Leaking Overflow-Shadow Box v2 (new Install)

jphilip813 · May 21, 2020

Hi, I just installed the shadow box v2, and I noticed a slow streak of water dripping from the rear...(acrylic) overflow seal area both overflows. I tightened the bulkheads, not sure what the issue is...what are some recommendations to stop the leak...Are these suppose to be REAL tight?

Flippers4pups · May 21, 2020

jphilip813 said:
Hi, I just installed the shadow box v2, and I noticed a slow streak of water dripping from the rear...(acrylic) overflow seal area both overflows. I tightened the bulkheads, not sure what the issue is...what are some recommendations to stop the leak...Are these suppose to be REAL tight?

On what side is the gaskets?

jphilip813 · May 21, 2020

Flippers4pups said:
On what side is the gaskets?

external side (rear box) between tank and rear box and inside of tank between weir and tank wall

Flippers4pups · May 21, 2020

jphilip813 said:
external side (rear box) between tank and rear box and inside of tank between weir and tank wall

Okay, the main reason for leaks with the gasket installed properly would be:

Rough areas on sealing surfaces. Plastic burrs, hole glass rough or jagged.

Debris between gasket and sealing surfaces.

Defective gasket or bulkhead. Deformities on gasket or bulkhead plastic sealing flange.

Cracks in sealing surfaces or bulkhead.

Overtightened bulkhead or under tightened.

piranhaman00 · May 21, 2020

Hand tight?

I just installed my first drilled tank, multiple bulk head leaks, only hand tight as that’s what everyone says ( or everyone I heard). Tightened with wrench and no leaks

jphilip813 · May 21, 2020

piranhaman00 said:
Hand tight?

I just installed my first drilled tank, multiple bulk head leaks, only hand tight as that’s what everyone says ( or everyone I heard). Tightened with wrench and no leaks

So you used a wrench and you had no leaks? Is that also the shadow overflow? I am still having leaks...

piranhaman00 · May 21, 2020

No the eclipse eshopps, yes hand tight then quarter turn with wrench until leaks stopped

rob taft · May 21, 2020

My anecdotal response. I don't own the shadow but my over flow box made by Modular Marine is very similar. I could not get to to stop leaking until I replaced the gaskets that came with the box. I could not see anything wrong with the gaskets they sent me, I drilled the tank (acrylic) and made sure the holes were smooth, debris free etc. still no luck. After my third time of draining the tank to the level required and in my desperation I decided to replace them with some gaskets from some Lifeguard Aquatics fittings I had not used. I hand tightened then put a 1/4-1/2" turn with the wrench and voila no leaks.

ca1ore · May 21, 2020

Is the back of your tank painted? If so, remove paint so you have clean glass under the gaskets. Not a bad idea to put a bit of gasket material between the bottom of the external box and the tank. Helps to prevent the box from torquing.

jphilip813 · May 21, 2020

ca1ore said:
Is the back of your tank painted? If so, remove paint so you have clean glass under the gaskets. Not a bad idea to put a bit of gasket material between the bottom of the external box and the tank. Helps to prevent the box from torquing.

No, it is clear...no paint...nothing...what is gasket material?

ca1ore · May 22, 2020

Well you can just cut up a spare bulkheads gasket if you have one laying around. Could use anything frankly. Just something the same thickness as the through bulkhead gasket s to keep the box parallel to the back of the tank. Surprised the mfg don’t do it (maybe some do now, dunno).

Flippers4pups · May 22, 2020

#jphilip813, could you post a couple pictures of the overflow box installed when you get a chance?

dopey · May 22, 2020

Maybe i'm the only one to make such a mistake, but make sure you have assembled things in the right order.

The gasket should be against the glass of the tank itself -- Sandwhiched between the overflox box and the glass of your tank. When I first mounted the overflow I put the gasket closes to the 'nut' aka betwen the nut and the external overflow box itself which meant the overflow box/tank had no gasket between them

jphilip813 · May 22, 2020

ca1ore said:
Well you can just cut up a spare bulkheads gasket if you have one laying around. Could use anything frankly. Just something the same thickness as the through bulkhead gasket s to keep the box parallel to the back of the tank. Surprised the mfg don’t do it (maybe some do now, dunno).

Yeah, I am working with the manufacture...send them a video of my set-up via YouTube and they mentioned that my overflow box should just hang and no weight (from the return pipes) should not pull on the box, which is preventing it from creating a good seal...(seems that it is a very sensitive box for so much money)...so I am going to pull it down again for the 4th time to see if I can get some straps on the pipes on the lower end of the pipes going into the sump; which should in theory prevent the box from being pulled by the pipes into the sump, I am curious...are all 1.5 holes in overflow boxes the same? If this does not work out, I am thinking of going with another manufacture

jphilip813 · May 22, 2020

Flippers4pups said:
#jphilip813, could you post a couple pictures of the overflow box installed when you get a chance?

jphilip813 · May 22, 2020

dopey said:
Maybe i'm the only one to make such a mistake, but make sure you have assembled things in the right order.

The gasket should be against the glass of the tank itself -- Sandwhiched between the overflox box and the glass of your tank. When I first mounted the overflow I put the gasket closes to the 'nut' aka betwen the nut and the external overflow box itself which meant the overflow box/tank had no gasket between them

No, both are touching the aquarium...lol

jphilip813 · May 24, 2020

rob taft said:
My anecdotal response. I don't own the shadow but my over flow box made by Modular Marine is very similar. I could not get to to stop leaking until I replaced the gaskets that came with the box. I could not see anything wrong with the gaskets they sent me, I drilled the tank (acrylic) and made sure the holes were smooth, debris free etc. still no luck. After my third time of draining the tank to the level required and in my desperation I decided to replace them with some gaskets from some Lifeguard Aquatics fittings I had not used. I hand tightened then put a 1/4-1/2" turn with the wrench and voila no leaks.

Just did the samething you did...replaced the gaskets with the ones that came on my sump, which them out, and wallah...the leaking stopped...also, added some support to the pipes coming from the overflow box, so that they are not just hanging...worked perfect...