Sprung a leak!!! Helpppp

[Clink51]

...well okay its a small leak but a leak non the less. when moving the tank to the living room from my bed room, i discovered a lot of salt creap coming from my drain, right were it meets the tank. looks like its going under the silicon... can i silicone over it now? do i have to take it apart again? The tan is currenly only 1/4 filled, well below the line for the drain. fish and coral still inside....

HELP MEEEEEEEEEE

 

[marrone]

The drain is where the water comes out of the sump and into the tank? If so just remove the pieces and clean the glass and gasket, as something may have gotten underneath it, or it maybe old so just change it.

 

[jvu61]

if you can get at it I would take it apart and fix it. leaks never just stop and go away. IMHO you can fix it now or fix it later I do it now

 

[evoIX_Reefer]

Is this the new tank? You said where your drain meets your tank, a bulkhead leak? snap a quick pic and post if you can.

If it's 1/4 filled, drain it now and fix. Test and confirm it's no longer leaking before moving forward. You don't want it to leak again when it's full.

 

[b-ridge]

Oh man. Wish I was closer. I would hold your fish and corals for you. I had the same problem with my 125 gallon. Took everything out the tank. Went and got some razor blades and aquarium sealant and went to work. It held fast for 2 years. I upgraded and then used it as my sumo. Well until my wife cracked it.

 

[Clink51]

its the L that leaves the display. i just don't want to silicon it and kill everything inside

 

[Clink51]

 

[marrone]

Are your talking about the elbow piece that is attached to the bulk head? Basically does it slip onto the bulk head or is it screwed on to it? If it's screw on you probably should take it apart and redo it.

 

[evoIX_Reefer]

This isn't the new tank is it?

If that is your drain it is likely a leak from the bulkhead. You should just redo the plumbing. What size is it? I have an extra 1" bulkhead but it's thread to thread.

 

[Clink51]

i found the issue, just gnna need to re silicone... how long do i have to let silicone dry??

 

[Clink51]

This isn't the new tank is it?

If that is your drain it is likely a leak from the bulkhead. You should just redo the plumbing. What size is it? I have an extra 1" bulkhead but it's thread to thread.

nah man, the new tank is in the basement untouched. had to get the tank moved first before i can start on the new tank... the lady friend is not happy with the tank in the room lol

 

[evoIX_Reefer]

Nice, silicone usually takes 24-48 hours to properly cure. Run everything in your main display and keep your sump offline for now until it cures.

 

[duke62]

If it's just the pipes just redo the pipes. If it's the tank get a new tank. No need to silicone the pipes it's a waste of time. 10 dollars in plumbing from Home Depot and no need to wait 48hrs for the silicone to cure

 

[edd]

assembled plumbing usually doesn't just start leaking. i would think the bulk head, you might of disturbed it in the move.
i was cleaning my overflow last week and had to wiggle the return pipe to get it out of bulk head. put it back together and bh is leaking. i drained it unscrewed the bh so i can raise it up to clean the glass, gasket and bh without taking the plumbing apart. put it back together and all was good. GL

 

[kmaintl]

If you want to silicone it, must be over 24 hours before using. But agree with others, if you loosen and clean the connection, and then retighten, that may do the trick.

 

[kmaintl]

24 hours if you want the leak cure to the point it will most likely hold. Most silicone will be good after 3 hours if not touching water.

 

[Clink51]

thank you EVERYONE for commenting and helping me off the ledge!

i removed the L, dried it by hand and let it dry by air while i went to HD for aquarium silicon. Used plumbing tape and taped up the entire thread and screwed it back on, then siliconed and siliconed some more. I filled up to just about under the drain so that my fish and corals can be okay. waited 24 hours then filled up checked don it every hour, no leak and checked it this morning, no leak. will check again when i'm home

 

[Reef lover24]

depends what type of silicone you used. I would let it settle for a few days before filling to full capacity.. Silicone is a quick easy fix, but it may just be putting a band aide over the problem.. GL how it works out

 

[ohana888]

FYI - silicone doesn't adhere to acrylic very well...good luck!