I have a leak!!! Help

Aere · Dec 13, 2012

I have had my tank for two days now, its filled with water, live sand, rock, however the drain is leaking from what appears to be the threads.

I would hate to not start the skimmer/sump soon. It is dripping, Should i make a new return, or do you think salt with clog it up?

palvyre · Dec 13, 2012

Leaking from around the bulk heads?

.AcroKiller. · Dec 13, 2012

Aere said:
I have had my tank for two days now, its filled with water, live sand, rock, however the drain is leaking from what appears to be the threads.

I would hate to not start the skimmer/sump soon. It is dripping, Should i make a new return, or do you think salt with clog it up?

Buy new gaskets

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AZDesertRat · Dec 13, 2012

At the top of the Equipment, Lighting DIY forum I have a Bulkhead Installation sticky post that should answer all your questions:
Equipment, Lighting, Hardware, DIY Discussion

Saltwatercoral · Dec 13, 2012

You may want to get a new gasket and also use plumbers tape around the thread to help seal it up.

Aere · Dec 13, 2012

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Aere · Dec 13, 2012

I have a gasket on each side of the glass, and no lubricants and or sealers/chemicals at all. steady stream:/

Bootstrap · Dec 13, 2012

Aere said:
I have a gasket on each side of the glass, and no lubricants and or sealers/chemicals at all. steady stream:/

Only use s gasket inside the tank

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AZDesertRat · Dec 13, 2012

Only use a gasket on the flange side, regardless if it is inside or outside the tank. How sloppy is the bulkhead in the drilled hole? If it has much side to side movement there may not be sufficient sealing surface for the gasket and I go into that in the tips threads.

Reefing8EZ · Dec 13, 2012

I would try removing the outer gasket and tightening some more, so you get a snugger fit with the bulkhead.

evanjah · Dec 13, 2012

I had same issue..lube the gasket up real good with silicone grease
.itll stop it

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Reefing8EZ · Dec 13, 2012

evanjah said:
I had same issue..lube the gasket up real good with silicone grease
.itll stop it

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Not this! Do not put grease in your system..

evanjah · Dec 13, 2012

Lol...its harmless....wait...dont caulk the seams of your tank either

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Jarettc16 · Dec 13, 2012

i moved my tank a year ago, & after the move my drill holes were leaking. I didnt do nothing to them, & eventually the salt clogged the small hole. prob depends on exactly how bad the leak is. everyone advice above is correct, but if its minor than it will most likely stop leaking
thats my opinion

evanjah · Dec 13, 2012

+1

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EpicWin · Dec 13, 2012

I felt with this a while back. This stuff has solved all my problems. It's not topical though and will need to be under the bulkhead. http://www.glass-holes.com/Aladdin-Magic-Lube-1-oz-Tube-magiclube.htm

Aere · Dec 13, 2012

Well after brandishing a hammer at my tank it seems to have fixed itself i just took it all apart, dried everything out, took the gasket on the nut side off, and voila! thanks guys!

Steviereefs · Dec 13, 2012

Bootstrap said:
Only use s gasket inside the tank

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Bootstrap is correct, the gasket needs to go on the inside only, one gasket per bulkhead.
With the gasket on the outside, turning the bulkhead nut warps, and distorts the gasket as it tightens causing the leak.
So remove that gasket, leave a single gasket on the inside and tighten down.

Steviereefs · Dec 13, 2012

evanjah said:
Lol...its harmless....wait...dont caulk the seams of your tank either

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The caulk is cured and will not release any chemicals into the tank once it has cured.
Silicone on the other hand is redundant on a glass to gasket surface. As long as the glass is clean and the gasket has direct contact with the glass, if you wet the gasket a bit with fresh water, this is sufficient. Silicone could defiantly degrade and be released back into a saltwater tanks system. I don't think it's a good idea at all. One drop of silicone in a room can release itself into a very large volume of air, and I mean the size of a large building.