Jump to content

Leak...


Geoffrey D
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hello guys,

I need help. I have a leak on my tank. This leak has been there for a solid 3 years...since the leak was around the overflow area, I decided to "link the leak" (1 drop a second) to the overflow pipe, so, it would somehow not fall onto the floor but back in the sump. It created some nuisances, like accumulation of salt around the pipe, some stains on the cabinet, but well not so bad, it was working without flooding my place.

Long story short, with Xmas coming and being stuck in SG, I wanted to use my leaves to restart afresh. So, I took all rocks & fish/coral out. Did a good polish of the tank to make it look like new, removed all accesible silicone joint. And i did the silicone joints again, following youtube video. Result is better than expected.

48h after (silicon is cured), I refilled the tank with fresh water, to test, and the leak is still there. Not as strong as before.

It's a leak that has a weird location. At the bottom of the tank, around the overflow box. My aquarium is an Elos mini.

Here, some pictures. You will see the overflow is built in. And the leak is at the base of this overflow box. How to fix this? Load in more silicon? Or throw everything, buy new one? Or remove all silicone joint and overflow box and reseal everything rather than just doing the edge?

 

 

IMG_2121.JPG

IMG_8254.jpg

WhatsApp Image 2020-12-14 at 16.05.07 (1).jpeg

WhatsApp Image 2020-12-14 at 16.05.07.jpeg

Edited by Geoffrey D
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • SRC Member

Hi bro.
The leak is seems to comes from your pipe joint.
I think you should scrap away the glue at the joint and wipe with thinner to remove any glue residue.
Also don’t use any rubber seal at the joint instead.
Place the joint with glue at the base while tighten by turning the other piece only.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tank : 3 x 2 x 1.8 ( setup end Feb 2014 ) --> 4 x 2 x 1.8 ( setup early Nov 2016 )
Skimmer : Bubble Magus NAC6 --> Bubble Magus Curve 7
Return pump : Jebao 10000l/h ( down in 17th December 2014 ) --> Jebao DC-12000 ( 19th December 2014 )
Compressor drop-in coil
Wavemaker : Tunze 6105 x 1
Lights : Modular based DIY LED light x 4

Chaeto in the sump

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Bro. I wish it was. But the pipe is not even connected to "water". The tank is not full enough to enter the overflow or retuirn pipe. I wish I could take a clearer picture, but there is no room there.

We can clearly see the leak coming from the joint between the overflow box & the tank itself. 

Alama, I m so screwed with this tank. Since day 1, I have had leak. From new to now. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • SRC Member

Ok.
One way which is tedious by drying up the overflow box and increase the water and see where and when the dry tissue placed in the overflow starts to get wet.
If is from the bottom, which can start after certain pressure appear with water.
When you see the tissue wet, take a dry and swipe along the vertical joint to see where it start to wet...
If vertical joint is not wet, then is your bottom joint leak and you start seal that joint after drying out the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tank : 3 x 2 x 1.8 ( setup end Feb 2014 ) --> 4 x 2 x 1.8 ( setup early Nov 2016 )
Skimmer : Bubble Magus NAC6 --> Bubble Magus Curve 7
Return pump : Jebao 10000l/h ( down in 17th December 2014 ) --> Jebao DC-12000 ( 19th December 2014 )
Compressor drop-in coil
Wavemaker : Tunze 6105 x 1
Lights : Modular based DIY LED light x 4

Chaeto in the sump

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • SRC Member

By the way, silicone does not stick well even with minor oil or stain.
You need to ensure the reglue area are free from oil etc


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tank : 3 x 2 x 1.8 ( setup end Feb 2014 ) --> 4 x 2 x 1.8 ( setup early Nov 2016 )
Skimmer : Bubble Magus NAC6 --> Bubble Magus Curve 7
Return pump : Jebao 10000l/h ( down in 17th December 2014 ) --> Jebao DC-12000 ( 19th December 2014 )
Compressor drop-in coil
Wavemaker : Tunze 6105 x 1
Lights : Modular based DIY LED light x 4

Chaeto in the sump

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So basically, I did remove all extra silicone, I did wash with Acetone. I put some clean masking tape, then, sealed back edges, everywhere, with black silicone. Quite a good quality job. 
The leak is really at the joint, at the base.

But, I have no idea out to reseal this. The overflow is sealed on mutliple surfaces.

Anyway, here a video...it's raining. The sound does not come from the leak.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think I will empty tomorrow, let it dry, and try to remove the "rail" compartment of the sump, and eventually, try to reseal again from there. Let it dry for 2 days and try again.

It was meant to be my Xmas project but oh well. Difficult task.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok. So it worked!

I will post tomorrow some photos on the leak area and how I managed to save it.

Next step now will be to make my own cabinet and to adjust my sump.

The current sump is very small and has a RODI water top-up tank attached. I will remove the glass that separate the sump from this top up tank, so I have a bigger sump.

The cabinet will have to host my sump, a small 8L tank to auto top up, and my chiller. I will also redo the pipes, using check valves and hard pipes to make it neat.

 

Will post some pics.

Hopefully, I can recycle my tank by next week.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share



×
×
  • Create New...