Leaky bulkhead?

filly · 06-01-2005, 12:05 AM

OMG what work it is setting up a huge tank! We finally got all the plumbing finished on our 300 gallon (our first big tank) and we put water in for the first time tonight. Unfortunately we have a huge problem and I'm looking for some advice. We have custom made tank and the overflow was basically a box (8"x6") that was glued to the bottom of the tank on the right middle side of the tank. We decided to put water into the overflow with the hose directly to make sure there were no underneath leaks . At the bottom of the overflow are a 1" and 1 1/2" holes/bulkheads. We decided to make both of them flow out to our sumps underneath and return the water via pvc up and over the back with nozzles injected down from the top of the tank. (The tank is 6' X3' X 2') I am afraid that the idiot who put in the overflow( an ebay purchase years ago) didn't get a good enough seal on the bottom and I believe it is now leaking between the glued in (who knows how but it looks like some kind of cement?)overflow and the tank, into the bulkhead seam. The large bulkhead is fine and is still adjustable by hand with no leakage(towards the middle of the overflow)but no matter how hard I turn the smaller bulkhead (almost stripped!) it won't stop leaking. We are going to get another bulkhead tomorrow and replumb a small section just in case it's bad but I need suggestions on how to proceed from here! Of course the idiot glued in the box and it's not evenly flush with the back side of the tank where it's located. Can we caulk the bottom 3 sides? Are we going to have to cut and grind out this overflow and what about where the overflow box bottom is still attached even AFTER we remove the overflow? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaa

Please help us!!!

Hobby Experience: 5 yrs with a 55 gallon reef and plumbing a 300g
Current Tanks: 55 gallon cpr backpack, reef tank, compact lights
Interests: cigars, fish, horses

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VWD · 06-01-2005, 07:47 AM

First off I have to ask if RC is paying You for this Post.

How bad is the leak. I have had small drips that will seal over a stort time when the salt build up. Never to leak again. No matter what You do to fix it with sealers the water will get by.

filly · 06-01-2005, 05:04 PM

lol I put in smiley faces and up came RC insignia! The leak is very bad, as in it soaked a large towel within an hour. I can also see the water seeping UNDER the tank where the bulkhead is located.

icebear · 06-01-2005, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by filly

lol I put in smiley faces and up came RC insignia! The leak is very bad, as in it soaked a large towel within an hour. I can also see the water seeping UNDER the tank where the bulkhead is located.

thats cause you tried to link smilies here that are uploaded into RC's emote menu...

as far as the leak, i don't know if i am picturing the situation correctly, but if the bulkhead is connected to a pane of the overflow or a pane of the tank glass, you may be able to re-drill the glass surrounding the cemented fitting and replace it with a slightly larger fitting

well thats all i could think of...hmmm...

filly · 06-01-2005, 05:45 PM

Picture a very tall box glued to the bottom of a very large tank at one end. then picture the guy cutting the holes for the bulkheads THRU both of these. the overflow box and the acrylic tank are sandwiched between a bulkhead. I think the leak is between the sandwiched box and tank and for some reason it looks like they didn't use acrylic glue to glue the box to the base? Not sure why but I've had the tank for over 5 years now, brand new waiting to be used so I guess I never really thought of it until now. Looks like some kind of plaster or epoxy is holding the acrylic overflow on the tank. This tank project is driving me nuts already! My tank problems have been like this since day one! lol

Twitterbait · 06-01-2005, 05:54 PM

For a fix that will last i would pull the box out and chop the bottom off then re glue it into the tank (if you can use an acrylic seam sealer). then re-install the bulkhead with new fittings. you can try a simpler method but i think that cutting corners could hurt you in the end. it is the double seam thats killing you here. why did they have a bottom on the overflow box anyways instead of using the bottom of the tank alone??? good luck.

Casey · 06-01-2005, 06:08 PM

There I didnt think we needed all that RC stuff.

VWD · 06-01-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casey

There I didnt think we needed all that RC stuff.

Thank's Casey , I didnt think so,

Loverotties · 06-01-2005, 11:05 PM

TRT I'm loyal to.

Loverotties · 06-01-2005, 11:06 PM

Maybe that's why mine doesn't leak!

Twitterbait · 06-02-2005, 02:17 PM

I am busy enough keeping up with this forum. Who needs another?