Eshopps Ecplipse S - leak, leaks, leaks, help!

[joec]

I've installed, re-installed and re-installed, all bulk heads have been tightened( hand only) and I've got leaks from each of the three bulkheads. The through bulkhead is leaking from the inside weir box into the drain box, and the two drain box bulkheads are both leaking down the plumbing.

What can I do?

Will pipe thread stick on the threads solve this? I'm thinking the water is making it's way down the threads?

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated, I beginning to feel like throwing on the towel at this point. To put in this amount of work and to have to deal with poor quality control like this stymying your progress is beyond frustrating.

Thanks!

 

[Crabs McJones]

I've installed, re-installed and re-installed, all bulk heads have been tightened( hand only) and I've got leaks from each of the three bulkheads. The through bulkhead is leaking from the inside weir box into the drain box, and the two drain box bulkheads are both leaking down the plumbing.

What can I do?

Will pipe thread stick on the threads solve this? I'm thinking the water is making it's way down the threads?

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated, I beginning to feel like throwing on the towel at this point. To put in this amount of work and to have to deal with poor quality control like this stymying your progress is beyond frustrating.

Thanks!

I have the same overflow box. Hopefully I can help Any pictures of how you have it set up? how did you configure the gaskets for the bulkheads?

 

[jakeh22]

Bet you got the gasket on the outside instead of the inside

 

[Crabs McJones]

Bet you got the gasket on the outside instead of the inside

That's sort of what I was thinking..

 

[joec]

I have the same overflow box. Hopefully I can help Any pictures of how you have it set up? how did you configure the gaskets for the bulkheads?

Weir box>inside glass>gasket outside glass>outer drain box> gasket >nut. This is what what an Eshopps made video said to do

I read that some were using weir box>inside glass>2 gaskets outside glass> outer drain box>nut. I tried this and it still leaked including a new leak perhaps, where I had removed the gasket under the nut inside the drain box

Of course, none of that helps with the leaks of both drain bulkheads

 

[caver]

Following along looking to buy one seeing what people think of them and issues

 

[Crabs McJones]

Weir box>inside glass>gasket outside glass>outer drain box> gasket >nut.

I read that some were using weir box>inside glass>2 gaskets outside glass> outer drain box>nut. I tried this and it still leaked including a new leak perhaps, where I had removed the gasket under the nut inside the drain box

Of course, none of that helps with the leaks of both drain bulkheads

This is going to be hard to explain but i'll try my best. So you've got the inside the tank wier box, there should be a gasket between that and your glass, then it goes through your glass, where you should have another gasket on the outside glass, then your outside box. And then for the two bulkheads you want the gasket on the inside of the outside box. If you put the gasket on the outside where the nut goes, the water seeps through the threads. This is the way I have mine set up and it's never leaked or even produced a drip.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I have the same overflow box and was leaking when I did the first test and then I manually give another half turn and didn't leak. Now, when I put the whole setup inside the house I put the drain pipe on the filter sock hole it was a little tight and was leaking an small drop so I look at it and just move the sump back to align the pipe and everything is working fine. Just make sure that neither drain pipe is press by anything.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Following along looking to buy one seeing what people think of them and issues

I absolutely love mine, set up with no issues. Have it herbie style with a main drain with a gate valve and the emergency overflow. Only thing that they don't tell you is that if you're doing this on a rimmed tank, put the template that you use to drill your hole on the inside of the aquarium as far up as it'll go, and drill from the inside out. If you put it on the outside your water line will be way to low.

 

[jakeh22]

Ya **** that hand tight **** I always put a little crank on the bulkhead with a pvc wrench.

 

[joec]

This is going to be hard to explain but i'll try my best. So you've got the inside the tank wier box, there should be a gasket between that and your glass, then it goes through your glass, where you should have another gasket on the outside glass, then your outside box. And then for the two bulkheads you want the gasket on the inside of the outside box. If you put the gasket on the outside where the nut goes, the water seeps through the threads. This is the way I have mine set up and it's never leaked or even produced a drip.

