Any ideas to fix a small leak in a stock tank?

[Jenni]

I have a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. It has developed a leak. It is the tiniest little crack right on the bottom curve, kind of on the side of that indention where the drain pug is. I can hardly see the crack. It only leaks when there is about 30 gallons or more of water in it.

Any ideas of how I can fix it? It is such a small crack - like an inch long. I hate to trash the tank if I can save it. I am down to one tank out of 3 as the other one I had completely blew out this weekend. With the 6 horses is means filling the every day - which means lugging a hose out of the basement and across the driveway.

I was hoping some of you handy do-it-yourselfers and recyclers would have some ideas for me.

[Trailpal]

I would rough up the inside surface and then use a silicon sealant with a wide bead. Once it cures, the water pressure itself will help keep the silicon pressed against the wall of the tank.

Check the temperatures, I think you may need a minimum temperature for it to cure.

[Idaho Linda]

If it were metal, JB Weld would do it. Maybe something for aquariums?

[pamz]

I fixed one once with a torch. I put the torch to the crack, then when it started to melt I used a putty knife to smooth out the rubber over the crack. so far so good several years later. Don't touch it for awhile, it stays hot for quite some time as I found out, lol.

[Jenni]

Pam - how big was that crack? I have 2 other tanks that have larger cracks - the one that recently "blew out" and one that my horse decided to flip over and paw at. The one that was pawed at I think is too big to fix but the other has about a foot long crack in the very bottom along the curve and I wondered if it could be melted back together. I might try it - what do I have to lose?

[Idaho Linda]

You don't have much to lose, that is for sure. I think melting this is a great option!

Check out the JB Weld website. They have a JB Weld Marine for underwater use. They also have some info on the left side for different materials. You might be able to use JB Weld on the underside of the tank and melt it together on the water side.

If all else fails, leave the plug out for drainage, fill the tanks with dirt, and plant tomatoes next spring.

[Jenni]

I flipped the one that the horses pawed at over and use it for a "mounting block". I was also thinking if I couldn't fix them I would put some tractor suitcase weights in the bottom and use them as hay feeders out in the pasture.

[res]

I've kept all my leaky tanks to feed hay out of. I even drug them with us from OK to MD. They work great. I've never weighted them down, and I've never had one budge an inch, even in the worst OK thunderstorm/wind gust.

I also have one I use as a mounting block - same as you!

They are definitely handy things to have, even if they don't hold water. My neighbor thinks I am crazy because I have so many of them around! She has ONE water tank.

[pamz]

My crack was about 8-10 inches long maybe and right smack in the middle of the bottom, thanks to Joey trying to play circus horse.

She has ONE water tank.

It will be interesting to see if she finds a use for that one if it ever starts leaking or if she will throw it away. I like Linda's idea of using it for a tomato planter, lol.

[Jenni]

res - I'm not worried about the wind blowing them over. I'm worried about my dork horses flipping them over and trying to stand on them or whatever other stupid trick they think they should try.

Pam - sounds like I'll give the melting a try, at least on the one with the big crack.

[pamz]

I do move it carefully. It's right in the middle of the bottom and I'm afraid it might be a bit thin or brittle there, but so far it's worked.

[snaffle]

Nov 6, 2012 11:23:08 GMT -5 pamz said:

I fixed one once with a torch. I put the torch to the crack, then when it started to melt I used a putty knife to smooth out the rubber over the crack. so far so good several years later. Don't touch it for awhile, it stays hot for quite some time as I found out, lol.

Oh my gosh pam! I have a tank with long cracks in it.. have often thought about busting it up and trashing it.

I am going to try your method. I dont have anything to loose

[tandbnli]

I have a tank that I fixed. 60 gallon sheep tank heavy duty poly tank from my farm and fleet.

My horses ran out of water and tipped the tank sliding the the tank heater into the edge. Of course it was toward the bottom. They were some pretty decent holes. Thankfully it didn't ruin my tank heater.

I found some stuff this year that fixed it. I filled it and it didn't leak.

Here is what I found:
PC Marine hand moldable all purpose white epoxy putty stick. Package says for marine and plumbing repairs. Made in the USA.

So there ya go. Product review.

[Jenni]

Thanks, TandB. Did you find it online or were you able to get it in a store? Maybe it would work for the other tank I have with the larger cracked section.

Hubby is going to try the torch and putty knife method today on the tanks today. We are planning a trip to the "city" to get some building supplies on saturday so I wanted to try to fix the broken tanks before then so I knew if I had to buy a new one.

[tandbnli]

I found it in the glue section at our local farm and fleet. It wasn't very expensive, probably less than $5.