Disaster!!!

Big_Don · 03/23/2009, 07:26 AM

Last night (it is always at night isn't it?) our 560 gallon built in split open at the back bottom seal. We managed to save all of the fish and most of the clean up crew. We mixed salt and got the 500 lbs of live rock into 5 gallon buckets and the mixing vats. I am writing partly because I am just devastated and partly to ask if there is anything that can be done to save the aquarium? Can it be resealed? I am sure the whole thing is racked at this point, but none of the glass has broken. Will it ever hold water again, or can I sleep at night if I try to have someone fix it? I am sick that we paid over $15,000 for a set up that has only lasted 8 years.... What do you suggest????

Big_Don

chimmike · 03/23/2009, 07:40 AM

IMO 8-10 years is about the lifespan of a tank. I'm sure it can be re-sealed and assembled again, though.

Ask in the DIY section.

billdogg · 03/23/2009, 08:02 AM

yes it can be resealed - the WHOLE tank must be taken apart and ALL seams redone. Not a small job, but not impossible.

Patching the single seam by using more silicone on top of the old WILL NOT WORK!!!!!

let me repeat that - you MUST redo ALL joints or it will fail again.

please refer to www.wetwebmedia.com to verify

Big_Don · 03/23/2009, 08:17 AM

Thank you billdogg - I figured that the entire tank would need to be taken apart (not a job I will be doing - I will leave that to a professional). I can tell that the other seams in the tank are racked. I appreciate everyones comments and suggestions. This is not what I expected to me doing this beautiful Monday morning...

billdogg · 03/23/2009, 09:23 AM

call around your area - a good lfs may point you towards someone who can do the job. - oh marysville - call around my area LOL
try phishy business in gahanna, or as a last resort aquatic adventures on sawmill (their prices are sucky and the advice they give is usually somewhat........lacking

also try local glass shops

let me know how it goes!

Big_Don · 03/23/2009, 09:53 AM

I hear you on AA - that is where we ordered our tank from to begin with. I had a rough run in with their custom guy...

I don't know if the spouse is going to be up for giving this another go, but hopefully we can get something worked out...

john rochon · 03/23/2009, 10:22 AM

who built the tank and did a pro build the stand? whats the stand made of? chances are the ''stand'' is what caused your tank to fail.
tanks can and do last longer than 8 to 10 years as suggested! they can and should last at least 25 years!! good silicone can last that long no problem.

now on fixing the tank, you should find a tank builder not just some guy from a glass shop. if you paid the $15000 just for the tank you paid to much. I built my own for $3500 but I braced the tank like crazy and used oak bracings on all the coners and bottoms

Big_Don · 03/23/2009, 10:33 AM

The stand is metal with several years worth of rust resistant paint. With a wooden top piece between the stand and the tank. There are oak supports around the front of the tank, as that is part of the built in portion. The tank and stand were made by a custom tank builder. The price I stated earlier was for tank, filtration systems, substrate, live rock, cleaning crew, RO unit, starter fish, etc... not just the glass and stand.

Before we do anything, we will be sure to find out the cause. Thank you for mentioning the stand. We will be having it checked out as well.

john rochon · 03/23/2009, 11:44 AM

is there any bracing on the bottom of the tank? like euro bracing but on the bottom.

stylie · 03/23/2009, 01:41 PM

Did the water come rushing out or was it more of a slow leak? How bad is the damage to the house?

Big_Don · 03/24/2009, 06:49 AM

No there was not bracing around the bottom of the tank in the back. There was on the front due to the built in.

The entire 560 gallons from both the tank and sumps completely emptied in less than 3 minutes. It was like Niagara Falls! We worked on clean up for 7 hours. We had a water damage specialist come to assess the damage and to do an extraction. Our dry wall was not damaged. He said that he had never seen a homeowner do such a through job extracting and drying their own carpet. He couldn't get anything else up and his meter read that we were almost dry as of last night. He sprayed sanitizer and didn't even charge us. So we just have to leave the carpet pulled back for 3 or 4 days, have it restretched and tacked, then have the cleaners come out and clean and protect it. So, all in all the damage was not bad to the house.

Our fish looked great last night, but we are watching them closely...

Chris&Jenn · 03/24/2009, 07:02 AM

Holy cow.. .and I had a panic attack when our 75 Gal split with a slow leak at the back bottom seam in October.
Good job saving the critters, and good luck to you repairing your tank. Unbelievably lucky in regards to the house, wow.

Do you have any pics of the tank before the incident?

Big_Don · 03/24/2009, 12:40 PM

Yes, there are a few pics BT (before titlewave) in my gallery...