The two drain bulkheads were pre-assembled by Eshopps in the drain box. One nut was loose and I firmly hand tightened both. The gaskets appear to be properly in place, inside the drain box under the flange. Both still leak.

Your version of the weir box> gasket>glass>gasket>drain box>nut is now the third different version I've heard, ugh. I guess I can try it and see if it works?

 

[Crabs McJones]

The two drain bulkheads were pre-assembled by Eshopps in the drain box. One nut was loose and I firmly hand tightened both. The gaskets appear to be properly in place, inside the drain box under the flange. Both still leak.

Your version of the weir box> gasket>glass>gasket>drain box>nut is now the third different version I've heard, ugh. I guess I can try it and see if it works?

That's the version I did and it's been running for almost 6 months without a drip

 

[joec]

That's the version I did and it's been running for almost 6 months without a drip

No, a appreciate your replys, I'll try it.

 

[Crabs McJones]

No, a appreciate your replys, I'll try it.

No problem Good luck! It's a great overflow, and has been nothing but good to me

 

[Greybeard]

I've come to the end of a leaking bulkhead thread... and nobody has recommended slathering the thing with silicone yet? Excellent!

Don't do it. It's a temporary fix, and really screws up the chances that you'll ever get it fixed right.

I've read several manufacturers recommendations that gaskets be installed on the outside of a bulkhead. It makes much more sense to me to install it on the inside. Inside, water is stopped _before_ it can reach the threads. Outside, it's after, and water can and does seep through those threads.

The post above saying a bit more than hand tight may be the one that gets this fixed... 'Hand Tight' means far different things, depending on hand strength! Don't strip out the threads cranking it down, but a quarter turn or so with a properly sized tool is often what it takes to seal one up.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I've come to the end of a leaking bulkhead thread... and nobody has recommended slathering the thing with silicone yet? Excellent!

Don't do it. It's a temporary fix, and really screws up the chances that you'll ever get it fixed right.

I've read several manufacturers recommendations that gaskets be installed on the outside of a bulkhead. It makes much more sense to me to install it on the inside. Inside, water is stopped _before_ it can reach the threads. Outside, it's after, and water can and does seep through those threads.

The post above saying a bit more than hand tight may be the one that gets this fixed... 'Hand Tight' means far different things, depending on hand strength! Don't strip out the threads cranking it down, but a quarter turn or so with a properly sized tool is often what it takes to seal one up.

Well said

 

[Water Dog]

In all of these overflows, using a gasket on the nut side is absolutely worthless as water can still seep through the nut and bulkhead thread interface. The critical gasket to prevent leaks is the one between the external box and the tank. The one between the internal box and inside glass is nice to have, but not critical.

 

[joec]

Ya **** that hand tight ****.

OK, so this was some good ******* advice. Cranked down on the drain bulkheads a bit with a tool and the leaks there seemed to have corrected. I've read just hand tighten many times.

I'll try Crab's gasket configuration later today followed with "Ya **** that hand tight ****", give it a crank, and hopefully I can continue this journey...until the next issue, LOL

 

[Ruben's Reef]

I absolutely love mine, set up with no issues. Have it herbie style with a main drain with a gate valve and the emergency overflow. Only thing that they don't tell you is that if you're doing this on a rimmed tank, put the template that you use to drill your hole on the inside of the aquarium as far up as it'll go, and drill from the inside out. If you put it on the outside your water line will be way to low.

I'm glad I read about that here before installing the overflow box. I have the 40g B with the rim and the water level is right there by the rim.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I'm glad I read about that here before installing the overflow box. I have the 40g B with the rim and the water level is right there by the rim.

Yup that's what I had to do with mine. I drilled from the inside out, and put the template almost all the way up to the underside of the rim. Maybe leave 1/8'' or less between the rim and the template. I did that and my water level sits just above the bottom of the rim