Tanks leaking no clue how maybe you all know?

Question

I have a 75 gallon all glass aquarium. It was just moved but we made a sturdy platform for it to sit on to avoid torquing it while doing so. The aquarium is 4 by 1.5 by 1.5-2 feet tall and has a black border on top. The back of it is covered with items( biowheel, filter intakes and outlets, protein skimmer, steralizer ect...). To pretty it up we put a back ground on the tank to hide all the things hanging from it(this is important). Now before the move there were no problems. 2 weeks later little droplets started rolling down between the paper and the glass. The drops were salt water and occured under the biowheel filter. We took it apart but found no problems keep in mind the drops ran between the paper and the glass so it was a real small area it would have to drip on. The top of the tank is completely dry and none of our equipment is spilling or dripping. The drip could be coming from anywhere and traveling along the paper until it drops down... continued below

To make the matter even more odd it only does it at certain points in the day. After we took the filter off it stopped for two days and then started again. Its been fine the past few days but theres salt deposits behind the tank and im tired of not knowing whats going on. The manufacturer is all glass btw. Theres a few things i can think of. One the water is somehow siphoning through the border (the leak only occurs between paper and glass). One of my many gadgets is dripping perfectly onto the paper or one of my fish is routinely splashing water out when im not looking in an attempt to get back at me for holding it captive. Please let me know your thoughts.

***ADDED***
Condensations out I took the risk and tasted it its salt and theres visible salt deposits. The problem with it being the biowheel(which Im fairly certain is needed because it gives the nitrite eating bacteria a good foothold) is that it is a hairline at best of space for the water to drip into and there for some would have to run down the back of the paper which none does. No I didnt check the seals up there when i reset it up i was moving fish it had been 18 hours and I needed to get them back in filtered water. Also ive filled it up this far before and no problems. Last I could buy into the hairline crack but why would it only start leaking 2 weeks later and only at certain times. Keep the answers coming please I already have one possible lead thanks to you all. Does anyone know if they do seal the top border to the glass all around or only in certain spots? Could it be a slow siphon through that area?

Answer 1

sounds like condensation? if its only happening at certain times of that day, thats usually a clue. the heat from all the things you have hanging off the back against the glass is probably causing it.

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Answer 2

Since you recently moved it, you may have made a hairline fracture. Search the glass areas. I had a 30 gallon that had a tiny crack towards the lining, nearly invisible. I finally spotted it after weeks of worrying. I just kept the water a little lower and i had no problems. You also may have filled the tank too full. Sometimes water can escape the lining at the top. I would suggest lowering the water level and see if the drippage stops. If that does not help, then you may have a problem with the silicone holding the water in. I find that in older tanks the silicone becomes dry and begins to crack. Usually this happens after it is very old but you never know. Walking home to a house with an inch of water and an empty tank would not be fun.

Hope this helped!

~Cabba

Answer 3

Have you considered the possibility of salt creep up the back of the filter outflow (or uptake tube area)? Up the back of the portion of your filter that should be in the water, over the rim, and dripping down the side of plastic trim on the tank? You could check this easily enough by putting a drop of food coloring on the rim and allowing it to dry, then moving your filter so it sits on that spot. If the droplets down the back start to appear in color, you've got your answer.

Also if the seal inside the top trim is loose (or there's no silicon), the water may be seeping through under the plastic trim.

Answer 4

Sounds like the bio-wheel which you don't need on a marine tank anyway. Just take it off to see if it fixes the problem. Sometimes they leak water in an usual place if the water flow over the wheel is slow or the wheel is not spinning well. Give it a good clean.

Did you check ALL seals before setting it back up? Do this as well.

Answer 5

I think that if it's not the filter which it sounds like it might be... then it may be the water is to high or there is a crack.. the crack dosn't have to be onthe glass if the crack is in the plastic edging (i've had this on a 10gl tank before) then just lower the level of the water a little that may be the issue..

Answer 6

sounds like its your bio wheel filter,

my tank was leaking or so I thought. water was dripping down the back and I thought must be a crack somewhere,


My filter was pretty new but I took it off and kept trying to see what the problem was but I could not get it to stop leaking so I replaced it with another and no more leaking...

Answer 7

Have you tried moving the position of the filter? Maybe the filter is causing the droplets. If not, I'd assume it was a bad seal and I'd reseal the tank with silicone. Good luck, leaky tanks suck!

Answer 8

The leak down try could have advised you if the loss replaced into valves or jewelry, and adjusting the valves will have no result what so ever, there the two closed or no longer, so which you have worn piston jewelry or burnt valves, perhaps you ought to do the leak down back and locate out which one.