Slow Leaker

[Aqualoon]

So I bought a 150g tank from a member on local saltwater club forum two weeks ago and tonight I finally got around to setting it up.

I was waiting on sand (tonight I just broke down and went to my LFS and bought it) driftwood, etc.

I was told it was water tested and I tested it myself (although apparently not a very good job of it) so I wasn't too worried about it.

So I got done setting it up about 3 hours ago and came into the room to shut the lights down after moving all my stock into this new tank (I had pre-seeded filters already) and noticed a drop of water accumulating on the left front corner. I would say a drop forms every 10-13 minutes or so (very slow small leak), the left back corner is also damp (not sure if it's from the same leak or another leak on it's own). The left back corner isn't forming any droplets of water, just feels damp.

So, it being almost 1am now, and with work in the morning what are the chances that I can leave this problem until tomorrow night?

 

[Knowdafish]

Good chance. Just get a towel and put it where the leak is. Put one corner of the towel at the point of the leak and the other end in a bucket or pan. Make sure to fasten the towel so it doesn't fall, as it will get heavy when it gets wet.

 

[Toby_H]

If it’s truly leaking at 1 drop every 10 minutes…

That’s 6 drops per hour…

Or 144 drops in 24 hours…

Which is about ¾ of a tablespoon…

My guess is it’s leaking several times faster than you realize… which means by the time you get home from work it will likely leak two or three tablespoons… which isn’t anything to miss work over…

Tie a towel in place… trailing the end into a bucket is a good idea…

Check the towel in the morning and expect to replace it…

Inspecting it when you are getting ready for work will give you a good idea of what to expect when you get home from work…

Hopefully when you get up in the morning you’ll find that you simply splashed some water and mistook that for a leak… but even if not, at the rate you are suggesting I think you have a day to deal with it…

 

[Aqualoon]

Thanks guys - this means I'm headed to bed!

It's definitely a leak, but like I mentioned a very very slow one. I can wipe the corner off with a towel and come back in ten or so minutes and a droplet of water is beginning to form again.

I did what you both suggested, hope things aren't too severe in the AM.

 

[tcarswell]

Sorry to hear about that loon. What kind of stand is it leaking on? I am sure you will be fine with some dish towels. Best of luck resealing let me know if you run into any problems resealing ive been there! then to hell! and back resealing tanks

 

[Aqualoon]

Woke up this morning to just a very wet towel. Course I was having a hard time sleeping with images of the tank busting while I was in bed.

Thanks all for the help - yet again.