Leak! - help

[PNA]

My gf called me this morning telling me she discovered a puddle below her 32G (Hagen Waterhome).  She cleaned it up and couldn't see where the water was coming from.  I told her to remove as much water as she could while allowing the filter to keep on functioning (HOB) - she says she got about a 1/3 out.  We're going to go have a look at lunch.

Any ideas for how I can determine the source of the leak?  Could it be from the filter AC300?(please God it be from the filter)?  

Can I do anything to buy some time?   Hopefully the leak was coming from the top 1/3 of the tank.

Also, any idea on the warranty from Hagen on this?  It was bought about a year ago.  If it's still covered do I mail it to them, then they mail me a replacement?

What a mess.......

[Sue]

AC can leak by overflowing out the back, (if so clean out the filter material) or where the motor inserts in the plastic box. If you aren't sure turn it off for a while and see if leaking stops...

[BigDaddy]

Yeah, I had an AC start leaking out the back because the water level was too high due to clogged media.  I was so relieved when I realized it was the filter and not the tank!

[PNA]

good call... I'm pretty sure it was the filter.. I cleaned it well and tilted it a little more.
i left the low water level and it'll be filled back slowly... but i can't see how the tank could be leaking.

thanks.

[TBarb]

Those darn AC's!. Also, if the tab at the motor is broken, this will cause it to hang back a bit spilling a lot of water. Keep the top on tight!

[shell]

I recently switched from an AC to an Aquatech.  It is much easier to operate, no bags.

[Jim]

but what if you have to treat your tank how do you take the carbon out?

Just a thought

I also have an aquatech and my friend really doesnt approve lol.

Jim

[blueturq]

but what if you have to treat your tank how do you take the carbon out?

Just a thought

I also have an aquatech and my friend really doesnt approve lol.

Jim

Good point Jim... since the sponge is all together with the carbon (sponge on outside of cartridge, carbon on inside of cartridge), it would be a hassle, because you would need to open up the cartridge, shake out all of the carbon, then slide the cartridge with sponge (which your beneficial bacteria is on) back into the filter... otherwise if you just took out the cartridge carbon, sponge et al... then where is your bacteria? :?

Sure it may seem more convenient with a slide in-out cartridge, but AC's are MUCH better in the case of medicating an aquarium imo, because everything is seperate. i.e. your sponge block/blocks, then you have your seperate media bags i.e. one for carbon, one for bio-max, and you can add additional bags with media aswell... so you can't really beat the versatility of an AC.

I'm not saying that they are "THE PERFECT FILTER!".  Heck, if that were the case then EVERYONE would be buying one!.... I mean... it also comes down to what fish you are keeping too/what your needs are (which is why some ppl use the expensive but very effective cansiter filters).  Heck not everyone uses carbon!

Whatever works best for you!

[PNA]

The leak is back.. it may be coming from the filter's motor (I hope).
I'm not there, but she said she had some water on the ground again this evening (after work).  
Is there a sure fire way to tell where is the source of the leak?  All the tank's seams seem dry... but the puddle on the floor is coming from somewhere.

[Mettle]

I had an AC leak on me too... All across my floor. I didn't even notice it that morning until I splashed through a big puddle. I freaked right out. It was one of those mornings where I was already late on getting up for work and so forth...

As for the Aquatech filters... That's the Walmart brand, is it not? If so I have some of those. But I just put in AC filter media and it works fine - lol. I also don't use carbon in my filters on a regular basis. Only when stripping meds from a tank.