Something to Ponder ...

[Ron]

Why is it wise to not set up every tank you own?

:: quickly heads back to work ::

[GrizzlysDad]

  Umm, in case one of them start to leak and you have nowhere to move the fish? 

[Ron]

Decided to drain a few tanks down to relocate fry. As I was screwing my Mag-drive pump onto the hose I apparently didn't get the threads started well enough and it fell to the floor. My first thought was the case cracking as it hit the floor, but it did a bounce right into the bottom edge of a 50L and caused a solid CRACK noise.

Luckily the tank didn't pour it's contents onto the floor - wasn't even dripping from the crack, but I went into panic mode replacing it with another tank the same size I've had sitting around. I almost was going to make another stand and setup this tank a few months back, but I'm sure glad I didn't. I never keep a tank with water in it empty and sometimes it's just too hard to rearrange the fish, especially since I've started keeping some fry to grow out again. 4 hours later the tank is replaced and I did get some fry move too - hopefully all is well. Not exactly how I planned on spending my evening.

[Frenchie]

Glad you saved everything.

[SKISWETPETS]

Good to know you didn't lose anything..

[Regalblue]

Nice save- I had a 37cube burst once. What a mess!

[GrizzlysDad]

Glad thinks worked out Ron...but now you need to get another emergency backup tank 

I once had a 120g blow a front seam....luckily it was in my basement fish room.
I bought a used, supposed water tight tank that I just set up.
I filled it two days beforehand with water...it held. The next day I put in the sand substrate...it held.
The third day I was upstairs cooking dinner and suddenly heard a rushing water noise.
I thought to myself, "did I leave the water running in the basement?".
I ran downstairs and there was water spraying 10' across the room and 6' up the wall. 
I ran to grab my Python across the basement but realized how futile that thought really was 
It emptied in minutes along with about 100lbs of sand.
I just sat there for the minute or two...then started laughing  What else could I do?
Luckily, I had not put fish in the tank yet.

[gmaschke]

Something to ponder alright!  I have my tanks set up in my FINNISHED basement.  If I spring a leak the carpet will be soaked!  You guys are scaring me........

[GrizzlysDad]

Something to ponder alright!  I have my tanks set up in my FINNISHED basement.  If I spring a leak the carpet will be soaked!  You guys are scaring me........

The Halloween season is upon us...so it's our task to scare everyone 

[JeffroM]

These guys are just trying to scare people.  Fish tanks never leak.  Also things like forgetting your filling up your tank and going to bed just to be woken up at 5am to screams of your girlfriends kid saying the basement is flooded would never happen too.   

[Ron]

Glad thinks worked out Ron...but now you need to get another emergency backup tank 

I was thinking the same. 

I've never had a tank blow out, but I have had some serious water on the floor. There's a "calm before the storm" when filling up tanks. It's the initial noise of water spraying out of the hose that's attached inside the tank so I don't have to stand there and hold it for 100-150 gallons worth of water. Then suddenly as the water level approaches the top,  it's no longer making noise since the fitting on the end of the hose is now underwater. Then suddenly there's the roar of water spilling over every side of the tank and hitting the floor! Makes me cringe just thinking about it. 

I also had it happen once draining tanks - my utility tub from the photo had the drain strainer clog and water eventually went over the edge of it all over the floor. It wasn't as noticeable since it's in a different room than where I have my tanks.

I highly suspect though if I ever have a true catastrophe you'll find me selling all my tanks.  Hopefully it never happens!

[gmaschke]

Well my python broke this weeks when I was refilling after some w/c and water spewed all over before I could get to it.  It took a bit to dry but not as bad as if say my 135 would cause should it retire on me.

[css merrimac]

Good thing it didn't burst and an eruption of water and fish everywhere. You have a good point though-why some tanks we leave empty!! I recently took down my 55g tank...it was "bowing" on the left side and I didn't want to have that tank break open etc. 

[Ron]

Well my python broke this weeks when I was refilling after some w/c and water spewed all over before I could get to it.  It took a bit to dry but not as bad as if say my 135 would cause should it retire on me.

I presume it was a plastic fitting that broke? I never liked that they were nearly all plastic.

Good thing it didn't burst and an eruption of water and fish everywhere. You have a good point though-why some tanks we leave empty!! I recently took down my 55g tank...it was "bowing" on the left side and I didn't want to have that tank break open etc. 

Good catch on the 55!