Mystery puddle

[wkopplin]

Everyday I come home from work, I have been noticing a small puddle of saltwater on the floor in front of my tank. Same spot everytime. I checked everywhere for a leak and could not find one.

Did you know a string can cause a siphon? I do now. I have a Tunze magnet cleaner that is attached to the outside part with a string. Seems that somehow a small siphon was formed and the water was "absorbing" itself right out of the tank and pooling on the floor through the string.

Put that one in the ol' mystery box.

[Richard]

Yep, I put about 10 gallons on the store floor once by hanging a bag of carbon in a tank with the string hanging over the side of the tank. I think I did it on a sunday night back when we were closed on mondays.

[BA]

wow, good discovery Blake, will save me some trouble in the future...

[brewercm]

I always used fishing line when using those magnet cleaners like that. Glad I didn't use regular string now, very interesting though.

[Ram_Puppy]

I don't think it's actually siphoning, I believe the process is actually called wicking... just to be nitpicking dork! :)

[brewercm]

I don't think it's actually siphoning, I believe the process is actually called wicking... just to be nitpicking dork!

OK, who envited the English major to the party. ;)

[wkopplin]

Either way, I still had a puddle on my floor.

[GaryP]

Sounds like a good demonstration of capillary action.

Gary

[Instar]

A fine bead of salt crystals down the back of the tank or along an electric cord will do the same thing. Some heaters have the double strand cord coming out of them and the little split in the middle will get a fine bead of salt crystals in it and cause the same capillary wicking action (to be grammatically correct for the class) and it will make a mess only when you are on vacation or have to work double shifts for two weeks straight.

[Tim Marvin]

I've had this capillary wicking syphoning action also. I pays to keep your cords clean.

[Instar]

Yeah, think of that and forget about making the drip loop before your surge protectors because you think the drip loop is unimportant or you've justified it because the cord is just too short. Salt in the surge protector - there is absolutely nothing like it!

[Tim Marvin]

Been there! I tried to burn my garage down one time when Cliff was over from salt running down a cord to the multi outlet.

[Instar]

LoL - I hate when that happens. My tanks have been up from 2 to 4 years. All this talk and I recall seeing salt creep (no inference to our memeber by that name) around my sump and some dripping. Time to check things out closely again. I have too many tanks. Anyone ever GFCI their entire house?