It was Xmas Eve…………..and the tank leaked…..

[ClownLurch]

Just what I needed.
18:30 on Xmas eve and I’m wandering around the house on the phone when I decide to go look at the 120L. It’s 2/3 empty and going down, it’d been ok 2hrs before when someone was last in the room.
Dont panic don’t panic.
3 hrs later emergency tank set up and fish, amano, RCS, MTS and Ramshorns all in. Some plants, wood, moss balls etc too.

Im going in the shower then having a very very very well deserved drink.
Merry Xmas to every last one of you.
“Tonight thank god it’s me instead of you…..” as Bono Band Aid almost sang. Have a good un.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Oh no! That sucks! My 55 leaked while I was on vacation and i came home to wrecked wood floors

 

[Fishmanic]

My 35 gallon hex leaked last week. I'm going to break it up and dump it as it's 25 years old and would be a pain to reseal as it's 24 inches tall and the glass is badly etched.

 

[ClownLurch]

Oh no! That sucks! My 55 leaked while I was on vacation and i came home to wrecked wood floors

We’ve floating engineered board wood floors. I’m hoping the water went straight through to beneath the house via the wall. Fan running at the moment pointed beneath the unit and until bed time. Fingers crossed.

 

[ClownLurch]

My 35 gallon hex leaked last week. I'm going to break it up and dump it as it's 25 years old and would be a pain to reseal as it's 24 inches tall and the glass is badly etched.

This one is barely 18 months.

 

[AbbeysDad]

Murphy's law. So now we must reseal, or perhaps Santa brings a new glass box.
Oh well.... 'Stuff' happens.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

 

[Colin_T]

Just what I needed.
18:30 on Xmas eve and I’m wandering around the house on the phone when I decide to go look at the 120L. It’s 2/3 empty and going down, it’d been ok 2hrs before when someone was last in the room.
Dont panic don’t panic.
3 hrs later emergency tank set up and fish, amano, RCS, MTS and Ramshorns all in. Some plants, wood, moss balls etc too.

Im going in the shower then having a very very very well deserved drink.
Merry Xmas to every last one of you.
“Tonight thank god it’s me instead of you…..” as Bono Band Aid almost sang. Have a good un.

I was expecting the whole song.

It was Xmas eve, when all through the house.
Nothing was swimming, not even a fish louse.
As I wandered around chatting on the phone.
I walked into the kitchen and saw a big ham bone.
I looked away from that and saw a fat cat.
The cat was looking at a puddle on the floor.
Oh my goodness, the cat peed behind the door.
Alas I was mistaken, it was not pee.
But instead, my fish tank was simply leaky.

I freaked and fracked and ran about madly.
I looked for towels and mops and buckets with glee.
The phone went down as I went to town.
Mopping and sponging and soaking up tank pee.

It was after this I caught the fish out.
And put them in buckets to move them about.
I moved some to a spare tank I had in my room.
Hoping that Saint Nick wouldn't be here too soon.
For he is my landlord and as the lease states.
No leaky tanks or no Xmas dates.

After the commotion I was frazzled and distraught
I sat in my chair without a good thought.
Then came a knock on the door or so it seemed.
Nope, just a big clatter from a kettle blowing steam.
I poured myself a cuppa and sat by the tree.
Hoping Saint Nickolas would soon visit me.
I wished and hoped for all things good.
That Santa would bring me a new tank and hood.

The following morning I woke up early and bright.
To find gifts under the tree but no Santa in sight.
I went to the kitchen hoping the leaky tank was a dream.
No it wasn't, and I started to scream.
There was a note on the counter with holy and bright
From good Ol Santa, saying sweet dreams and good night.

 

[AbbeysDad]

@Colin_T - perhaps you missed your calling! KUDOS.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Wow....well, at least the date the tank leaked will be easy to remember...only 18 months old, that sucks

 

[Wills]

I was expecting the whole song.

It was Xmas eve, when all through the house.
Nothing was swimming, not even a fish louse.
As I wandered around chatting on the phone.
I walked into the kitchen and saw a big ham bone.
I looked away from that and saw a fat cat.
The cat was looking at a puddle on the floor.
Oh my goodness, the cat peed behind the door.
Alas I was mistaken, it was not pee.
But instead, my fish tank was simply leaky.

