My styrofoam bucket started leaking?

[Chode2235]

OK, I have had some minnows stored in my styrofoam bucket in my garage that are left over from my ice outing this weekend. All was good, I would throw a little snow on them and drain some of the water out etc. Suddenly today I go out this morning and my bucket is leaking everywhere. Small beads of water are coming out everywhere, and there is only a little water left in the bucket. I checked for cracks or any damage but can't find anything, just the water oozing out the side.

I transfered the minnows to a plastic bucket for now, but was pretty surprised and dumbfounded that my bucket would suddenly start to leak like that.

What happened, and is the bucket shot, or do they just quit holding water after 5 days?

Very confused.

[sparcebag]

Never had that happen! But I take packaging tape and completly tape all styrofoam buckets they last longer,take more of a beating.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I store my minnows in a styrofoam bucket too and Ive noticed that I lose about an inch of water a day and Im pretty certain I have no holes

[fishtank]

Does any of the water in the bucket begin to freeze when you noticed it leaking? Even if you get just a skim on the top, that ice will expand, pushing the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) thus creating spaces for water to escape.

Foam is going to be your best insulating and cost effective container out there, just as long as you keep it from freezing.

This doesn't mean that it will not work when water freezes, because I have seen buckets completely solid that have thawed and still worked. It will just depend on the strength of the container, how slowly/quickly it froze, and the thickness of it.

[Chode2235]

So I did have a little ice in there the other morning. I take it from your post that the bucket is shot, and I would have to agree as the water just leaks out of it. I didn't realize they were that sensitive to freezing.

Anyone know where I can get replacement liners for the plano buckets?

Thanks.

[chris63]

Depending on what size bucket you have,I put the styro bucket inside a plastic bucket so you don't leak the h2o out nearly as fast.After 24 hours or so the styro bucket will or does leak about 1/3 or so volume of h2o into the plastic bucket and I just pick out the styro bucket and dump the water back in.(Hope this helps/makes sense? )c63

[fishtank]

Chode, I'm afraid so. My career is based on EPS, and if it is leaking, there is no way to stop it, unless you find exactly where it is leaking and just plug by using some simple glue or any other type of silicone type substance to cover it up.

[tipupguy]

i've owned a bucket called cool bubbles for about 10 years which is a styrofoam bucket inside a plastic bucket works great in the winter and summer have gotten a lot of use out of it. it originaly comes with a airator (battery) when that died i just purchased a 110 airator plug it in a few hours aday and my minnows can last awhile till i fish again

[fishtank]

Chode, If you have some extra Silicone lying around, I would just try to brush the outside with that. The bucket is a petroleum based product, so I'm not sure how it will react to it, but it may be worth a try.

[Chode2235]

Thats what I have, one of the buckets with the foam liners. It leaks most of the water out within a few hours now.

The good news is that I called Plano and they are going to send me a new liner. They say that their bucket should be 'tougher' than that.

[slipperybob]

I've had that problem with those foam buckets/liner for years. So I merely just ask for minnows in a bag, now. Keeps bucket clean and don't have to worry about leaks. Just have to work with extra baggage on top.