Leak testing used bottom drilled tank

mydaddysjag · Nov 5, 2019

My husband picked up a used 75 gallon bottom drilled reef ready setup for me. It came with the sump tank, skimmer, pump, powerheads, a rodi unit, and a few other things. Ill be honest, I’m intimidated by the sump and it being bottom drilled. I need to leak test it before setting it up inside, but how do I leak test a bottom drilled tank outside? Easiest tips? Its in the 50’s saturday so id like to do it then but want a plan. I assume ill have to put it on the stand outside and hook up the sump since its bottom drilled. I was going to try to find a local aquarium service to help me set it up initially, but want to have everything cleaned and leak tested first.

mydaddysjag · Nov 5, 2019

I did already leak test my sump tank, all good there

Katrina71 · Nov 5, 2019

Pics of your dirty new baby!

C. Eymann · Nov 5, 2019

mydaddysjag said:
My husband picked up a used 75 gallon bottom drilled reef ready setup for me. It came with the sump tank, skimmer, pump, powerheads, a rodi unit, and a few other things. Ill be honest, I’m intimidated by the sump and it being bottom drilled. I need to leak test it before setting it up inside, but how do I leak test a bottom drilled tank outside? Easiest tips? Its in the 50’s saturday so id like to do it then but want a plan. I assume ill have to put it on the stand outside and hook up the sump since its bottom drilled. I was going to try to find a local aquarium service to help me set it up initially, but want to have everything cleaned and leak tested first.

You will need to install a bulkhead with a stand pipe to leak test the tank itself.

lapin · Nov 5, 2019

What I have done in the past for a 125 used tank:
I resealed the bulkheads with new gaskets. Used capped pcv pipes on the inside of the tank.I have a rubbermaid rolling cart. Placed a piece of 1" plywood on top of the cart. Drilled out oversize holes where the bulkheads would be. Suspended the plywood on 2x4's to get some clearence. Then added about 1 foot of water. Waited for a leak to appear. I was lucky and had none out the bottom.