annoying leak

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
esoxlucius

esoxlucius

Balaclava Bot Butcher
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2015
3,990
15,443
209
UK
I've set up my 6x2x2 today. I half filled it yesterday and left it overnight, checked it this morning, no leaks at all. So i filled it completely today, checking all the time for leaks, none. It's been running for 4 or 5 hours now and i'm checking the tank and down in the sump every 20 minutes or so. Then i noticed it. A drip, ever so slow but none the less, a bloody drip. And it's coming from the very worse part, the bulkhead under the tank. I've been watching it like a hawk, it drips about every 30-45 seconds. Do i need to drain the tank and check the rubber seals, maybe even silcone it all, or, in time as bacteria and bits of gunk build up will it seal itself?
 
How confident are you that the bulkhead is in working order and there is no debris between the seal? If you are, then if it were me, I'd tightened the bulkhead just a tad and monitor. Did you hand tighten? Just trying to get an idea how tight it is already?

It happens and is annoying, but easy fix if everything is set properly. Im also assuming you mean the actual bulkhead and not connected fittings are leaking too. Just to be clear.
 
joe jaskot said:
Can you try tightening the bulkhead?
Click to expand...

I'm between a rock and a hard place regards tightening it any further. I give it a good tighten up when i installed it. I've heard of horror stories of rubber seals distorting or the bulkhead itself cracking if over tightened, both leading to carastrophe if the tanks full, as is mine. I've also heard of people who've just left similar tiny tiny leaks and in time they stop themselves, not ideal i know.
 
You don't want to make it too tight. Hand tighten and then a quarter to a half turn. You do have the rubber gasket on the inside of the tank?
 
A drip every 30+ seconds with the fitting under pressure like it is, isn't much. I'd give it some time. If the fitting is snug like you say, there's too much potential for disaster disturbing a fitting once it's in full service. I've been down that horrible road before.
 
  • Like
Reactions: esoxlucius
joe jaskot said:
You don't want to make it too tight. Hand tighten and then a quarter to a half turn. You do have the rubber gasket on the inside of the tank?
Click to expand...

Yeah gaskets inside tank. I tightened it by hand until it was reasonably tight and then just squooze off another quarter turn. So it's probably has tight as i'll get it without tools. I'm going to monitor it for the next 48 hours. If it doesn't stop i'll drain the tank and sort it out whilst kicking the cat round the house and bawling and shouting at the kids, haha, what a bummer.
 
If its over a sump or you have a way of catching the drip, I would just leave it for a while. It may just stop, because it is so slight like you say.
 
This will work if you never plan on replacing or changing the bulk head.....

Marine epoxy... make a small batch... put where the leak is coming from.. wait an hour.... make another small batch...put it where the leak is coming from now, it should be coming from the left or right of the previous epoxy..... now do that until you go all the way around and the leak will stop.. did that to a tank and lasted 6-7 years before I gave it away
 
I would not tighter further until you had given it a good time to sort itself out or made a decision regarding "welding" it permanently in place.

Another quarter turn might fix the problem or might cause permanent damage and force it to be replaced, but it doesn't sound like enough of a leak to require emergency measures.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom