The sound of a breaking aquarium

[cayecaulker]

At about 12:30am I hear a huge cracking sound come from my livingroom. It sounded as if someone threw a 2x4 onto the wood floors in my living room. With clinched fists I entered the living room expecting to find an intruder. What I found was much worse...
My 180 acrylic had busted a seem and water was pouring out all over my floor. I turned off the return pump which allowed about 20 gallons of water to flow back into the sump. I then ran into the garage and grabbed 2- 40 gal. brute trash cans and began to siphon about half of the remaining tank water out.
Now I had to remove most of my large (basketball sized) SPS colonies from the tank and put them into the brutes.

I NEED SOME ADVICE!


Before:

After:

Top Down View:

As it stands now:

Some of my corals in a brute:

Once again, if anyone is still up and can offer some advice it would be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[antiant]

damn....

 

[lionfish323]

I was going to say try to purches some clams in the morning at HD but if u do that u might cause more presure to the area that is bowing and that might cause further seperation from the rest of the back of the tank. just ,make sure your sps colonies have ample water movment. I know its not much help but maybe some one else can help u alot better along the way. Also if u donot get a replacment tank soon i have a 70 gal acrylic ( with lots of new internal scatches ) if you would like you can have it, if it will help u out. it has return hoses and pluming already with an overflow. I can also provide u with a return pump if nessacery. The only thing is im in Highland park. so let me know and good luck.

 

[cayecaulker]

Thanks for the kind offer

Thanks for the kind offer

I just noticed its more than just a seem that has come loose. There is a vertical crack on the back as well.
I am afraid to sleep and wake up to the remaining 80 gallons of water all over the floor

 

[lionfish323]

Wow, thats horrible! Is there anything like a 24hr wal mart you can go to, so u can pick up some extra trash cans to transport your corals and rock for the mean time?

 

[cayecaulker]

I dont believe there is a 24 hour walmart around here.

I have been keeping a close eye on the vertical crack and it hasnt grown.

I hope it holds out for for another 8-10 hours.

 

[lionfish323]

Well once again good luck and the offer still stands for the tank. You just have to pick it up. Also why don’t u take out some of your rock and place it in the trash containers then place your corals over them. I believe this will minimize stress on the tank because the water will be lower do to less mass in the tank and obvious reduction of water and keep just enough water to a level that can maintain what is left in the tank. Sorry if i sound like im fumbling words but its 3 am and am beat.

 

[cayecaulker]

Totally agree.
I have been doing just that.
Once again, thanks for the kind offer.
I will try and locate a new tank tomorrow.

 

[d0cdave]

Need any NSW? I can only carry 30-40 gallons today, but let me know and Ill bring some down from UCSB.

 

[bad santa]

WOW..sorry to hear.

 

[Konadog]

Bill, sorry to here about your tank. Do you think that your pipes that are running thru the tank were pulling down, and may have contributed to the seam splitting?
Be sure you have a powerhead in each of your trash cans for surface movement and circulation.

 

[Orochimaru]

that sucks, man. Sorry to hear that. Another tank seems like the only way to go. How old is this tank?

 

[seamist]

move verything to large buckets/container. This suck ! you probably need a new tank, but the one you want to order probably take a while, so everything that you remove have to be for a while.

I have a 100 gal rubbermaid container if you want to borrow, but I am in OC.

 

[Bebo77]

dang sorry to hear that.. who made the tank? is it under warranty?

 

[seamist]

most acrylic tank have lifetime warranty, right ? I was having a similar problem with my tank too, I poisoned my tank with amquel, wipe out all my SPS. I have no place to keep my corals or move it to. It happened right after I left for 32 hours work shift.

I am setting up 2 tanks from now on, if one having problem the other one is for back up.

 

[spline9]

Oh damn, Bill! That blows!
Let me know if theres anything I can do for ya. I have an empty 55 gallon tank (and stand) that youre free to use if you need it. My gf should be home today so you can probably come by anytime. Hit Dave up for that NSW and youre set.
I'll PM you my contact info.

 

[kelpy]

Sorry to hear that I have an empty 60 gallon and several large trashcans if you need some

 

[cayecaulker]

Does anyone know of a retail store that might have a RR 180 glass tank in stock?

 

[cayecaulker]

For a fair price.

 

[kelpy]

Tats in TO had some pretty large tanks in last time I was there