Help...is my 20 gallon leaking??

[Fish R.Ph.]

Oh no!!

We just noticed that our 20 gallon tall tank in our dining room may have a big problem! It sits on a hutch, and a tablerunner goes underneath it and hangs over both sides of the hutch. We just noticed it is SOAKED!

There are no obvious leaks where we can see, but could it be leaking from the bottom??? It would have to be a slow leak, as the water level really hasn't dropped much. I added maybe 2 pints of fresh RO/DI toppoff water this morning, which is what I usually add every other day or so.

The tank has 3 fish, about 30lb live rock, and a couple mushrooms.

Anyway, if it IS a leak, what are my best options???

1) Move the fish, shrooms and some rock to a spare 10 gallon, keeping the other rock in a bucket?

If I do this, do I try to move the existing sand into the 10 gallon too for biological filtration?

2) Transfer everything to my "not quite ready yet" 75 gallon. It has saltwater circulating, the temp is right, but I just added 50lb more sand today, so it is a cloud inside (I added 50lb last week and it cleared up in 3-4 days with floss).

Ah, man....this is not cool. Can't think real clearly at the moment (hey, come to think of it...don't think too clearly usually).

Any thoughts appreciated. I've got an appointment tonight that will occupy me for about an hour...then I'm working 12 hours tomorrow...Arghhh...

Jason

[Reefland]

Jason,

I think I would attempt to either:
A. Move some of the rock and other livestock to the temporary to gallon and the rest of the liverock to the 75.
B. Move everything to the 75 and just clean up the sand mess once it settles.
C. Pick up a new 20 gallon glass tank (should be pretty cheap), replace the current 20 and continue on with your plan of setting up the 75.

[Samper]

Jason,

Check your powerhead wires...sometimes water somehow moves up the seam and begins a slow drip. I zapped a few power strips before I figured out that was happening to me. If wiring isn't the culprit I don't know what else would be besides a leak in the bottom.
20 gallons are very fragile and that is one reason I put a pvc frame underneath my LR just in case something fell it wouldn't bust the bottom.

[Fish R.Ph.]

Thanks Scott & Samper!

I am still confused as to the actual cause. I noticed it about 3.5 hours ago now, and there has been no appreciable drop in my water level in the tank. I did check the powerhead cords like you suggested...but they seem dry. I wonder if one of my Turbo snails could have possibly blocked the skimmer output last night (they have crawled in the outlet pipe before). When this happens, water could overflow from the skimmer.

I know it is risky...and I may regret this, but I am going to let it sit till the morning and see if the runner gets soaked again (I dried it with a hair dryer).

If it is soaked in the a.m., then I hopefully will have time to have my wife pick me up a replacement 20 gallon tomorrow. That seems obviously the best choice Scott...thank you for pointing it out!! I want to keep my 20, even when the 75 is up and running.

Thanks again!

Jason

[CSeaSee]

So what happened? we're all in suspense!

[Fish R.Ph.]

So what happened? we're all in suspense!

I woke up this morning and hurried downstairs to the dining room..not sure what to expect.

Dry.

The runner was completely dry with no water loss beyond what a little evaporation would produce.

So....on the one hand I am very grateful!! I have to believe that something else caused the problem....just dont know what. Could be what Samper described above, but the drip stopped on its own. Or the Turbo snail possibility I described. Then again...I have 4 kids...so ANYTHING is possible (of course, they claim no responsibility!! )

The strangest part is that only the runner was wet...and it was really soaked! But no sign of any water on or around the hutch.

Now I just need to figure out how to get that runner out from under the tank so I can wash it (and buy my wife some flowers for not being angry at all about this! ).

Thanks to all for being there with thoughts and help!!

-Jason

[BubbaWPB]

Sounds like it's time for an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries"

I'm glad your tank is ok.

[showfish]

I would just keep a close eye out, and if it is not leaking now, it is probably not a leak in the tank itself. Sounds like you got lucky on this one.

[The R/C Man]

I am glad everything worked out for you.

I had a situation with my 25 gallon tank before. I heard a loud pop and after some inspection noticed that that the top plastic support had cracked lengthwise down the side. The side panel had shifted and there was a small drip from the top corner..... Ahhhh..... I had to move everything into a rubbermaid container during the swap. It didn't take to long to do but it was a hastle. You now the live rock never goes back the same especially when the sand is sturred up and you can't see anything..... I also had my 10 gallon sump leak from the bottom. Same transfer of water and live stock and I had to wet vac and repair that leak. Tested it with fresh water after the repair and moved everyhting back in. My new tank and sump are acrylic. No more seam leaks. I just hope I built them right...