Does it ever end?;(

[Awibrandy]

I had a very long day, and the last thing I want to do is sit here typing, but I am so disgusted I just have to vent a little!:screama:
I spent the day doing water changes on my three tanks knowing that I wouldn't be able to do anything for the rest of the week. The last tank I worked on was my little 20 gallon in my bedroom. All was well when I left my bedroom, and headed for a little relaxation before thawing, rinsing, soaking fish food for my little friends. Fed everyone, including the annoying target feeding! Then sat down to dinner with hubby. Watched a little TV, got ready for bed. I get in my bed, and Look to admire my little 20 which is at the foot of my bed.
What do I see? NO, can't be, it's my imagination! Water trickling down the side of the upper left corner of the front glass.

I bolt out of bed to get a closer look, and sure enough THE TANK HAS A 6" CRACK!!!!!!!!!!!!! Run downstairs grab a couple of buckets, air line tubing, and search for the Aquarium Silicone. Where is the darn silicone? Run all over the place looking for it. Finally found it, run back upstairs, pull 6 or so gallons of water out of the tank. Pull the heater out of the sump, throw that into the tank. Find a power head throw that in as well. Move corals down to the sand bed so that they can be submerged. Not the end of the world you say! No, just another catastrophe with this little tank. This is just another in a string of mishaps with it. One where I had a house full of Fire Fighters.

I think this tank needs to go bye bye.
Well, I just needed to vent. Thanks for reading guys & gals. And by the way, how long do you guys think the silicone will hold? I don't know if I want to just get rid of it, or if I should just get another 20 gallon, and get some one to drill a hole for the drain. :screama:

 

[KathyC]

So sorry to hear about this A!!
You need to get the stuff out asap, can you put it in the sump of the 20 with an airline overnight or maybe a small p/h to disturb the surface?
You won't sleep otherwise.
Grab another 20 tomorrow and see if a local glass shop will cut the hole for you asap. I'm sure I have a bulkhead if you need one (check with me first for size if you're going to get it drilled)
:hug:

 

[masterswimmer]

Awilda, sorry to hear about your catastrophe. Glad it wasn't a total blow out. Could have been worse.

I wouldn't try to fix that tank. A 20g tank is cheap enough to replace. A 6" crack in a tiny tank or large tank is a recipe for disaster, sooner rather than later. I'd move all the livestock into one of your other displays and work on redoing the 20.

Sorry it had to sour your day, especially at the end of a long day as it was. Seems you might have caught it in time to salvage the animals.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Russ

 

[Zuska]

man that sucks i wouldnt sleep with a crack like that

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Definately throw away the tank and get a new one. If your LFS do't hhave one, I might have one in almost new condition. LMK, then I can go check from my pile. I am now in Flushing, so may be easier for you to come by then used to be.

 

[NYAUX]

Wow sorry to hear that . Hope everything works out

 

[marki24]

I know what that feels like Awilda. But just look on the bright side it could have been worse, (the bigger tank). God was with you and u took the appropriate steps. Its just good that there was no fire and that you, hubby, ur pits, fishy's, your home are all ok. Good luck.

 

[inline6]

wow sorry to hear that.
was that john's nano that cracked and did it crack where the drilled hole was?

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you my friends!!!:grouphug:
What I did was; I brought the level of the water just below the crack, placed the animals on the sand bed. I put the heater in the display(I keep my heaters in the sump), and threw in a mj to move the water temp. Guys/gals I know a 20g is cheap. That is not even what is making me feel like this tank is just not meant to be.
First issue with it was with the remora. It wasn't working no better then a seaclone. A friend told me to take the screw on the elbow out, and clean it with a little brush cause it sometimes gets clogged. This being my first remora which I picked up used without a manual, so I had no idea that water would be shooting out of that hole. I took the screw out, and water just shot out of the hole like a geyser. I couldn't move fast enough, and water got into the outlet behind the tank. Fortunately my emt/volunteer fire fighter son was home. He helped me pull the tank away from the wall, and yelled for me to dial 911. Three trucks full of firemen in my house within minutes. I had firemen on the second floor, first floor, basement, and a bunch more on the porch, steps, and court yard. Firemen are amazing!
My son got them not to make to much destruction, and finally they shut the main power off. Told me to get a electrician in to change the outlet.
No I did not get an electrician. I went to HD got a new outlet, box, and some sheet rock. Came back home, replaced the old outlet & box, and repaired the wall.
I few days later once the wall was totally fixed, and the tank was put back in it's place the return hose popped. Again I was fortunate that I had just gone to bed. This time I managed to cut the power in time. The damage was minimal. And now this.

