Leaking!

fruitbythefoote · Oct 9, 2018

Okie dokie. So I set up my tank a few days ago and was running a fish in cycle. I had previously done a leak test on my tank and I checked the drain pipe but not the bulkhead seal. (I imagine we all know where this is going).

Flash forward the bulkhead was leaking. I have removed, cleaned, dried and resealed the gasket (per recommendations from google and a local fish dude)

Hopefully, having learned from my mistake my questions are:

How long should I wait to make sure it’s not leaking before re-filling my tank?

I’ve got my fish-in cycle fish in a bucket w/ some LR & an air stone - how long is he safe for?

My rock is now dry - should I re-seed my cycle bacteria or will what’s been in the water column (saved the water) be enough to keep the ammonia neutralized?

Thanks!

Reeferdood · Oct 9, 2018

Is the gasket inside of an internal overflow? If so I would get it going as soon as possible. Also, bulkhead seals do better when you install them wet and the secret is to not over tighten the nut. As far as the rock goes, you can't go wrong adding more bacteria if you feel it is necessary.
Good luck and keep us posted.

Dom · Oct 9, 2018

fruitbythefoote said:
Okie dokie. So I set up my tank a few days ago and was running a fish in cycle. I had previously done a leak test on my tank and I checked the drain pipe but not the bulkhead seal. (I imagine we all know where this is going).

Flash forward the bulkhead was leaking. I have removed, cleaned, dried and resealed the gasket (per recommendations from google and a local fish dude)

Hopefully, having learned from my mistake my questions are:

How long should I wait to make sure it’s not leaking before re-filling my tank?

I’ve got my fish-in cycle fish in a bucket w/ some LR & an air stone - how long is he safe for?

My rock is now dry - should I re-seed my cycle bacteria or will what’s been in the water column (saved the water) be enough to keep the ammonia neutralized?

Thanks!

There isn't any way to check for leaks without filling it. So fill it and find out!

Little if any of your nitrifying bacteria colony is in the water column. It resides in the live rock, sand and other mechanical filtration media.

You're going to want to cycle that live rock. If it is dried out, all the life it played home to is dead. If you put it right into the tank, the organics are going to wreak havoc.

fruitbythefoote · Oct 9, 2018

The gasket is inside an internal overflow.

How long would a leak would take to appear? I’ve had water in the chamber for ~45 minutes and it still appears dry externally.

Reeferdood · Oct 9, 2018

45 mins should be enough time to tell. If it isn't leaking yet, I would go for it.

fruitbythefoote · Oct 9, 2018

Dom said:
You're going to want to cycle that live rock. If it is dried out, all the life it played home to is dead. If you put it right into the tank, the organics are going to wreak havoc.

I cured the rock for 7 weeks first. It’s still damp but it’s taken me a few hours to get everything ‘under control’.