Tragedy!!!

[emma_421]

My new 55 gallon sprung a early this morning! It covered half of my livingrom before I was able to control where the water went. My guppies went into my 2.5 and all my other fish had to quickly be transferred to the 10 gallon. Luckily there were minimal losses. The newborn baby mollys weren't all found and caught in time, and one of my snails was so stressed out he lost his operculum (trapdoor). I have my filter, gravel, and ornaments in buckets with water in them to keep the bacteria so that I won't have to cycle when the leak is fixed. How long can all the bacteria survive in buckets in water at room temperature? Which leads to fixing the leak. I bougt a tube of silicon aquarium sealant. I could not find the leak but I cut off the old silicone and added new to the places I was guessing might be the problem. Then I used the rest of the tuble to go over all the rest of the seals (leaving old silicon on). I didn't do the sides because I am almost positive it was caused by a seal on the bottom. Should I go over it again tomorrow with another tube just in case? The tube says to let sit for 48 hours before adding water, but it sets within 24 hours. Do I have to wait the whole time? My tanks are way overstocked and I need to get this up and running as soon as possible. Since this was so long I bolded the questions that I really need answered. :ssad:

[cocoa_pleco]

the longer you wait the better, i would say the full 48.

you just lived my worst nightmare! a leaking tank!

for the overstocked tanks, do 50% water changes twice a day

the bacteria can live in the bucket for quite a while i would imagine, as in a month

[Drumachine09]

You will most likely have to recycle if you dont get something done fast. If you have enough room on one of your tanks, piggy back your filter, so the bacteria doesnt die.

[Drumachine09]

With no source of water movement, oxygen, or ammonia to keep it alive, it wont last long at all.

[Incredulous_Ed]

you have to wait a week for the silicone to fully cure, unless you want the tank to leak again.

[emma_421]

Should I add an air stone into the bucket and 1 fish that can handle cold water? Or maybe a few drops of pure ammonia? What can I do for my poor snail that lost its trap door?

[Lady Hobbs]

I had the same thing happen to my 29 gallon. Like you, I ended up with fish where they shouldn't be and was in a hurry for a rush job.

I ended up putting silicone around all the inside joints at the bottom. I knew the leak was coming from under the tank and not the sides. I applied new silicone, let it sit for 24 hours and then put the tank on the floor and run a fan on it about 8 more hours. It held but I worried about it for several days.

I actually think I caused the leak myself by scrapping the gravel up from the bottom. I may have disturbed the silicone myself as I saw a small area where it was missing.

[A340]

I have no experience with broken aquariums, so I can't help you there. But I would think that giving it an extra day to cure would be the best.

In the meantime, if you can, grab an extra 10g tank from a LFS (shouldn't be too expensive. Hook your filter up to it or at least throw your filter sponge, bioballs or ceramic rings in there and add a smaller filter, add an airstone and put some of your fish in there. It'll be overcrowded, but they'll be fine in there for a few days.

[cocoa_pleco]

or if worse comes to worse go to a lfs and ask if they can board your fish in a spare tank for a few days

[lasm]

Several tanks have a warranty for more than one year for leaks. You should check were you got your fish tank to see if you are still covered for the warranty, in case that you have one.

I think that if you can get a new one would be better than trying to fix it.

[emma_421]

I know this is not a good idea but I don't have the money to buy another tank. I bought this one from the newspaper. It was all set up when I got there so I must have broken the seal when I moved it to my house. I have a heat fan (just warm air, not hot) blowing inside the tank to help the silicone dry. I am going to fill it tonight and keep an eye on it. My fish are miserable, my bacteria is dying and I don't feel like I have any other choice. The tank will not be moved at all so the seal shouldn't break again (even if it is weak). Everyone cross your fingers for me!

[stunner]

I've never had that happen to me and it's just scary with so much water. Wish you all the best!

[emma_421]

Problem solved. I cleaned up the water from the wood up to the carpet. When I tested the tank it was still leaking. I almost cried. I called my dad and he lent me the 90 bucks to buy a brand new tank! It is all set up and I am just waiting for the water temp and bubbles to settle. I am SOOOOO glad this is all over! Now it is time to clean up the rest of my house that my 2 year old and 4 year old destroyed while I was cleaning up this mess. My advice to everyone "do not let your tanks bounce at all while transporting". Thank you all for your help.

[IcecreamLtDan]

Glad it's going to work out for you. If you have the room for it, I would definetely take your old tank and repair it and store it in a safe place. This way if it would ever happen again you'd have a tank for them.

[emma_421]

I am going to sell the old 55 gallon as a reptile or small animal tank. I don't have the room and need the money to help pay for the new tank. My new tank has a 2 year warrenty on cracks and leeks). Everything is still doing really well. The smell in the house is almost completely gone! My mom and my husband put in about 3 hours of clean up along with my 10 hours. I have a good family with a lot of help. I am so happy now, it's like it never happened.

[squirt_12]

glad you got that all settled...is your new tank still a 55g??

[emma_421]

It is the exact same brand, size and everything. My LFS was having a sale and it cost me 90 bucks to replace, but my fish and I are all happy now.

[squirt_12]

well thats good...atleast the fish are happy now...and everybody is happy...LUCKY i found a 55g tank i liked for $200...they must have been having a massive sale?? lol.

[emma_421]

The tank is just plain black trim, but that's what I prefer. The oak and other specialties cost about 20-30 dollars more.

[squirt_12]

yeah i like the plain black trim too. thats what i have in all of my tanks. lol.
plain and simple and it does the trick and it looks nice. What else could you ask for??