I guess I won't give up on it just yet. This morning I go for my cartlidge replacement injection in my knee, so I can't go running around to find a replacement tank. It will have to wait til the weekend.
Will the animals be OK in the tank with the small mj & heater til then?

With all of this I do thank God not only that I've been right there when it has happened, but that it has been the smallest of my tanks.

 

[Awibrandy]

wow sorry to hear that.
was that john's nano that cracked and did it crack where the drilled hole was?

Thanks Sean! Yes it was John's nano. No the crack is on the front panel. I think what caused the crack was the brackets I had made for the sunpod. They were a bit to snug, and STUPID me forced them on like an idiot. Totally my fault.

 

[partobe]

I agree with the others I would just buy another one maybe even a 30 gallon.
I tottally understand about needing to vent. Thats why we're here

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Awilda I am sorry about your troubles. I hope all works out. Just a suggestion since you already have a sunpod, try an aquapod to go with it! They make a great pair, or get yourself another 20g, they are very cheap. I would say your animals will be fine til the weekend provided that crack doesn't give way.

Good Luck!

 

[Awibrandy]

Awilda I am sorry about your troubles. I hope all works out. Just a suggestion since you already have a sunpod, try an aquapod to go with it! They make a great pair, or get yourself another 20g, they are very cheap. I would say your animals will be fine til the weekend provided that crack doesn't give way.

Good Luck!

Thanks guys!
Arg, sugar honey ice tea! So I can't even leave it be until the weekend. It's a conspiracy I tell you.:biglaugh: Once the dr. injects the collagen into my knee I am suppose to stay of the leg for a couple of days. And so far the last three injections I have not been able to follow dr's orders. I thought this week would be diff..:letitallo

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I understand you cannot run around to get a new tank, but as a precaution, don't trust the crack will stay that way, they usually enlarge over time.

If you still have the buckets that you used to transfer fish and rocks a while back-use them. If you choose this route, make sure you keep the heater away from the side of the bucket(melting) and dangling(cracking due to banging) and away from a dead spot(where fish will got trapped)

You probably know all what I have said but under pressure we always make wrong decisions and make small but disastrous mistakes. I did in my latest moving.

 

[Awibrandy]

Thank you Wingo! At the moment I am hoping & praying that since the crack is a half moon shape going from the top to the edge it has no where to go. I also took the water down below it, and applied silicone to both sides in hopes that it will stay put.

 

[Awibrandy]

I picked up a new 20g at Petco! Now I'm waiting on my buddy Ronen to get his bit so that he can drill my tank. Once that is done I will be painting the back black in the hopes that the pre-skimmer box will blend away. Then the breakdown, and new start up! I hope to have it all done by early next week..
Here are a couple of pics of the crack. Seeing how the crack is situated I don't believe it will blow out. If I am wrong PLEASE tell me so, and I will break it down now.

 

[autoponicz]

sorry to hear awilda......i think it will hold since the tank is about half filled......looks like evrythings gonna be okay,....

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Awilda I wouldn't wait too long, I never trust cracks in tanks. They are too unpredictable.

 

[Dj Orion]

Awi, I agree with chief. You should prob want to get an AP with that, I just got one and it looks dope with the sunpod.

 

[1UCKY]

Nice little tank Awilda! Love the RBTA in the back! Good luck with everything!