Leaky Pipe

Nate92 · Jun 22, 2019

Hi All,

I recently discovered a leak in the pipe that carries water from my display tank down to my sump. So that I can seal the leak, is it ok to turn off my return pump and skimmer for the night? Thank you!

-Nate

P-Dub · Jun 22, 2019

A leak there, with proper glue/cement use, wouldn't warrant an overnight shut down. There is no pressure at that joint. Just a couple hours should more than suffice.

lapin · Jun 22, 2019

As long as you have some surface agitation like a power head to promote oxygen exchange it should be ok. Unless your tank is over stocked.

Nate92 · Jun 22, 2019

P-Dub said:
A leak there, with proper glue/cement use, wouldn't warrant an overnight shut down. There is no pressure at that joint. Just a couple hours should more than suffice.

Thank you!

Nate92 · Jun 22, 2019

lapin said:
As long as you have some surface agitation like a power head to promote oxygen exchange it should be ok. Unless your tank is over stocked.

Thanks for the advice! I do have a power head and only have 9 fish in my 80-gallon tank. Good to know!

Nate92 · Jun 23, 2019

Just want to bump this thread in case anyone else has opinions to add. Right now, I plan on leaving my return pump turned off for the night while the sealant dries. But, I’ve noticed a white strip on the side of my yellow tang... I think it’s stressed :/

jtl · Jun 23, 2019

Seal it with epoxy white putty. The stuff that you knead with your fingers to distribute the hardener into the putty. I always keep some on hand.

JoshH · Jun 23, 2019

Nate92 said:
Just want to bump this thread in case anyone else has opinions to add. Right now, I plan on leaving my return pump turned off for the night while the sealant dries. But, I’ve noticed a white strip on the side of my yellow tang... I think it’s stressed :/

What exactly did you use to seal it, I might have missed it somewhere?

Nate92 · Jun 23, 2019

JoshH said:
What exactly did you use to seal it, I might have missed it somewhere?

I used a sealant called “amazing fool.” Will find out shortly if it worked...

JoshH · Jun 23, 2019

Nate92 said:
I used a sealant called “amazing fool.” Will find out shortly if it worked...

I've never heard of this before is it some kind of expoxy?

Nate92 · Jun 23, 2019

JoshH said:
I've never heard of this before is it some kind of expoxy?

I’m. not sure, to be honest haha. Here’s a link to the product page! http://eclecticproducts.com/products/amazing-goop-adhesives/amazing-goop-all-purpose.html

Scotty Buttons · Jun 23, 2019

If that black piece is ABS you should use a PVC to ABS cement. Oatly sells one at home depot that I've used before and works well. Also you should only have to shut it down for maybe 20 minutes before it's dry.

Nate92 · Jun 23, 2019

JoshH said:
I've never heard of this before is it some kind of expoxy?

So it did not work.... still leaking... any suggestions for a different product? Thanks again!

Nate92 · Jun 23, 2019

Scotty Buttons said:
If that black piece is ABS you should use a PVC to ABS cement. Oatly sells one at home depot that I've used before and works well. Also you should only have to shut it down for maybe 20 minutes before it's dry.

Thanks for the advice! The goop didn’t work, so I think I’ll try that. I also noticed another small leak where pvc is connecting to more pvc.... off to the hardware store I go!

JoshH · Jun 23, 2019

Nate92 said:
So it did not work.... still leaking... any suggestions for a different product? Thanks again!

Yes I was afraid of that happening, nowhere that I could find on the GOOP did it say it would bond PVC unfortunately. Next thing to do is sand off the goop and use ideally a PVC/ABS glue as mentioned by @Scotty Buttons

Orko · Jun 23, 2019

Scotty Buttons said:
If that black piece is ABS you should use a PVC to ABS cement. Oatly sells one at home depot that I've used before and works well. Also you should only have to shut it down for maybe 20 minutes before it's dry.

I 1000% agree that you should only have to shut it down the time it takes to dry it off and put the glue on .. there is no pressure. However the way that bulkhead is inserted when it comes tome to remove you will have to cut the pipe to remove it ..

Mastiffsrule · Jun 23, 2019

We’re you able to get a fix?

Since that is not a pressurized line I wouldn’t think it would leak at that area. The black peice reallly should just hold the pipe in place, Is the black piece perhaps a bulkhead you put in or is it glued in from the Manufacturer? If it is a bulkhead it may just need to be flipped.

Just a thought

jtl · Jun 24, 2019

JB Waterweld works. I have used it many times on plumbing. They carry it at the big box stores and most hardware stores.

Billdogg · Jun 25, 2019

I've never had the tank off for more than about 5 minutes to fix any leaking pipe connection. Just turn it off, pull the joint apart, dry it off, wipe on some pvc/abs cement and put it back together. Turn the pumps back on and move on with your life!

theMeat · Jun 25, 2019

Amazing goop is amazing. Strong and flexible. Needs a few days to fully cure. Not needed or a good choice for this application.
For your application you need straight clean cut. Primer on pvc side. Scotchpad or cleaner on abs side. Let dry for 20 minutes. Then use pvc to abs cement. Let dry for 20 minutes and done.
...you can use primer on abs, but makes abs soft and will take longer to dry to be ready for the next step, cement, and not needed