Tank leaking, what is the best thing to do

[SayraT]

Help!

My tank (100-120 litres) seems to have sprung a leak, it is leaking very slowly (thankfully) I have mopped up the water and no more has appeared but obviously I need to do something.

I have another small, empty tank (about 45 litres) and I have sent OH to ikea to buy the biggest tub he can.

In the fish tank I have:

13 or so neon tetras
4 corys
1 bristlenose plec
2 scissortails
1 golden gourami
1 kuhli loach

I got all of these fish with the tank and they aren't particularly what I'd want so as things died I haven't replaced them hence why I only have 2 scissortails and 1 loach.

Should I empty tank into small tank and container then put some fish in each or should I put them all in container?

Now that the tank is leaking is it likely to suddenly crack or anything i.e. do I have time to wait for OH to get tub? Should I put all fish in small tank as a temporary measure right now?

Then for the future I don't know what to do. At the moment I am not working as I am writing my PhD thesis and OH is still looking for a job after losing his job last year. He is temporarily employed just now but that job finishes this week. What I am trying to say is that I can't really afford a new big tank (I looked on gumtree but all big tanks seem to come with fish which I don't want). Should I buy another small tank (40-60 litres) for just now and have two tanks until I can afford a bigger tank, will that be ok for the fish?

Keep the filter running in tank water for as long as you can so that you don't lose the bacteria. Fish will be alright without a filter temporarily, but you might want to get some ammolock from your LFS just in case.

If you can't afford a glass tank then maybe get a plastic vat for now (make sure you cover it if you have a cat or a small child), food grade plastic so that the fish are safe. Even one of those rigid plastic pond liners would do for now although you'd have to prop it up so it didn't fall over.

Is there definitely a leak and not just condensation from the lid? If you draw a line where the water is and just monitor it then you should be able to tell. But if there is definitely a leak then the tank may be weakened and I would empty it as soon as you know for sure that it's a leak.

If it's just a leak where the silicon has shrunk then it'll be really easy to fix, you just need to let the tank dry out and re-seal it with aquarium silicon.

Thanks eau I was too worried last night to leave it. It was definitely a leak, I transferred some of the water into a bucket and ran the big filter in there. I then put some water, plants and wood into the small tank with the smaller filter, I always have two filters in my tank incase I need to set up an emergency tank, and transferred the fish over.

I got a 130 litre tub and I have set it up as a tank with the big filter, I will move the fish over later. I will check the tank and see, it seemed to be leaking from the corner so maybe is the silicone. The tank was 2nd hand and it had already been siliconed at this corner.

Sounds like you've got a temporary home sorted then, I'm sure all the fish will be fine. :)

Have you tried any facebook groups to find a new tank? That's where most of the selling seems to go on these days. I'm in a couple of groups and they are really busy.

I wonder where you are OP. I have a 50l tank I have just replaced and is sat empty
You are welcome to it if you are anywhere near me
You could split them into 2 smaller tanks then
Mine comes with a stand

Yeah, I think it will be fine. I will start looking for a tank now but the fish will be fine in their temporary plastic tub for now.

Thanks still I'm in the Scottish Borders...

I'll look up the facebook groups and also keep an eye on gumtree etc in case a suitable tank come up.

I am not near you Sayra so unless you are having a trip to north England my tank is no good

I didn't think you would be though Scottish Borders and North of England is closer than it could have been

Thanks anyway, I think things are ok for now.