Do you leak test ? How common are issues.

[NancyFish]

Is it essential to leak test a new tank & plumbing setup?

Finally drilled my 65g, going to tinker with dry plumbing. I think I’m going to diy a different stand this weekend too.

I thought about doing the plumbing on the stand and letting it run a day or two. But if I build a stand, it’s going to be so heavy to carry upstairs - so I kind of wanted to assemble half upstairs. This would make the precise plumbing fit hard to do until it’s up there.

 

[Dburr1014]

I set up my 150 2 months ago. My leak test was filling it with saltwater.
Yup, found a couple joint leaks but that was just a threading issue at bulkheads and unions.

 

[NancyFish]

I set up my 150 2 months ago. My leak test was filling it with saltwater.
Yup, found a couple joint leaks but that was just a threading issue at bulkheads and unions.

Did it make much of a mess? I heard bulkheads leak more than new tanks. Just not sure it warrants a trial before putting it in its final spot where plumbing isn’t as accessible

 

[Waters]

I run regular tap water through any new setup not only to check new plumbing for leaks, but also to dial the pumps in and make sure everything drains how I want to. I have never found a leak in the tank itself but often find a union or bulkhead that wasn't tightened. To answer your question, no, it doesn't make a huge mess.

 

[NancyFish]

I run regular tap water through any new setup not only to check new plumbing for leaks, but also to dial the pumps in and make sure everything drains how I want to. I have never found a leak in the tank itself but often find a union or bulkhead that wasn't tightened. To answer your question, no, it doesn't make a huge mess.

Thank you for the insight this might be a silly question, but how do you know when you have enough water in the sump.. or that won’t matter because the waterline will be proper in the top tank?

 

[Dburr1014]

Did it make much of a mess? I heard bulkheads leak more than new tanks. Just not sure it warrants a trial before putting it in its final spot where plumbing isn’t as accessible

Not much, basement sump and the bulkhead was just dripping slow. Fixed it right up.

 

[Dburr1014]

Thank you for the insight this might be a silly question, but how do you know when you have enough water in the sump.. or that won’t matter because the waterline will be proper in the top tank?

The waterline will always be proper in the tank. It's the return pump section that will be low of water.

 

[NancyFish]

The waterline will always be proper in the tank. It's the return pump section that will be low of water.

Thank you for clarifying! I’m sure I would have figured it out but it’s nice to have an idea ahead of time.

The amount of oddities I researched buying everything for this and I still seem to question everything

 

[Solo McReefer]

You're going to fill it water

Live rock

And run it for a month(6) or so

That's the leak test, in my book