HELP!!! Leaking tank

[redrf900]

Hi Guys. I noticed my tank was leaking slow and steady this morning. I can easily go out and get another but would like some advice.
*Can I temporarily put my loaches into my other community tank???may be slightly overcrowded, but I know they ALL used to get along. (they were ALL in the same tank at one time)
* I know I need to save as much water as possible. Is 10 gallons enough to seed the new tank?? ( the gravel will of course be transferred
* what are some things I should be careful of????other than temp changes??(the tank parameters are similar)
Thanks in advance for all the help!!! :-)

Jimmy G

[PumaWard]

As long as the water is very similiar, I don't think you need to worry too much about anything going wrong.

I think 10 gallons of water is enough to seed a new tank as long as your keep the gravel and filter media.

You can go out and buy another tank, or you can fix it yourself using silicon. Just coat the old silicon with new, (make sure you find where it's leaking though and coat that well). However, it probably would be easier to go out and buy a new tank.

[mogurnda]

Had the same thing happen a few months ago. Save as much water as you can, just to keep from shocking the guys, but you won't have a problem with cycling if you are keeping all the old substrate.

I can't really answer the loach question without knowing who is in the other tank. My guess would be it will be fine for the moment. Certainly better than flopping on the floor.

After it's all set up, they'll probably be happy to have had a slightly larger than usual water change.

You might also pause and ask why the tank sprung a leak. Is it really, really old, or sitting on an uneven surface? Tanks don't normally spring leaks spontaneously.

[redrf900]

Thanks for the quick responses...:-) The tank was a hand-made 34 gallon from mexico. Oh well...Time to go to the lfs and get myself a 29 gal..Same dimensions, just not as tall ;-)
BTW, the other temporary tank mates will be 2 blue gouramis and 5 tiger barbs. I should have the new tank setup in less than 4 hours from start to finish. (I hope)
I'm planning on transferring their cubby hole hiding spot so they have somewhere to hide when visiting the new tank. I know they get stressed real easy.
They are still grieving their tankmates death. I had an anaerobic bacteria pocket when cleaning the tank and only the barbs kicked off. Wish me luck!!

THANKS AGAIN!!!! :-) Jimmy G

[delmore]

Unless you are doing something to change the properties of your water, such as adding peat, you can "flush" the old water, if it makes things easier for you. Discus water is sometimes changed 80% each day, and the fish are not "shocked."

Make sure the new water is very close in temp to the "old" water.
I would focus the attention on the sources of the nitrifying bacteria for the new set up:

from Tom Griffin's fishless cycling faq (http://www.tomgriffin.com/aquamag/cycle2.html)

Sources of Bacteria:
1) Filter material (floss, sponge, biowheel, etc.) from an established, disease free tank.
2) Live Plants (preferrably potted, leave the rockwool on until cycling is finished). Crypts or amazon swords are good choices, and not too demanding.
3) Gravel from an established, disease free tank. (Many lfs will give this away if asked nicely)
4) Other ornaments (driftwood, rocks, etc.) from an established tank.
5) Squeezings from a filter sponge (any lfs should be willing to do this...)

I do massive water changes every three months or so, in addition to the normal weekly water changes, and my neons and other fish are doing great.