Failed HOB draining tank?

So I’m writing this at 4:01am in a sweaty, angry state.

About one hour ago I woke up. It’s that sixth sense you get when your senses tell you the cat’s about to poop on the couch or there’s an axe murderer in the hallway. I don’t have kids but I imagine it’s the “baby did cry or is about to cry” thing my friends go on about.

I strain to listen to any sounds and adjust eyes to see my knife wielding assassin standing over my bed, dagger in hand, ready to plunge that fateful blade into my fat-clogged, overworked heart.

Then I hear it. A horrible gurgling sound. I’m zonked out - I’m convinced it’s the last bloody breathe of his last victI'm and I am next. I reach slowly to the bed side table where I keep my last defense - a hunting knife and my phone.

I step out Of bed to get closer to my defense weapon and splash. Wet floor. Blood? Pee?! Then I’m immediately awake and in crisisreaction mode!! Jump up and turn on lights.

There is an 80% empty 20 gallon aquarium next to my bed with three dwarf gourami swimming happily in the bottom. The rest of the water is on my floor.

Obviously the tank has failed and cracked somehow. I grab all my bed sheets and counterpanes and winter throws and start mopping up. 20 minutes in and I’m exhausted and self-pitying mess when I hear the sound that first bothered me - I know it immediately. It’s a DRIP DRIP from a height. I run downstairs and the kitchen floor is soaked.DRIP DRIP from the light fixture in the kitchen (which is directly under my bed) so I turn the light on.... BANG! Power blows and it’s a blackout.

Now I’m running around carrying two phones as torches and on the verge of tears and an hysterical rage getting more blankets and towels for The kitchen. I got the most of if from what I can see and we are basically Talking about 70L of water here - it couldn’t possibly have done much more damage.

So I tried the mains box switch and lights are back on. I inspect the tank - not one crack - I even lifted it out of the stand to check corners and the bottom. The stand and foam base are bone dry.

After further review I can see one of the HOBs (I’d say probably 12 months old with weekly cleans and rinse of floss every few days) has somehow failed - it’s all wet. It’s sucked up the water Through the intake and just overflowed at the top and not waterfalled back into the tank, but rather spilt all over the floor. Someone shoot me.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is it a common thing?

Iam so paranoid about this now - I lay here wondering about putting some sort of bucket or vessel under each hob to catch any failures? Then a leak alarm in each one? How much are leak alarms? I have over 15 HOBs in the house.

I have a big day of meetings today - can’t cancel. It’s summertime (in Australia) and I have the heater on to dry to dry up moisture in the flat- I mean it’s just going to be a great bloody day isn’t it

rant over... I better try to get another hour or so of sleep

 

Wow. I don't use HOBs right now, but I used them pretty much continuously from 1982-ish to 2010, and I never had anything like this happen nor have I heard of this happening. So I would say no, it's not common at all.

 

Sounds like a media clog of some sort.
Maybe a leak near an impeller seal.

 

Sounds like a media clog of some sort.
Maybe a leak near an impeller seal.

I had this happen with one of my aquaclear50s. The impeller seal wasn't as firm as id like after I had cleaned it. It had leaked. I didnt know until my downstairs neighbour knocked on our door and complained her ceiling was leaking.

Take it apart, reclean it, and put it all back together very, very carefully. Have it over a bucket and watch it for a bit.



Another incident is the HOB was slanted backwards and leaked out the back, rather than out the front. Had to rig up a wedge to angle it towards the tank better to prevent that.

 

Has this happened to anyone else? Is it a common thing?

Mind telling us what HOB it was?

 

Mind telling us what HOB it was?

Yeah that's my question, too. Keeping as much of the filter plumbing inside the tank as possible is a feature. A broken seal or impeller shouldn't flood the house!

 

Mind telling us what HOB it was?

Not sure you guys have them in the States

It’s an Aqua One Clearview 300. Probably the most common brand found here.
ClearView - Aqua One - Inspiring Excellence in Fish Care

 

I have just purchased 5 water leak alarms that I will placed under all major tanks. CANNOT go though that again!

 

Well, AcuarioAmazoni, you must be a writer, by profession! I laughed as I read (but my heart sobbed!!). I had a 10 gallon ADF tank next to my kitchen sink (makes washing dishes more fun), and one morning, water was on the counter and floor, but most still in the tank. I automatically assumed it was a tank leak, but eventually realized it was the AC20 HOB. I'd been fiddling around with it the previous day and had stuck in too much good filtration stuff, thus causing the water to flow out the top of the filter. I still fiddle around with the good filtration stuff in the HOBs, but carefully monitor for potential overflow. I almost overflowed the Penguin 150 yesterday. Will I never learn? Water leak alarms? What will they think of next? I worry about the 75g. Will definitely investigate that!

 

I didn’t even know about water leak alarms till recently. They’re quite cheap and a good idea. If moisture gets in at least you’ll hear it. I went for cheap ones so no phone alerts etc (I check cameras on phone throughout day so if a tank was emptying I would see it anyway) - this is more for when I’m sleeping and should something occur.

For your 75 gallon it just may be worth it. I picked each up for just over $20...

 

Does your HOB use cartridges?

 

Does your HOB use cartridges?

yes and no.
Yes in that it does but no that I alter them. I keep the black bit for biological but I cut out the charcoal and add filter floss for the mechanical.
Only the very large ones (not the ones I’m referring to here) I add ceramic noodles inside for extra biological filtration.