View Full Version : Tank Failure-Need Help ASAP
I've been hearing some nasty craking and popping noises from my tank the past four days. It is a 20 gallon tall.
At first I thought it was my pleco, but there's no way he can toss rocks against the glass hard enough to make that kind of racket (besides, when he's pushing rocks around you can hear the rocks tumbling around).
Then I thought it was my power filter, so I cut it off. Right when I was about to conclude that the PF was the problem, I hear the popping noise AGAIN!.
I've just finushed emptying the tank completly and searched the glass over for cracks. I've found nothing. The seals all look fine and don't appear to be leaking, except for one.
In the lower, rear edge of the tank the seal is inconsistant. I've wondered about this since I recieved the tank over a year ago. Where the two pieces of glass butt together to form the edge, the seal is bubbled. Last time I checked this, the inside (inside edge) of the seal was smooth, like the others. This time the seal appears to have stretched. When I emptied the tank (thus, removing the stress on the glass and seals) I noticed the seal was no longer smooth.
Could the popping and cracking noises be coming from this? If the seal is failing, would the tank be making this sort of cracking and popping? I've been fortunate enough never to have a tank fail on me before, therefore I have no idea what happens. Will the edge simply start leaking or should I expect 2" of water in my floor when I come home one day?
Please help! THANKS!!!!
-Manix
OrionGirl
05-19-2003, 2:12 PM
Can you check the bottom of the tank? It sounds like this tank is in fact getting ready to go--I would be very worried. If it were me, I would pull the tank apart, put everything in tubs, and replace the tank. If this is fairly new system, I'd return it for a refund/replacement. If it's older--I'd strip that silicone out and reseal.
The tank is only a year old, so I'm worried I'm worrying TOO much. Still the popping noise... the Differance in the seal from the first time I checked is less than a mm. Still, I'm gonna move Rammstein back into the 7 gallon with my other pleco till I can be sure. This tank has been completly set up and PERFECT for over 6 months, so this is killing me to start it over. Can that small of a change in the ONE seal cuase all the popping noise? Like I said before, I can't find ANYTHING else wrong with the tank. what if it IS the fish,. Maybe I'm not giving him enough credit! Has anyone ever heard of this kind of thing happening before. I just need a little assurance before destroying a years worth of work.
OrionGirl
05-19-2003, 2:57 PM
Understood. However, I can't see any change in the seals on my 40--they all look exactly the same...And don't make any noise. Does it sound like a rock being tossed around, or clicking noises? There are lots of fish that can make noises--my bristlenose makes clicks and pops when he's happy, and I've heard him make scraping sounds when he bares his 'claws' and rasps them against a rock.
My hope of the noise being from my fish just went down the drain. Rammstein has never made any audible noise. Plus I just dragged the tank into the sunlight where I could look it over good. I couldn't see the edge from the other side, but now that I do. It doesn't encourage me any. I took a pic of it. As soon as I have it up I would like your opinion. The noise I've been hearing sounds like a rock would if it were thrown REALLY hard up against the glass. Sadly Rammstein can't do that. BRB with the pic.
OK here we go. The seal of course is on the inside and hasn't fully seperated from the glass, thus, no leaks. But the pic clearly shows why I'm worried. Could this be cuasing enough strain on the tank to make those popping sounds?
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid62/p7afe757d33d11e6ebf0c1fc43dc61170/fc1e32f4.jpg
OrionGirl
05-19-2003, 3:36 PM
I would be concerned. The silicone is NOT supposed to split from the glass-the only time I've seen that was in a 15 that was...um...15 years old! I don't use the tank for anything but a hospital tank now, because I just don't trust it.
Check out the trim--is it secure? The popping could be the trim pulling away from the glass.
Nuff said. I'm heading down to my lfs. I have no idea how to redue a tank. SO, maybe my buddy Josh is working and can cut me a deal...thanks. You probably just saved me a big mess!
OrionGirl
05-19-2003, 3:59 PM
:) Glad to help--sorry I couldn't be more encouraging. But, since I wouldn't be able to assist in the clean up, I wouldn't want to advise you to trust it either!
Just got back. Took forever to find somebody who's actually had a tanks seals break before. They told me they never heard of a tank popping or making any noise prior to breaking or leaking. That left me nothing to go on. No one I showed the seam too had any helpful input either, but the last guy I talked to advised me to simply find a safe place to fill the tank and wait to see if it makes any more noise. He also thought I was crazy and was convinced its the dresser the tank sits on. It will be thursday before I can get a replacment tank so thats plenty of time to look the dresser over while I test the tank. In the mean time, I have one angry fish. Even if the tank IS ok, that seam still bothers me. Is there anything I can do to reinforce that without removing or tampering with the current seal?
Thanks again.
OrionGirl
05-19-2003, 5:15 PM
:rolleyes: Sorry the LFS wasn't helpful!
Unfortunately, there really isn't a good method for resealing that doesn't involve removing the existing seal. You can't trust the silicone to bond to the existing, dried material.
MonoSebaelover
05-19-2003, 5:44 PM
Along the same lines, WHAT A HORRIBLE DAY!!!! I went to bed last night noticing that my 20L was a 1/2" lower from the strip I keep the level at. I said to myself I would top it off in the morning. Well this morning I took a shower and was getting ready for school. I turned some of the lights on including the 209, 55, and 20 gallon, didn't look into the 20 or 55 and went to get dressed. I was going back to the area to look for a shirt to wear when I stepped on the carpet and it was soaking. The 209 and 55 were fine but when I looked at the 20 there was only 2 inches of water LEFT in the tank! I had approx 15 gallons of freshwater on my floor! The worst part was my mom had the carpets professionally cleaned this past Thurs since the 29th of May I am graduating! What bad timing. So I skipped first block moved some of my fish in my 29 gallon tank and moved the 20 kids to the 29. Luckily all fish in the 20 were Gourami's and Bettas and one Bristlenose Pleco adult male. Sometime overnight the bristle freaked and dove into a little decoration I bought at PetsMart awhile ago. Well, he is SO large he got stuck so I had to tear the decoration apart to free the pleco. Now I have a Betta and a 4" Leopard Cteneopa in a 6 gallon and a Betta and a 3" Tiger Datinoide in a 3 gallon! The Dat and Cten were from the 29 but there were Sparklig Gourami's and baby bettas that they would take great pleasure in eating. Luckily though I ordered a new 29 gallon tank this morning (tank breaks get a bigger one!) and will be here Thurs. BTW, the 20 was about 11 years old. What a bad day! Sorry guys had to vent, was extremely stessed this morning trying to get the new tank set up for the little ones!
If it were me, 20G tanks are relatively inexpensive so I'd buy a new for peace-of-mind and save me the hassel of re-sealing the tank. Unless you have experience building or repairing glass tanks you probably still wouldn't have peace-of-mind if you went the repair route.
Good luck