That's it. I'm done
- Thread starter Bent
- Start date
biecacka
Active member
Sorry to hear man! 
Do you know what caused the leak? Busted seam, uneven tank or stand?
This hobby can be very frustrating at times, no doubt. However maybe after you get everything moved and you relax a little bit you will reconsider quitting. I too have been on the verge of quitting but I couldn't pull myself to do it. I hope you will rethink it too, but if not I totally understand. The community can always use good knowledgable hobbyist such as yourself and in event you do chose to walk away-we can only hope you stay involved in the forums.
Corey
Do you know what caused the leak? Busted seam, uneven tank or stand?
This hobby can be very frustrating at times, no doubt. However maybe after you get everything moved and you relax a little bit you will reconsider quitting. I too have been on the verge of quitting but I couldn't pull myself to do it. I hope you will rethink it too, but if not I totally understand. The community can always use good knowledgable hobbyist such as yourself and in event you do chose to walk away-we can only hope you stay involved in the forums.
Corey
slief
RC Sponsor
Hmmm. It isn't April fools day.. I am terribly sorry for your situation. That is a tough site to come home to.
For what it's worth, I have a 480 gallon display that I had custom made some 20 years ago. About 17 years ago, I had check valves keeping my sumps from flooding during power outages... One day I came home to a river running out my driveway and an inch of water throughout my downstairs. The power went out, a check valve failed and my tank was drained leaving all but an inch in the bottom with the fish all struggling on their sides. There was no walking away for me and I went into the panic mode to save the tank. I chalked it up to a learning experience and replumbed the system that day eliminating the need for the check valves. Obviously a different scenario and fortunately, I had the forsight to tile the entire downstairs when I bought my home for this very reason. In my case, the damage was minimal and the tank was back up and running the same day with no fish loss. Thank god for my friend and owner of a nearby LFS as well as my friend Jim who both came immediately with plenty of new water. Now I have keep a couple hundred gallons of RODI and new salt water on hand just in case....
Back in 1994 we had our big Northridge earthquake. I had a 240 gallon tank at the time with a handful of sharks and a 5' moray eel. The quake was so big that the wall swayed enough behind the tank and smacked the return plumbing lines on the back of the tank. They were 3 or 4 inches away. The lines broke draining damn near all the water on the carpeted floor. Fortunately that house was a rental as it made for a real mess. Again, I was able to save all the fish as I had kiddy pools setup in the garage as shark holding tanks as I was importing and reselling exotics at the time. . I fixed the plumbing within a matter of days once the stores like Home Depot and the fish stores were reopened. Again, different scenario.
This is one of those hobbies that is a continual learning experience and every hurdle is a learning experience that when embraced, can make our tanks more future proof and better equipped to insure repeats don't occur. If your issue is a bulkhead seal, that is easily fixed. If your issue is a seam, that's a different story. Still, if you are anything like me and have been in this hobby for the long haul, perhaps this might be a better time to consider an upgrade as opposed to a bail out. Obviously finances and mindset have a big impact on our decisions. Either way, I am sorry for your troubles and I hope the damage to your home as minimal and I hope the livestock faired OK.
For what it's worth, I have a 480 gallon display that I had custom made some 20 years ago. About 17 years ago, I had check valves keeping my sumps from flooding during power outages... One day I came home to a river running out my driveway and an inch of water throughout my downstairs. The power went out, a check valve failed and my tank was drained leaving all but an inch in the bottom with the fish all struggling on their sides. There was no walking away for me and I went into the panic mode to save the tank. I chalked it up to a learning experience and replumbed the system that day eliminating the need for the check valves. Obviously a different scenario and fortunately, I had the forsight to tile the entire downstairs when I bought my home for this very reason. In my case, the damage was minimal and the tank was back up and running the same day with no fish loss. Thank god for my friend and owner of a nearby LFS as well as my friend Jim who both came immediately with plenty of new water. Now I have keep a couple hundred gallons of RODI and new salt water on hand just in case....
Back in 1994 we had our big Northridge earthquake. I had a 240 gallon tank at the time with a handful of sharks and a 5' moray eel. The quake was so big that the wall swayed enough behind the tank and smacked the return plumbing lines on the back of the tank. They were 3 or 4 inches away. The lines broke draining damn near all the water on the carpeted floor. Fortunately that house was a rental as it made for a real mess. Again, I was able to save all the fish as I had kiddy pools setup in the garage as shark holding tanks as I was importing and reselling exotics at the time. . I fixed the plumbing within a matter of days once the stores like Home Depot and the fish stores were reopened. Again, different scenario.
This is one of those hobbies that is a continual learning experience and every hurdle is a learning experience that when embraced, can make our tanks more future proof and better equipped to insure repeats don't occur. If your issue is a bulkhead seal, that is easily fixed. If your issue is a seam, that's a different story. Still, if you are anything like me and have been in this hobby for the long haul, perhaps this might be a better time to consider an upgrade as opposed to a bail out. Obviously finances and mindset have a big impact on our decisions. Either way, I am sorry for your troubles and I hope the damage to your home as minimal and I hope the livestock faired OK.
Sorry to hear this and you'll be back :fish1: I'm sure everyone has a few horror stories in starting a fish tank. You could literally plan a tank for 6 months with every fail-safe you could think of and something will eventually happen. Maybe in a few days you will reconsider. :crazy1:
ReefInterest
Member
That sucks. The worst I had was when I was using an Amiracles overflow. Bubbles would form in the u-tube until... Also, some overflows with single Durso standpipes.
Take some time and then think of a different tank configuration that you've always wanted. You'll get the itch again.
Find a friend who will babysit your livestock for a while until you are sure of what you want to do.
Take some time and then think of a different tank configuration that you've always wanted. You'll get the itch again.
Find a friend who will babysit your livestock for a while until you are sure of what you want to do.
ReefInterest
Member
Not for the landlord.
However, they were probably just happy that the building was still standing. :lmao:
Bent
I got nothin'
Thanks for all the support guys.
I drained the tank, and moved everything down to the 30g. It has no lights right now and I'm so tired that I think I'll leave it be till tomorrow night. I don't think one night is going to hurt anyone.
The bottom had a huge crack in it when I went to investigate the issue. I'm not 100% positive how it happened. But whatever, over and done with now.
So the question is, what do I do now? I can't afford another tank.
As it is, everyone is ok. But I've got to make some kind of semi-permanent decision. They can't stay down there forever.
I drained the tank, and moved everything down to the 30g. It has no lights right now and I'm so tired that I think I'll leave it be till tomorrow night. I don't think one night is going to hurt anyone.
The bottom had a huge crack in it when I went to investigate the issue. I'm not 100% positive how it happened. But whatever, over and done with now.
So the question is, what do I do now? I can't afford another tank.
As it is, everyone is ok. But I've got to make some kind of semi-permanent decision. They can't stay down there forever.
moondoggy4
Team RC
Sorry for your loss.
Goonies never say die.
Goonies never say die.
ReefInterest
Member
Bent
I got nothin'
I've got a free 40 breeder, but I'm in Bellevue, WA.
Thanks so much for the generosity.
But that's a wee bit of a haul for me.
I guess I'll be searching eBay and craigslist for a good size tank and stand. Anyone selling that's close to WV?
slief
RC Sponsor
Thanks so much for the generosity.
But that's a wee bit of a haul for me.
I guess I'll be searching eBay and craigslist for a good size tank and stand. Anyone selling that's close to WV?
You may want to post in the local club forums here. This is one of the local WV forums.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=676
There may be other clubs forums that aren't so far from you. You can check the list of others here if you haven't already sone so.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=535
tinfoilhate
New member
Bummer man, hopefully you find a steal on Craigslist.
moondoggy4
Team RC
Petco 40 breeder 40 bucks, HOB skimmer and heater pretty cheap and a nice setup. Most expensive will be the lighting.
joshbrookkate
New member
You can't quit! I have always checked out and enjoyed your posts......
Bent
I got nothin'
So after sleeping on this, I've come up with some options. Let me know what you guys think of these:
1: upsize.
Find a new tank, look for some deals on Craig's list. I'll have to keep everyone crammed in the 30g downstairs until I get it all plumed up and ready.
2: downsize.
Keep the 30g and get it set up nice with one of the lights and just turn in my bigger fish.
3: sell everything.
1: upsize.
Find a new tank, look for some deals on Craig's list. I'll have to keep everyone crammed in the 30g downstairs until I get it all plumed up and ready.
2: downsize.
Keep the 30g and get it set up nice with one of the lights and just turn in my bigger fish.
3: sell everything.
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