HELP! My tank is leaking!

[Bobo2020]

Hello all! I just purchased a 180 Gallon Lee-Mar Low Iron about a year ago. I moved from Cali to Spokane, WA around that time and unfortunately nothing survived the move. Well I decided to take a few months off, then start to rebuild. I had just started to actively start my sps tank again and tragedy occurs. I came home today to find that either the bottom panel has a crack in it, or there is a silicone defect somewhere. I have yet to completely break the tank down, but so far I have emptied it half way and cleared both overflows to see if it was a bulkhead leak. It seems the water is coming through the sides between the bottom panel and the bottom glass of the tank. I am so irritated and concerned abou tthis. Any help would be awesome!

My questions are several!

#1 If there a glass aquarium mfg. that has the ability to fix silicone or bottom panels if needed.

#2 Is there anyone that can house a few corals and some inverts for now while I deal with this. Although they are just frags right now, I will gladly cut you pieces for your hospitality and if the fix takes very long, the corals will then be yours.

#3 Is anyone willing to help me get this tank off the stand so I can get al the water up, so as to not mildew the carrpet. THIS WOULD BE THE BIGGEST HELP! It is jsut me and my wife here and the tank is 48'' off the ground and weighs a considerable amount.

#4 Any more advice you could give?

 

[msman825]

I'm in Maine, But i would be running to Home depot and getting me some Rubbermaid totes. your stuff will live in there for a few. And any glass place should be able to repair your tank. sorry to hear this

 

[jcoopergd]

Would love to help, but unfortuntaly, my tank is tooo stocked rightnow - you may want to go to the scmas fourm here on reef central, and ask there-
scmas= southern california marina aquairum society (it think)

j

 

[Bobo2020]

Yeah I have plenty of tubs to hold them in, but being that my chiller controller went out and due to having AC I never replaced, the tubs my change temp fast and there goes the livestock. I have called all the glass places, they refuse to try. And being in Washington, the choices are limited. But thanks for the help

 

[TKByrnes]

if you cant find anyone to try to fik it You could drain it and run a thick bead of silicone around the bottom seals. maybe it would fix the leak?

 

[TrojanScott]

You're currently in Spokane, correct? If not, and I'm misunderstanding, and you're in OC, I'd gladly help out.

 

[KDodds]

Sadly, the former head guy at LeeMar passed away not too long ago. They have yet to fix the problems with my surround and canopy, or even respond. I would not look to them for a solution, or even any recourse whatsoever. I'd ask around at LFSs and see if they know anyone who does resealing, or possibly sell it as a snake enclosure and purchase an Oceanic or similar off the shelf brand.

 

[chrismunn]

if its just the silicone you can fix that your self. just completely empty and drain the tank. ( i guess you need to find out where its leaking from ) use a razor blade to clean out the old silicone. get a tube of clear aquarium silicone from your local fish store, or order it online? make sure its "aquarium silicone" dont use anythnig else. get some denatured alcohol from home depot to clean the area being treated. clean the area very well wih the alcohol, and use the silicone to re-seal. wait 24+ hours for the silicone to dry and cure, and then do a water test to make sure it doesnt leak.

all glass aquariums makes a silicone especially for aquariums. you can get it in a squeeze tube or a caulking tube

 

[chucksta1]

If you can't find enough people from R/C in you area available to help you, try this....

Go to your LFS or or LCS (local coral store) and see if you can borrow their suction cup glass handles. your tank weighs around 400 pounds empty and has no handles, having suction cup handles reduces the number of people you need and reduces the chances of it getting dropped. Call a temporary manpower agency and ask for three "grunts", that will give you four people for the lift (including you) with four handles, it's do-able. The agency will probably charge you a four hour minimum at 20 per.... that's $240. That will give you about three and a half hours to dry the stand, the tank, re silicone it , etc. Rubbermaid evrerything that doesn't need light, and try and glass tank the corals and livestock so they can be easily lit. That's the only tank that's critical for temp and circulation. Unless it's an actual crack, follow chrissmunn's advice on how to re-do the silicone. Cut it out and re-do it. Cross your fingers for 24 hours and re-stock the tank

Good luck, keep us posted.

Chuck.