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Why was it so dirty?

I've never heard of HOB filters backing up like that. Doesn't it just overflow back into the tank? You must've had the filter on an angle.

Ok, I have a question. What happens after 15-20 years of using a tank? Does it just burst or what.

I've been told recently that most of the time, if a tank cracks or a seal breaks, its because of improper support. After a while even stands go bad and they should be checked for bowing surfaces and other malformities caused by age and weight bearing.
Oh.. and rats. Dont ask me why, but rats will eat silicone for whatever reason. Found that out the hard way, using a previous feeder tank (for my snakes) as an emergency tank. Well, that didnt go over to well. Make sure if any other creature (rodents especially) have been in the tank, that they have not chewed on and damaged the seals.
Good luck!
-Q

Had a 45 gallon about 10 years old started leaking during the night by the time i woke up about a third of it was on the floor. The sealant came loose as it was a hex, about 3 inches from the base. Good news didnt loose any fish had to buy a new 55 gallon that day and put them in there. It was a pain in the butt to do but it worked out fine.

I like the cat in the tank story!!!! If you had that on video you could probably sell it!:88)

my cousin, on the top floor of a house came home to find his girlfriends cat inside the tank, unable to get out. and most of the water and fish on the floor (and leaking to the basement) set it up again, and the tank started to leak, for no reason. think it was from a seal and had to replace it.

Had a 2nd hand 20g that had been running fine for 3+ years.. came home from work with it spraying water across the room from the seams and leaking everywhere.

Interestingly, for our insurance to pay out it needed to be more than 80L of water, didnt do any damage so we didnt worry about but it was interesting to hear.

Lucky got home in time from work and had a great mate who brought around a replacement tank till we could buy another one, no fish loss no cycle!

Brand new 20G (very reputable company), set up for 4 days, was fine when I went to bed around 3am, got woken up by mum around 6am telling me the filter was making a funny noise. Well of course it was - it was running dry. There was about 4mm of water left in it, the culprit - a massive crack across the full length of the base. I lost around 3/4 of my fishies .
Turned out to be a flaw in the glass. The company replaced the base (couldn't replace my poor dead fishies though & I havn't had a problem with it since.

Not a busted tank but i built a filter for my 39gal tall tank with a RUG and no back flow prvention had a power out needless to say about 30 of the 39 ended up on the floor ]:|(wife)i now have that tank donw in my bar and a backflow preventer on it.

Budda

[span class="edited"][Edited by little budda 2004-05-24 23:57][/span]

Racso
I have been told by glaziers/tank makers that the life of a tank could be between 15-20 years. The silicone breaks down also the glass ages water conditions etc.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I've had a leak or two in my time. No fun. Really makes the wife unhappy!

Anyone ever had a really bad one?

:88)

We had a 10 gal. We went away for a few weeks & when we got back, the filter had got dirty causing it to back up and pump water onto the hardwood floor.

That hardwood floor was never the same. My tanks are all downstairs now.:88)

i bought a 29 gal outta the bargan finder
this was my first tank ever

it was up and running for about 5 days
went out for about an hour and there was only about 2 1/2"
of water left in the tank when i got back home

lucky for me i had a 10 gal under it and it caught some of the water
but it was still a big mess

all i can say is make sure that when you buy a tank make sure it has 100% silicone on ALL the seams, and run you fingers down all the seams too , to make sure that all the seams have a full beads of 

i have had no leaks since
i even fixed the old tank my self and it hasnt had a leak for over 6 months now

Chris

anyone have any idea why your tanks leak? I'd hate to have mine leak so if i could avoid any problems that would be great!

I did with my 50 gallon it was horrible.All the seams were ruined and took A LONG time to fix.

We had a 4ft leak/crack about 25% over furniture, carpet, books & tank replacement a total insurance bill over Aus $3000.
ans several weeks to get it all fixed.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I've had a few minor leaks too - but I remember about 20 years ago I was at a friends place when my mother rang and told me to come home urgently because her fish tank was leaking. I went home to find a HUGE crack in the front glass. Diaganal from top almost to bottom. Luckyly we had another tank to put the fish in and a vacum that also suck up water for the carpet. I think we had it repaired (or replaced Cant remember now). We never did work out why it happened but thankfully it never happened again.

DASHMAN :88)

Its better to be hated for who you are...
Than loved for who you are not

I'm trying to avoid leaks, so I put sealant on the outside of my 29g's seams... I hope it works...

I have a 3g slate bottomed tank that has a large crack in the slate. It will drain in about 3 days. I finally sealed it up a few days ago and I'm gonna put some more on and touch it up so it won't leak anymore

I bought a 2.5 gallon bowfront and a betta at a chain store. Got home, the tank was leaking like a sieve and the betta was in a CUP! Of course the nearest pet place was 1.5 hours away, so, I just had to make do for a couple of days. I was VERY angry.