What does this mean?

[Fanof49ASU]

I have 'all of a sudden' started getting salt creep at the bottom, outside of my tank. I've noticed it for the past week or so.....though, I haven't noticed any more 'water loss' than normal.

Does this mean that it's leaking from the bottom of the tank?

 

[Lint_Licker]

thats never a good sign.

Check underneath your tank via the stand with a flashlight.

 

[DMBillies]

We get this same thing, but we've traced it to when we have our arms in the tank either cleaning or moving rocks/corals. All the water runs off our arms onto the outside of the tank. If we don't wipe up the outside of the tank right away, the water will run to the bottom of the rim and then evaporate, leaving the salt behind. I'm not claiming that you might not have a leak, but think back and see if this might be a possibility...

 

[mikemartinez]

uh ohh... I recently had salt creep just like that that I cleaned off yesterday..... I hope I dont have to replace the tank.. I just bought a 30in light fixture for it too...

 

[SRT80]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11141407#post11141407 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DMBillies
We get this same thing, but we've traced it to when we have our arms in the tank either cleaning or moving rocks/corals. All the water runs off our arms onto the outside of the tank. If we don't wipe up the outside of the tank right away, the water will run to the bottom of the rim and then evaporate, leaving the salt behind. I'm not claiming that you might not have a leak, but think back and see if this might be a possibility...

I'll second this as this happens to my 20 from time to time and it's goin' on 2 years, not a leak just water from when I work in the tank...

Steve

 

[Avalanche Wolf]

Same here as well , but if you can check it might be a good thing.

See if you can thread a paper towel or napkin between the tank and the tank trim. With the above products if there is a leak it will have a wick effect and travel up.

 

[Fanof49ASU]

Thanks for all the replies.

I've looked under the tank and can't see any sign of leaking.

This could be the result of removing the glass top daily and/or working in the tank....even though I've never noticed it before.

As for sliding a paper between the tank and trim......I've built a wooden stand that encloses the bottom of the tank. It's always been a very tight fit, and I can't get the paper between the two surfaces.....either from salt, dirt, grime, etc...

After all of this, I'm looking into a new tank for work. I've got too much invested in zoas to lose it.

Thanks again.

 

[kev-dog1]

do you have any 'hang-on' equipment? skimmer, overflow?
sometimes only a slight mis-alignment with the way these things hang on can create a tiny bit of moisture migration. this will flow to the lowest point and pool, evaporate and create the salt creep.

 

[Fanof49ASU]

No....no hang on equipment. I do have cords from my heater and pump hanging over the back, but that's on the other side of the salt creep.

 

[fishquaria]

A simple air stone in a tank can cause water to splash onto the rim of the tank and drip down where it evaporates. I found this on one of my tanks once and triggered the alarm... Emptied the whole tank and took it apart and was even prepared with a new tank... I now don't use any airstones in my tanks and keep at least four inches between the water level and the rim...

 

[RUPE]

Could check the trim at the top of the tank. Water leaking between to tank & top trim. each time you put your arms in the tank, the water could have risen briefly causing water to leak between the tank & trim. That happened to me.

 

[Fanof49ASU]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11173963#post11173963 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RUPE
Could check the trim at the top of the tank. Water leaking between to tank & top trim. each time you put your arms in the tank, the water could have risen briefly causing water to leak between the tank & trim. That happened to me.

My tank is VERY shallow (6 inches), so that very well could be what happened. I may have topped it off too high.