Diaster Strikes!!

[juliethegr8t]

Oh boy. I just finished with my least fun and most stressful fish experience yet. I can sum it up in three words - "the tank leaked". I had just finished doing my weekly water change in my 5 gallon hex, was cleaning up and drying off the spots I dripped on, when I hear the noise of running water. When I figured out where it was coming from I about died. There was water running down off the desk (where the tank is), on the wall, and flooding my carpet. Let's just say there was a rather loud scream for my mother's immediate assistance. I used a jar to scoop out water as fast as possible into buckets, pots, everything I could find. Luckily I only have 2 small fish in that tank at the time. I captured them and stuck them in a bucket in the removed water. I took out all my ornaments and plants and put them in the water too. Then I realized that if I'm not careful I would have to completely start from scratch when I get another tank started, and go through another cycle. So I decided to take out all the gravel and leave it in the tank water in a large pot. Hopefully the bacteria will survive so I when I put it back in the new tank I'll have less of a cycle to do. Argh!!

I put my 2 cherry barbs on the other side of the divider I luckily had in my 10 gallon (for my fry - who are still in the breeder net). They should be ok in there till tomorrow. Tomorrow I plan on marching into Petsmart to get a replacement tank. Grr... I may just write Marineland a letter about this tank. I don't even know where the leak is, the tank is seamless acrylic. Oh well, I don't care, I'm just gonna get a new one. Do y'all think it will be ok cycling wise? I'll put some filter media from my other tank in it, and of course the same gravel and ornaments. I hope that's enough , I don't want to cycle all over again and risk losing the cherrys, who I want to put back in their tank asap. Anyways I had to vent, this had been a very unpleasant evening. My carpet is going to be rather damp for a few days!

P.S. On a happier note, I got a golden inca snail the day before yesterday, and I thought it was dead cuz he never came out of his shell. However, before the "incident" I looked in my tank to find him curiously traversing one of my rock decorations. Mean ol' dwarf gourami took a nip at him so he quickly went back into his shell, but at least I know he's alive.. and he's way cool lookin!!

 

[KnuckleHead]

Ugh sorry to hear about your experience. Its always stressful when something like that happens. As far as the new tank is concerned, as long as you use everything that came out of the old tank you should have virtually no cycling. The bacteria doesnt live in the water but in the filter. Theres also some in the gravel and ornaments that you have. But hey if your out buying a new one anyways you could always upgrade .

 

[smb]

I feel for you so much, julie. You have gone thru so much but keep on fighting. I love the persistence you have.

As long as the filter media is kept moist you should be ok for a day but the beneficial bacteria needs flowing oxygenated water to survive for any length of time after that.

Not sure if your tank will go into a mini cycle or not but you've done the best you can and it sounds like you should be ok.

 

[PrObLeM_ChIlD]

make sure they replace it for free, i just took mine back that broke today and they gave me a tank and new gravel for free~

 

[freshmike]

I am sorry to hear about your luck Julie......They should have to replace it for free. They probably will. Congrats on the new snail! I love snails!

 

[wuvmybetta]

what a nightmare! I can't even imagine the stress that put you through

Do you think you'll feel comfortable getting an identical tank? if not, raise a stink and maybe you'll get something even better , I wouldn't take the filter back....just leave it running in your bucket or wherever you have it & don't even mention the new filter that comes with the replacement tank

I'm glad you were there when it happened, it would have been more traumatic to come home to an empty tank and....well,you know

 

[AquaNut]

That's really rotten, Julie. Glad it sounds like you had the situation under control, though. Look on the bright side - at least it was a 5 gallon and not a 55 gallon!

 

[juliethegr8t]

Do you think you'll feel comfortable getting an identical tank? if not, raise a stink and maybe you'll get something even better , I wouldn't take the filter back....just leave it running in your bucket or wherever you have it & don't even mention the new filter that comes with the replacement tank

Darn it, I wish I'd thought of keeping the filter running and all. I didn't though so all my beneficial bacteria is probably dead by now . So I guess I will just have to get a new filter... bah.. I feel dumb! Oh well, I'll just stick some filter material from my other tank in the new tank when I get it. And I may raise a stink - that's a dandy idea! lol... maybe I can get an Eclipse 6, that's what I wanted orginally.. hmm... we'll see, though I doubt it. Thanks for the support everyone, I really appreciate it!

 

[freshmike]

poor girl

 

[Alien Anna]

Actually Julie, sorry to hear about your tank disaster, but I'm really impressed by how you handled it and your quick thinking saving the gravel. If you have a spare air-stone you could always put it in your gravel and water pot and keep the gravel aerated.

I recommend glass tanks - not only are they tougher than acrylic, they're much easier to repair with a bit of silicone sealant. But why not upgrade while you have the excuse? Bigger tanks don't cost that much more