clean up, replacement of the tank, livestock, no smelly mess... definately a good thing. I think I'll go check mine... just to be sure. get a new tank. get that one repaired and then sell it, or sell it to someone willing to repair it.

05/03/2007, 08:32 PM	#9
Felix1021 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 739	yup..very lucky!!!...not me though lol...but yeah im taking my time now because i know i wont probalby be going through another cycle so im happy about that...so i can just probably run the tank adn then two weeks after that...i can get my fish and all that...but yeah i would upgrade ...plus u have a lot of LR for that 29g tank...

05/03/2007, 09:27 PM	#10
gistsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California, USA Posts: 131	Thanks guys. I will get another tank Saturday. I will start moving things tomorrow after work, or I will start mopping after work. Hopefully it will be OK until tomorrow. I think it will. The tank is glass. I believe it was a Top Fin brand. I am going to a larger store in the city and see if I can get a better quality tank. __________________ 29 gal tank LPS w/10 gal fuge 60 lbs LR Shallow sand bed started 3/1/2007 Current Tank Info: 29 gal reef

05/06/2007, 05:09 PM	#11
gistsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California, USA Posts: 131	The fun continues Well, go the new tank put in place. After removing the old one, it appears it was not a crack. What I was seeing was sealent coming out of the corners. Even after scrapping it off a little, it still looks like a crack. I guess better safe then sorry. I also learned I have another Mantis shrimp. I cought one a few weeks ago in my QT. When I was pulling the rock out to swap tanks, I was hit in the finger by something. It hit me with some force. Luckly I had not picked up the rock yet, as I jumped back and would have certenly droped it. Anyways, I found lots of dead hermit crab parts, and empty snail shells in the area where I took the hit. Only conclusion I can come to is Mantis. Traps are set and I will get the little bugger. __________________ 29 gal tank LPS w/10 gal fuge 60 lbs LR Shallow sand bed started 3/1/2007 Current Tank Info: 29 gal reef

05/06/2007, 05:12 PM	#12
joekr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 661	well, that's good it wasn't a crack. I had the same thing happen with my 90 where some of the glue slop looked like cracks. I made darn sure they weren't before a drop of water went in it. Good luck w/ the mantis. Just so you know, when you do capture it, they are in demand here and @ LFS'... __________________ Joe Current Tank Info: 90 gallon reef

05/06/2007, 05:16 PM	#13
elegance coral They call me EC Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: central Florida Posts: 6,208	I hate to see this happen to anybody but thats the funniest thing i have heard all day.

05/06/2007, 05:22 PM	#14
gistsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: California, USA Posts: 131	Ya, I guess we must have a sence of humor in this hobby right? __________________ 29 gal tank LPS w/10 gal fuge 60 lbs LR Shallow sand bed started 3/1/2007 Current Tank Info: 29 gal reef