Really, really bad news... :(

Ems

Betta lover!
Jan 4, 2005
1,140
6
38
39
British Columbia
So last night, Brad was working on the 90 Gallon tank, trying to make the overflow quieter, he was almost done when he accidentally dropped a piece of pipe inside the overflow.

The bottom cracked.

I didn't know what had happened... All I saw was the water emptying, then we opened the bottom and saw the sump tank (33 gallons) overflowing.

Then the water was overflowing onto the brand new laminate flooring.

We all rushed grabbing blankets and towels but we didnt have enough and couldn't keep up with the speed of the tank emptying.

I swear that tank emptied in less than 5 minutes.

I didn't know what to do with my fish.

I saw them flopping at the bottom.

We had a 5 gallon bucket beside so I started scooping them into there as fast as I could.

It took us an hour to get all the water cleaned up, then another hour to rip up the laminate flooring.

I think I may have lost one neon :( . We took all the fish in that bucket to our LFS who gave them their own filtered tank. I hope they wont be too stressed out and die on me...

So now I'm sitting in the living room staring at a concrete floor and a very empty tank.... this isn't a good day :(

After all the water drained we looked underneath at the bottom of the tank...
So it is cracked all the way across in both directions :(
We can get a new tank, but its another 350$.

I just wanted to share this with everyone, because I am VERY upset about it... Thank you for reading.
 
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I am really, really sorry to hear about your tank, Ems...that is every aquarist's worst nightmare! I hope all your surviving fish do well and that you are able to acquire a new tank at a good price - maybe check local ads for used tanks? Does your insurance cover any expense for the floor? (Although you need to be careful about that - most insurance companies immediately raise your rates any time you make a claim - god bless them). Its amazing that you only lost one fish - my best to you and I will be thinking good thoughts that everything works out well.
 
Insurance would cover it, however there is a 500 deductable, rates would go up, and the damage is only around 600$ (just for the floor). So I think we'll skip the insurance claims.
 
wow, what a TERRIBLE loss!!!!!- not to worry, you and hubby can let the tank dry, carefully remove the bottom glass panel, and see if you can get online and find a local (maybe your LFS) tank or glass dealer whom you can purchase a sized piece of glass from. SIlicone it and voila!!!! (sounds easier than done, i know) That happened to me with a 29 when I moved (empty of water, but i stupidly left the substrate in!!!!) it to a new stajnd. Took me about twenty minutes after refilling and adding the fish to realize the water seeping out from the bottom of the stand. geeze, it just makes things that much harder on us.
SOunds like you got a really cool LFS, hopefully they can help with either replacing glass or a new (gulp) tank.....
sorry to hear about that, hope you get things up and running again real soon!
 
Wow Ems, that's terrible! I had my first 33g crack on me, nowhere near as bad as what you described (no fish for one thing) and much slower with the water loss. It does sound like your lfs is really awesome, or at least very willing to help with disasters.
 
OOF. Sorry to hear that disastrous tale. I have bad dreams about my tank cracking. I would go nuts. I do have 2 five gallon buckets I use just for aquariums and a ten gallon QT, so I'd be able to find homes until I could get a new tank. Good luck in aquiring a new tank and wow, enjoy your LFS.
 
I can only imagine the looks on your faces when you realized what was happening. I would have been totally freaking out. I'm glad your fish made it out ok.
 
i am very sorry to hear that. just remember things that don't kill u, only make u stronger.
 
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