03/23/2009, 07:26 AM	#1
Big_Don Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 159	Disaster!!! Last night (it is always at night isn't it?) our 560 gallon built in split open at the back bottom seal. We managed to save all of the fish and most of the clean up crew. We mixed salt and got the 500 lbs of live rock into 5 gallon buckets and the mixing vats. I am writing partly because I am just devastated and partly to ask if there is anything that can be done to save the aquarium? Can it be resealed? I am sure the whole thing is racked at this point, but none of the glass has broken. Will it ever hold water again, or can I sleep at night if I try to have someone fix it? I am sick that we paid over $15,000 for a set up that has only lasted 8 years.... What do you suggest???? Big_Don __________________ "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa Current Tank Info: 500 gal. in wall reef tank 400lbs live rock

03/23/2009, 07:40 AM	#2
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	IMO 8-10 years is about the lifespan of a tank. I'm sure it can be re-sealed and assembled again, though. Ask in the DIY section. __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

03/23/2009, 08:02 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	yes it can be resealed - the WHOLE tank must be taken apart and ALL seams redone. Not a small job, but not impossible. Patching the single seam by using more silicone on top of the old WILL NOT WORK!!!!! let me repeat that - you MUST redo ALL joints or it will fail again. please refer to www.wetwebmedia.com to verify __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/23/2009, 08:17 AM	#4
Big_Don Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 159	Thank you billdogg - I figured that the entire tank would need to be taken apart (not a job I will be doing - I will leave that to a professional). I can tell that the other seams in the tank are racked. I appreciate everyones comments and suggestions. This is not what I expected to me doing this beautiful Monday morning... __________________ "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa Current Tank Info: 500 gal. in wall reef tank 400lbs live rock

03/23/2009, 09:23 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	call around your area - a good lfs may point you towards someone who can do the job. - oh marysville - call around my area LOL try phishy business in gahanna, or as a last resort aquatic adventures on sawmill (their prices are sucky and the advice they give is usually somewhat........lacking also try local glass shops let me know how it goes! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

03/23/2009, 09:53 AM	#6
Big_Don Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 159	I hear you on AA - that is where we ordered our tank from to begin with. I had a rough run in with their custom guy... I don't know if the spouse is going to be up for giving this another go, but hopefully we can get something worked out... __________________ "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa Current Tank Info: 500 gal. in wall reef tank 400lbs live rock

03/23/2009, 10:22 AM	#7
john rochon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: canada Posts: 2,082	who built the tank and did a pro build the stand? whats the stand made of? chances are the ''stand'' is what caused your tank to fail. tanks can and do last longer than 8 to 10 years as suggested! they can and should last at least 25 years!! good silicone can last that long no problem. now on fixing the tank, you should find a tank builder not just some guy from a glass shop. if you paid the $15000 just for the tank you paid to much. I built my own for $3500 but I braced the tank like crazy and used oak bracings on all the coners and bottoms

03/23/2009, 10:33 AM	#8
Big_Don Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 159	The stand is metal with several years worth of rust resistant paint. With a wooden top piece between the stand and the tank. There are oak supports around the front of the tank, as that is part of the built in portion. The tank and stand were made by a custom tank builder. The price I stated earlier was for tank, filtration systems, substrate, live rock, cleaning crew, RO unit, starter fish, etc... not just the glass and stand. Before we do anything, we will be sure to find out the cause. Thank you for mentioning the stand. We will be having it checked out as well. __________________ "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa Current Tank Info: 500 gal. in wall reef tank 400lbs live rock

03/23/2009, 11:44 AM	#9
john rochon Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: canada Posts: 2,082	is there any bracing on the bottom of the tank? like euro bracing but on the bottom.

03/23/2009, 01:41 PM	#10
stylie Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 34	Did the water come rushing out or was it more of a slow leak? How bad is the damage to the house?

03/24/2009, 06:49 AM	#11
Big_Don Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 159	No there was not bracing around the bottom of the tank in the back. There was on the front due to the built in. The entire 560 gallons from both the tank and sumps completely emptied in less than 3 minutes. It was like Niagara Falls! We worked on clean up for 7 hours. We had a water damage specialist come to assess the damage and to do an extraction. Our dry wall was not damaged. He said that he had never seen a homeowner do such a through job extracting and drying their own carpet. He couldn't get anything else up and his meter read that we were almost dry as of last night. He sprayed sanitizer and didn't even charge us. So we just have to leave the carpet pulled back for 3 or 4 days, have it restretched and tacked, then have the cleaners come out and clean and protect it. So, all in all the damage was not bad to the house. Our fish looked great last night, but we are watching them closely... __________________ "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa Current Tank Info: 500 gal. in wall reef tank 400lbs live rock

03/24/2009, 07:02 AM	#12
Chris&Jenn Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Aurora Posts: 24	Holy cow.. .and I had a panic attack when our 75 Gal split with a slow leak at the back bottom seam in October. Good job saving the critters, and good luck to you repairing your tank. Unbelievably lucky in regards to the house, wow. Do you have any pics of the tank before the incident?

03/24/2009, 12:40 PM	#13
Big_Don Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 159	Yes, there are a few pics BT (before titlewave) in my gallery... __________________ "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." - Mother Teresa Current Tank Info: 500 gal. in wall reef tank 400lbs live rock