First time plumbing disaster

[ReefEsq]

First time plumbing anything. Story below, but question boils down to how long should I have let my plumbing "dry" before running it.

Basically, I have an AIO, but I hate the sump section, so I thought "why not do a simple PVC overflow from the middle chamber to a 10 gallon?" I had the extra pump, the acrylic for baffles, the 10 gallon, so I figured, yeah, let me do this. I've always loved big refugiums, so this seemed like the perfect option. Long story short, I fit it all together, tested it with two buckets of freshwater, and dropped it into the tank. Went to bed, this morning I woke up to two dead fish, a dead shrimp, and some struggling corals (relocated to brother's tank). All of my parameters are fine, no smells from water or anything, even the chaeto in the fuge appears to be doing fine.

My only thought is maybe I didn't let the PVC dry enough after cementing it. I'd say it was about 4-5 hours after putting it all together when I tested with the freshwater, and maybe 2 hours after that until I hooked it up to my reef. Was that enough time?

 

[JoshH]

How did you install the acrylic baffles in your sump???

 

[Mastiffsrule]

You mentioned cement, what products did you use?

 

[ReefEsq]

How did you install the acrylic baffles in your sump???

GE Black Silicone linked below. Reef safe to my knowledge.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-GE-Silicone-2-Window-Door-Sealant-GE5030-12C/100126591

 

[ReefEsq]

You mentioned cement, what products did you use?

Oatey All Purpose Cement (linked below) and Oatey Purple Primer.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oatey-8-oz-PVC-All-Purpose-Cement-308213/100116580

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Not familiar, says 10 year mold free makes me hesitant.

@HotRocks

 

[LilElroyJetson]

PVC glue dries in about 30 minutes. I’m guessing the silicone was the culprit and that it was not aquarium safe (which is why people tend to insist on spending the few extra bucks to get silicone that is expressly marked “Aquarium Safe” unless it is a product already well known to be aquarium safe). I’m sorry for your lost fish.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I thinks I found the answer, the ge ii May be the issue

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-ge-silicone-ii-safe-for-my-aquarium.47020/

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Also, I know it’s not “necessary,” but many people also suggest giving silicone at least 48-72 hours to really cure.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I thinks I found the answer, the ge ii May be the issue

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-ge-silicone-ii-safe-for-my-aquarium.47020/

Nice find, @Mastiffsrule.

 

[ReefEsq]

I thinks I found the answer, the ge ii May be the issue

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/is-ge-silicone-ii-safe-for-my-aquarium.47020/

Yeah.. that must have been it. Truly devastating. I've used the GE1 before and I picked this kind up without even noticing. Thank you for your responses. As far as going forward, should I just drain out the tank and all the rock&sand? Toss the chaeto too? Its currently empty, just rock and sank with all the filtration running.

 

[JoshH]

GE Black Silicone linked below. Reef safe to my knowledge.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-GE-Silicone-2-Window-Door-Sealant-GE5030-12C/100126591

As mentioned above and thanks @Mastiffsrule for the link (You beat me to it:mad:). The silicone you used is most definately not reef safe. It contains mildicides which prevent the growth of mold and are toxic to pretty much everything in our tanks. I'm sorry for your loss and hope you can pick up and move forward

 

[ReefEsq]

As mentioned above and thanks @Mastiffsrule for the link (You beat me to it:mad:). The silicone you used is most definately not reef safe. It contains mildicides which prevent the growth of mold and are toxic to pretty much everything in our tanks. I'm sorry for your loss and hope you can pick up and move forward

Thank you for the kind words. I definitely will. Reefing, even through moments like this, has been whats kept me sane throughout law school. I lost my fish, but I was able to put the corals in a thriving system and they'll hopefully all pull through. I appreciate your, and everyone else's, help. If anyone has any suggestions on how to make sure this is all out of my system I'd really appreciate it. I ask in terms of the rock, filtration, etc. What can I keep, what do I toss, what do I do with what I can keep to make it safe again, etc.

 

[Thor2j]

Regardless of content of silicon you need it to cure for 24 hours or it can be toxic. PVC cement is good to go very quickly.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

How long has the tank been up? One other thing, I’m not sure about the PVC cement or primer you used either. Although the Oateys might be safe (no experience with it), I used this Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue and applied it generously without issue (but gave it a couple hours to dry). I did not use any primer, however, just made sure pipes and slip fittings were clean and dry.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Sorry about the losses. Never easy to go thru

I checked the MSDS for GE silcone ii 500, surprising info hopefully helps others in future

Other hazards which do not result in classification:

Uncured product is irritating to eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Generates methanol during cure. Generates ammonia during cure.None known.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/MSDS/MSDS00016/06904908-20150704.PDF

 

[HotRocks]

The silicone is definitely the issue here. Sorry I'm late to the party and sorry to hear about this.

Unfortunately we all come across things like this in the hobby. If it's not one thing it's another.

 

[RobW]

How long has the tank been up? One other thing, I’m not sure about the PVC cement or primer you used either. Although the Oateys might be safe (no experience with it), I used this Christy’s Red Hot Blue Glue and applied it generously without issue (but gave it a couple hours to dry). I did not use any primer, however, just made sure pipes and slip fittings were clean and dry.

Oatey and weld-on are perfectly fine PVC cements to use as well as there primers and cleaners. Any time you are using PVC glues it is good practice to wait about an hour before running anything through it with pressure. Drains are different because it is free flowing.

 

[RobW]

Weather its purple primer or clear cleaner... they both do the same thing. Purple was just designed in the building and construction world so the plumbing inspectors could physically see that plumbing contractors were fitting the joints properly. Because yes, they would be lazy and just glue the PVC together and you would not get a true solvent bond from PVC glue alone. I'm an electrical contractor and I use cleaners/primers all the time. I use purple below ground and clear above ground. I've had instances were guys that have worked with me in the past didnt use primer or cleaner and the pipes separated under the poured concrete slab... then guess who wasnt able to pull their wire through the conduit? Yeah, me... theres a reason the stuff was made. It softens the surfaces of the pipe and prepares it for the glue to chemically bond the pipe and fittings together.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Weather its purple primer or clear cleaner... they both do the same thing. Purple was just designed in the building and construction world so the plumbing inspectors could physically see that plumbing contractors were fitting the joints properly. Because yes, they would be lazy and just glue the PVC together and you would not get a true solvent bond from PVC glue alone. I'm an electrical contractor and I use cleaners/primers all the time. I use purple below ground and clear above ground. I've had instances were guys that have worked with me in the past didnt use primer or cleaner and the pipes separated under the poured concrete slab... then guess who wasnt able to pull their wire through the conduit? Yeah, me... theres a reason the stuff was made. It softens the surfaces of the pipe and prepares it for the glue to chemically bond the pipe and fittings together.

Thanks, Rob. This is helpful info. I didn’t use primer...getting a little nervous. Tank is being upgraded next year so hopefully the seals will hold up until then, it’s been good for a few months now but I will have to keep a closer eye on the pvc after reading this and use primer when I re-plumb.