What did I break?

Hi, folks:

I haven't been on since my rough-in; I'm now working on installing fixtures. VERY FIRST job in the plumbing department was the toilet in the guest bathroom.

I swear I wasn't putting that much torque on it... well, likely too much anyway. I see that this is a popular screw-up, as everybody advises against it. Tightening the tank bolts with a deep socket, a few 1/6th turns on the left bolt, then a few on the right, holding the bolt head in place with a screwdriver... Watching the gap between tank and bowl disappear, and then heard a faint but distinctive click.

Oh, $#!+.... Had to leave for my night job before I could fill 'er up with water. So, friends, what am I going to find in the morning? Any chance that this is not as bad as I think? Where is the most likely crack, bowl body or tank, or both? Quick bad leak, or slow drip over time, and is there any repair other than to replace the tank, assuming that's what I did? Will a crack in the tank be obvious with a careful visual exam, so I might not even have to put water in it, or might it be invisable and still leak like a sieve?

Thanks,
Steve

click

Usually if you crack the tank there is no question about where it happened. You have two tank pieces. But it can also get a small crack at one of the tank bolts. I doubt that it cracked given your descsription, but you will know for sure once you turn on the water.

Change the tank. Tighten the bolts finger tight plus, but do not let the tank bottom out on the bowl.

Thanks for the input. An update: I connected the water supply, and filled it up, and flushed a dozen times. No leaks so far, so hopefully I'm home free.

I'm sure I'll be back with a few other questions as I start installing everything else in this house.

Regards,
Steve

Could have been just a small chip breaking off where the tank met the bowl. Of course, to find out for sure, you'd have to take the tank off, inspect, then go back to square 1. Someday some genius will figure out a better way to mount these things...