Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Tanks and Equipment => Topic started by: SteveS on September 22, 2012, 09:05:07 PM

Title: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: SteveS on September 22, 2012, 09:05:07 PM
I have a problem with my tank!  It is a 110 litre that was purchased as part of one of those "complete aquarium" packages and comes complete with a fairly tasteful plastic hood.

The problem is that with the warm water in the tank and the lights in the hood there is a lot of condensation swishing about inside the hood.  This condenses on the inside of the hood and a significant amount then drips down the outside of my tank, escaping into the environment as water all over my stand and carpet leaving unsightly limescale streaks down the front and damaging the timber of my stand.

Any suggestions as to how I can stop this happening?
Title: Re: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: Think Fish (Peter) on September 22, 2012, 09:29:02 PM
Hi Steve, Interesting problem!
I've seen a few tank hood designs with leakage/condensation problems. Do you know what the make or model of the tank/hood is at all? Someone might be familiar with the design.
Title: Re: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: SteveS on September 22, 2012, 10:02:53 PM
It's an Interpet Aquatropic AT80.  It was a special for Maidenhead Aquatics a couple of years ago I think.
Title: Re: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: Think Fish (Peter) on September 22, 2012, 10:11:27 PM
Yep, I know that one, its based on the same moulding which was on the older Hagen/Fluval Uno/Duo tanks and hoods.
Two things to check with this on are:

1) Make sure the hood 'flap' which lifts up is properly closed, and not just 'resting' closed. It makes an audible 'click' or 'snap' noise when it is properly closed.

2) Make sure the water level is not too high, or being agitated too high by the filter. Sometimes something called 'capillary action' causes water to follow a path up and over the glass. There may be a max/min line, but this may also be inaccurate. I would put the water level as low as possible without being visible from a viewing perpective.
Title: Re: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: SteveS on September 23, 2012, 12:09:52 AM
1) yeah, I know about that one, it's fairly obvious when the lid isn't snapped closed because you get a great beam of light 'leaking' through the gap.

2) I always try and fill to just the level of the bottom of the frame.  The same level as the lowest part of the hood.  It's just about the lowest level I can fill it and not see the water surface level from the front of the tank.  The filter doesn't agitate that far forward.

I'm sure it's condensation, if I lift the lid, slide it back slightly and prop it on the top of the tank so that the hood doesn't overhang the front at all, the condensation drips back into the tank leaving limescale on the hood to show where it is dripping from.
Title: Re: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: marjanb021 on September 23, 2012, 11:57:52 AM
Hi, Stevie. This can be serious problem.
If you are sure that is a condensation problem, than you probably have bad air circulation under hood. Make a holes on sides of the hood. You can also connect fans on them. (like computers fans, they works pretty good for this purpose).
Are you sure that the water from filter tubules or too strong thrust from aeration stone not sprinkle your hood? That was the problem in my case although it was not obvious at first sight. I solve problem so I tied a piece of rope for grapes tying on filter tubules out.
It's hard to belive to me that you have so many condensation that you have big moisture like that.

Hope I help and that you will resolve your problem.

Salute you.
Title: Re: My tank is leaking...sort of!
Post by: TigzFish on October 01, 2012, 11:20:33 PM
I have an Interpet 64 liter "FishBox" and have had a similar issue with water droplets (from aeration) forming under the plastic hood. When I lift the hood to gain access, the droplets roll to the back and drip down the back of the tank and on to my nice laminate floor  >:(

To combat it, I purchased a small sheet of corrugated clear PVC and cut it to fit on top of the tank (there's a lip running all the way around that it can sit on).  Closing the hood does not touch the PVC at all and it provides a pretty good 'splash guard.  Maybe this idea could for you too?