my 120 decided to leak

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SCT62382

Exodon
MFK Member
Jul 7, 2020
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Carol Stream, IL
Yesterday, I noticed some water on the stand in front of my 120. My stingray was up near the top of the tank, right above the wet spot so I figured she somehow splashed water out. Later in the day, I noticed the wet spot was still there and she was in another spot in the tank. Then I noticed a drip from the top trim. I adjusted my overflow box lower in the aquarium to lower the water level, since I figured out that the silicone in one spot inside was "loose" and that's where it was dripping. This has, more or less, stopped the dripping but its not an actual fix and will still drip from time to time. To properly fix it, I'd have to drain the tank and remove all the old silicone BUT, I have nowhere else to keep the stingray while I do that.
Since she's still not fully grown and has room, shes fine in the 120 but I know that at some point, I will have to sell her since I can't get a proper size aquarium to keep her long term. But at this time, I'm rather tempted to just sell her now and maybe even sell off the discus and black ghost knife in there.
Side note: when I mentioned to my 7 year old son the idea of getting rid of that aquarium, he didn't like it because he wants me to do a saltwater tank, which I have also wanted to do
 
Sometimes a condensation leak will appear along the top rim of the tank. It's not a true leak. Condensation beads up on the inside lip of the rim and eventually finds an imperfection in the plastic, enabling a very slow drip.
 
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Stephen St.Clair said:
Sometimes a condensation leak will appear along the top rim of the tank. It's not a true leak. Condensation beads up on the inside lip of the rim and eventually finds an imperfection in the plastic, enabling a very slow drip.
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No, I felt around and felt a loose bit of silicone inside the aquarium. The stingray likes to splash at the surface and when she does, water gets behind it and drips out
 
twentyleagues said:
So it's not a seam that holds the tank together. I'd not worry about it honestly. The trim around the tank rim does very little to nothing for structural integrity. Big fish splash, water is going to hit the ground.
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I guess I should say as long as the trim is attached at some points it does usually provide cross bracing. But it doesn't need to provide a water tight seal like the corners.
 
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If it’s just the top trim under the top trim it’s not really structural. It’s probably just water that gets splashed or wicked underneath the trim till it finds it’s way to the area in question.
If it were mine I would drain the tank low enough to keep the water away and allow you room to work. I don’t think you would need to drain the tank completely.
Dry underneath the trim, clean it as best I could . Once dry, run a bead of silicone around the inside underneath the lip of the trim and smooth it.
Let it dry 24 hours and you should be good to go.
 
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I've adjusted my hang-on overflow box to sit a bit lower, which I think I mentioned previously, and that has just about stopped any dripping, just when the stingray splashes and water gets up into the trim. Before I figured out what was causing the leak, I was really stressed about it but now I know, I'm much calmer about it and not worried anymore
 
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