MrsM3197

Son's 25 gal tank sprung a nasty leak (read "gushing river"). I've got everybody safe...but cramped in a 10 gal cycled Q/T just until I get back from PetSmart with a new tank. The old tank is all but empty of water (just a couple of inches and sitting in my bathtub decorations and all. What kind of time limit am I looking at before I start losing the bacteria in the gravel and decor? Filter media is in the Q/T with everybody else, and I can work quick if I have to. Will check in soon as I get back.

sirdarksol

Once they run out of food (ammonia), the bacteria will begin dying. The good news is that this die-off is actually kind of slow, because when one bacteria dies, it produces a small amount of ammonia, which provides a little bit of food for its neighbors.
The amount of food they have left is going to depend on the amount of fish waste left over. If you routinely vacuum, you'll have less time than if you don't. You still should do pretty well, even if you ended up with a total loss, since you've got cycled filter media, which carries a ton of nitrifying bacteria.

Lucy

I'm not sure, but I think as long as it's kept wet, warm and fed it could last until you get back from the store, even longer, really.

Torez

it should be fine if kept wet a reasonable temp. but dont wait to long. i say about 7 days.

MrsM3197

Ok, so I guess I had more time than I thought to get everybody taken care of. I was just having a minor panic attack because first I had to rescue the fish, then my wood floors! Was a miracle I was already in his bedroom picking up his dirty room when it happened! The side seam burst, water was pouring out and the seam was parting more and more by the second. It takes a while to clean up a mess like that, but his floors sure are clean now. The new one is a 29 gal. Geez I'm tired, LOL!!!

Shawnie

awwww Im glad things worked out..and im LOL @ the floors being saved last .....what a good fish grammy

Ghostfish

Question about the leaking tank....is it actually cracked? Or is it just the silicon broken loose? If it is just the silicone, you can fix it for near nothing. You just have to cut away the silicon that broke loose and put new silicon in. It will be ready for use in about 48hrs.

MrsM3197

It could be repaired, and I have the silicon to do it...but it's only a $3 scratched up garage sale find I got over the summer because my son asked to keep fish like me. I told him that'd be fine, but he'd have to prove he would learn to care for them correctly. I figured it'd be one of those things like when all my kids have asked me, "Momma teach me to play the piano", or flute or guitar...I'd sit with them to teach them and they lose intrest in a week, LOL!!! He's really exceeded my expectations in care for his fish and he just deserved something better anyway, just happened sooner than planned! LOL!!!

bluealuefish

oh wow that's scary! thank goodness you managed to save them all (and your floors). this reminds me of that video on the internet somewhere where some guy smacked his weight lifting equipment into his poor tank and smashed it to pieces..

Peterpiper

Good to see its under control!
This is the best I could do regarding your request
http://www.adirondack-guide-boat.com...ckboat-oar.jpg

Pamphilos

Good job! And grats to your son on his new tank!

MrsM3197

LOL!!! Thanks Peter, I'll make sure I return the favor if there is ever a need!

MrsM3197

Me too, but I don't know about the good grammy part with all the hollering, fussing and cussing I did. Don't worry though, the only ones here with me when I was doing all that carrying on were my furrys and finnys, they promised they wouldn't repeat what I said, LOL!!!

livetowin

was the tank acrilic or glass