55 Gallons in the carpet

First time this has ever happened. I have a well planted Florida 55 sitting on the floor in the living room. It has always seemed to lose a bit of water over time, maybe an inch per month and i figured this was due to evaporation and the compact flos above it. Being lazy i dont drag out the garden hose but every 6 months or so to top it off. Its full of Blue Fins, Flagfish, Golden Topminnows and a few odd fellas like Swamp Darters and Seminole Killies. Lush and green with mostly Val and Anubis but Java Fern and a couple other plants fill it out. It can be a chore trimming all that Val down to a couple inches of the substrate.

So i filled it up the other night, adding about 6 inchs and thought no more until the next night when it was back down to the same level. I disconnected the canister filter thinking maybe one of the lines had slitted back open, a repair job i had done years ago. The next day the tank was another 6 inches low and the carpet soaked. Definatly the tank itself has failed somewhere. I drained it down to a couple inches above the kitty litter clay substate and Connie and i shoved and slide it outside onto the deck. I hope the Florida fish can survive these last few cold nights before spring fully arrives.

I've had that tank setup for 8 years now and never experienced a tank failure like this. Beats me. I reckon it's time to try something new. I dont think i will attempt to repair it, too time consuming, too chancy. I prefer to place it by the road with a "LEAKS" note taped to it. Might make a good terrarium for someone.

My socks are wet.

Oh man Casper that sucks! I loved that tank. Perhaps put it outside or tie it into the cement pond somehow?

I know the tank of whitch you speek. Look at the bright side now you can up grade to a bigger tank.

You could bury it and fill it with peat and sand and bring home some of those awesome pitcher plants from the Big Show and do some exotic venus fly trap removal from that little remnant on Rt 20 on your upcoming excursion That's what I'd be doing if I was in your climate!

I know you don't want to dig it... So put Long Hair Phil to work when he's there

Todd

Edited by farmertodd, 06 March 2009 - 08:54 AM.

I'm certainly going to have Long Haired Phil help me heft the heavy glass container to a more logical location. Matt, yes sir i am trying to come up with something on tieing it to the cement pond, if i could make the leaking bottom drain to the pool, but i cant figure how. Man its full of fertile substrate and plants, aint too sure how to handle it. It seems to be holding water while on the deck at about 6 inchs.
James i have an empty 75 gallon tank with a cool sculpted 3d background ive been meaning to setup for years as a darter tank. A lot more high maintenance aquaria though. That may be what you see on your next Boonoroo visit.