I freaked and fracked and ran about madly.
I looked for towels and mops and buckets with glee.
The phone went down as I went to town.
Mopping and sponging and soaking up tank pee.

It was after this I caught the fish out.
And put them in buckets to move them about.
I moved some to a spare tank I had in my room.
Hoping that Saint Nick wouldn't be here too soon.
For he is my landlord and as the lease states.
No leaky tanks or no Xmas dates.

After the commotion I was frazzled and distraught
I sat in my chair without a good thought.
Then came a knock on the door or so it seemed.
Nope, just a big clatter from a kettle blowing steam.
I poured myself a cuppa and sat by the tree.
Hoping Saint Nickolas would soon visit me.
I wished and hoped for all things good.
That Santa would bring me a new tank and hood.

The following morning I woke up early and bright.
To find gifts under the tree but no Santa in sight.
I went to the kitchen hoping the leaky tank was a dream.
No it wasn't, and I started to scream.
There was a note on the counter with holy and bright
From good Ol Santa, saying sweet dreams and good night.

We really need a post hall of fame for things like this! Merry Christmas @Colin_T

Always the big fear with tanks isn’t it at least you can take advantage of the January sales though!

 

[ClownLurch]

It was leaking from bottom back wall approx 2” from the back left corner. Thankfully that corner is the floors low point in that area (tank was level) see below for reasoning.
Its a bit complicated to explain but the tank rested on a 30mm/1&1/4” mdf shelf supported on 50mmx50mm/2”x2” bearers and 5 number of 50x50 legs. This acted as a ”bridge” over a 140yr old bureau type unit as I didn’t trust it to hold the tank weight alone. A few plastic construction industry packers/shims were inserted between the unit top and shelf underside where reqd and 4”x2” packing supports where hidden beneath the units vertical members to prevent sagging.

All of this meant the skirting board in the alcove couldnt be seen and had been removed to allow the 50x50 legs. Which left a small gap between the floating floor/original floorboards and plasterwork. THATS where the water went in the lowest alcove point directly below the leak point. Dribbled down into the dust n dirt below the house causing minimal damage on its way. It may have been a different story if I’d left the skirting board in situ.

Of course I’m telling MrsLurch that it was a planned safety precaution

 

[ClownLurch]

Decisions decisions:

A/ New replacement tank of similar dimensions but less height?(I’m 6’2” but struggled to reach substrate if reqd).
B/ Scrap tank and rehome fish and keep HF/Mosquito fish in remaining tank only?
C/ Scrap both tanks, rehome some fish and get a custom built 72”x12”x12or14” Mozzy/Medaka/WCMM tank?

Adopted/Rehomed Zebra/Leopard and Glowlight Danios are proving too active for my Medaka and forcing them down to the bottom half of tank. So were almost certainly being moved on regardless of Xmas eves carry on.

 

[MonsieurLaGrenuoille]

Bon courage mon ami, that's life sometimes unfortunately.

 

[Colin_T]

Get a tank that is 6 foot long x 18 inches wide x 18 inches high
or
6ft long x 2ft wide x 18 inches high

You will have a decent surface area but you will be able to get in and clean the tank without scuba gear

 

[ClownLurch]

Get a tank that is 6 foot long x 18 inches wide x 18 inches high
or
6ft long x 2ft wide x 18 inches high

You will have a decent surface area but you will be able to get in and clean the tank without scuba gear

Far too big/heavy for the units beneath. Mrs Lurch wouldn’t have it anyway.

Ive a 125L just set up this morning.
Had 3 x 16 month old double barrelled sponge filters with bead canisters stuck in the emergency tank alternating usage every three days. Took two out and let them run most of the day before putting medaka, WCMM and Glow Ring Danios in alongside all the plants rescued from the leaky tank. About two linear miles of elodea densa and 5 acres of floating plants also. Amano, RCS and ramshorns go in tomorrow.
The Zebras/Leopards that i rehomed late last summer have been rehomed again. It’s already a far mellower tank.

Im getting worryingly interested in MrsLurchs excess Endlers that she rehomed from her home office into my tank downstairs in the front room. They were supposed to be rehomed this week but have gone back into the main tank.