Salt Creep and rusty legs

[Paul B]

Yesterday I went downstairs to do something creative, I don't remember, maybe trim my ear or nose hair and I noticed the carpet around the tank was damp. The tank is in a closet and has sat in this spot, on this home made stand since 1979. I didn't think the tank was leaking because this has happened a few times before. I removed the items from the closet, things like the Super 8 movie projector that we needed to view our wedding movies in 1974, a "dial" phone and an 8 track tape player. If you don't know what any of those things are, Google them and grow up some more.
Inside the closet there was a puddle. There was also a fish in the puddle, a wrasse that I have been looking for, for a week or so. Unfortunately the puddle wasn't deep for the fish to still be alive. Anyway, where is the water coming from? I crawled under the tank, and on my way I checked out the bottom glass of the tank with a flashlight to see the amphipods scurrying away from the light. I think some of them were doing the Macarana. Then a drop of water falls on my bald head and makes a noise. If you are bald, you know the noise. I get to the far stand leg and see that it is extreamly rusty. This is not a surprise because a few years ago I noticed it and bolted another leg to the tank to support the weight. Those legs are made of "Kindorf" which are galvanized steel building supports that we use in construction for everything. But even the heavy galvanizing on Kindorf will not stop rust forever.
The leg was wet and water was slowly oozing down. I removed the dead fish and got up (after hitting my head numerous times) Above the corner of the tank with the water I have my manifold for my Reverse Undergravel filter screwed to the wall. The thing has stand offs to keep it away from the wall but after so many years, salt built up behind it and the wall allowing a slow progression of moisture to run down the wall and leg. This probably has been going on for many years which is why the leg looks like it does. The opposite leg looks like the day I installed it.
I removed the manifold, which I don't ever remember removing and I made longer "stand offs" in back of it to keep it away from the wall and the rim of the tank. I also put a de humidifier in the closet to dry it up before I put all my "valuable" stuff back in. You never know when someone will need a Super 8 movie projector from the 50s

Here is the manifold as it was mounted over the tank. Water is pumped into it and it is split up into 3 tubes that come out the bottom to evenly supply water to all 3 UG filter tubes. (Stop laughing about the reverse UG filter)

This is the thing removed from the tank

And the rusty leg. The "new" leg is the one to the left of it. Someday I will have to empty the tank and install new legs, but I hope that day never comes.

This was the wrasse. I really need to replace this guy and cover the spot that fish seem to enjoy leaping from.

 

[Paul B]

Here is my projector. I think it is the same one Columbus used to entertain his crew on his ride over here. The thing still works.

 

[NyteGTI]

I always love reading your threads. Your look on life & the way you describe everything is great

 

[TanksNStuff]

Paul, sorry about losing the wrasse and the problems with the leak and rusty leg. However, I think you forgot the part about the involvement of super models. I don't recall ever reading one of your threads where they were not involved so I feel like the story isn't finished yet.

Please update with that crucial information.

 

[Paul B]

However, I think you forgot the part about the involvement of super models. I don't recall ever reading one of your threads where they were not involved so I feel like the story isn't finished yet.

Actual I was going to say that that projector is really only an 8MM and not a Super 8. Super 8s were very valuable because they were all owned by Supermodels or used to show movies of Supermodels. I don't have a Super 8 anymore and I am not sure which Supermodel took it.

Ryan, life is what you make it and I think so many people make life harder than it has to be, just like they do with fish tanks. I also think that if nothing really bad has ever happened to you, then everything is a disaster. You can tell when someone has had an easy life when they get all upset because a fish died. That is not a disaster. If you die or a family member or one of your close friends dies, that is a disaster. If a fish dies, that is less than nothing (except maybe to the fish) I live near the sea and every time the tide goes out thousands, or millions of fish get caught in tide pools and die. Who cries for them? Not me. I eat fish almost every day and last night I had linguini and clams. A lot of clams died for that delicious meal and I didn't cry. I am older than many on here and I have had quite a few disasters in my life, one of which was fighting in a war where many of my friends and acquaintances died, a couple in my arms. I remember those things as they tend to stay with you. So now if I see a dead person from an accident or something like that, I feel bad, but my feelings are tempered because I have seen literally hundreds of dead people so one is not going to destroy me. But if you are a young person and you see an accident for the first time and someone dies, it may be devastating. I am not heartless, just experienced.
Of course I don't want my tank to crash, but if it did, I would enjoy putting it back together and finding out what went wrong. It wouldn't wreck me at all. Also if I see a Supermodel in the street and she doesn't look at me, it doesn't bother me because they never look at me. As a matter of fact, they turn around and walk away backwards.
I was working once in Manhattan about 20 years ago. A tour bus stopped in front of me, the kind with the open top. A Super model stood up who was the best looking Super model I have ever seen. So as I was looking at her, another Super model stood up, then another, then another. I then realized it was a Miss America photo shoot and they were all decked out in beautiful dresses, jewelry the whole nine yards. I called my boss and told him to dock me for the rest of the day, I am staying right here. I told him why. He came to sit next to me for the rest of the day to watch. Yes, I am very shallow. Dance