My tank dribbles

This is kinda strange. My tank is a 30 gallon, we got it used. It`s currently cycling fish-less. First I thought maybe I had a slow leak but I watched it tonight. Condensation builds up on the (I don`t know the correct term for it) the access door thing in the hood, and it seems to collect on the front where it opens. Then I hear dripping and it dribbles out the front outside of the tank the and onto my floor (good thing the wood floor is not near here). I wiped it up and looked to see where it came from and it`s all wet on the lip of the hood where it meets the access door thing. My tank is not overfull (my first thought) and it`s not a leak in the tank itself. Has this happened to anyone at all? What can I do? Would leaving it open a small amount maybe make the water drip back into the tank instead of the opening? or would this be bad?

 

Leaving the lid slightly open might help force the water to drip back towards the center of the tank, rather than forward and out. However, once you have fish in there it would also present an opportunity for an enterprising fish to escape. It's interesting...I know what you are talking about as there is all kind of water that collects on the underside of my hoods as well, but I have never had trouble with it dripping out unless I am removing the hood to clean. The only suggestion I have off the top of my head is to open your hood and let your water level drop a quarter inch or so through evaporation, then reclose the lid and see if there is an improvement. Maybe someone else will have something smarter to try. :-[

 

I wonder if maybe my floor is uneven too? I'm not sure if I can get a replacement tank hood since this one is older. I really do not want to buy a new once since this one is cycling nicely. I have noticed more evaporation today since I left the lid open a crack over night, yet there still was water pooling there, just hadn't dripped. I'm worried it may get close to the light too, there is glass covering it but water likes to sneak into many places

 

Do you have an airstone or some sort of bubbler in the tank? I've found that this is more prevalent where the bubbles are popping at the surface in my tank then anywhere else. Though I haven't had a problem with the water getting out. It usually drips to the plastic lip on the tank (the part the hood sits on) and then drips back into the tank. Of course I pretty much wipe this off every morning when I feed the fish, so that may be why I haven't had any water getting out.

 

Are you sure it's not a leak? We had the same thing, and it was a leak in the end. We found out by leaving the flat open (and it was still happening).

 

I do have a bubble wall on the back of the tank, not really near the front where it dribbles. tho there is a gap in the hood at the back between the hood & the filter space that I will have to cover when I finally get fish. I keep checking for leaks and it most definitely is coming from the hood lid its self. I just lifted the lid and a small pool was forming at the edge. Well, leaving it open a bit didn't help, so I'm going to try putting something on top to keep it sealed tight and see if that works. Water level seems to have drooped 1/4" from last night. Darn A/C taking the water out of the air, but it's hot out!!

 

Ours was condensation partly, then an undoubtable leak as it was not starting at the cap, but way lower down.

That's a lot of water in one night. Is the tank still under guarantee? Cos even if it is the lid, then weighing it down tight wont' leave you with an easy access to the fish for play time, feeding, etc.

 

it's a used tank, got it for 100.00 with the stand.

I'll try weighing it down slightly and see if that may help

Boy this fish thing is complicated!!! :-\

 

Boy this fish thing is complicated!!! :-\

I know what you mean! I was totally overwhelmed with all the tips and tricks, do's and dont's, etc. Aquarium 'common' knowledge could fill an encyclopedia.

Hope your tank situation works out.

 

Since you're cycling fishless, leave the hood open and see what happens......If there are no leaks, replace the hood. Take the tank measurements to the LFS and see what's available for it. I'm sure it would be easier to replace than you think.

 

If you do replace the hood, you don't have to replace the light fixture (that's the expensive part). You can get just the top, .

 

Good tip Luniyn...Always one step ahead!!

 

ohh didn't know you could just buy hoods, and my light is perfectly fine, brand new bulb in it too. Hubby thinks it's cuz the tank is too warm so it's evaporating quicker so it catches on the top more and pools there. I have the temp up just because it's cycling, so I will see how it goes for my first fish. Once I drop the temp and it still dribbles I will look into replacing the hood