IM Plumbing

[DmitryB]

I think once you get your bulkheads tightened correctly you should be leak free. I doesnt seem, from what i skimmed, you have any other leaks?

Correct just that one place. I took the bulkheads off and reinstalled. Pored water into the overflow chamber and waited about an hour. No leaks so fingers crossed!

 

[xiaoxiy]

Correct just that one place. I took the bulkheads off and reinstalled. Pored water into the overflow chamber and waited about an hour. No leaks so fingers crossed!

No need for glue/cement on any of their piping. Did reinstalling the bulkheads fix the leaks?

 

[DmitryB]

No need for glue/cement on any of their piping. Did reinstalling the bulkheads fix the leaks?

I poured water into the overflow yesterday morning and so far nothing leaking down. I am in the process of filling the system with salt water and so far only filled the tank. Making more water for the sump right now. (Is this always the most stressful part of the set up?)

 

[kratosxxl]

Yeah the leaks are gnarly! IM says no adhesive necessary (and their instruction video reflects that) but I'm not gonna listen to that. I should use it on both the bulkheads before screwing them and the pipes going into the bulkheads?

IM uses Sched 80 PVC.

Gonna empty the tank tomorrow, seal the connections. And then just pour water into the overflow to make sure it's not leaking. I don't think I can do another 170 + sump fill of fresh water!

Here's the double leak video

Hey! Yeah, I just got the IM EXT 200 recently. You’re totally right about the documentation—it’s outdated and the YouTube videos aren't much help, so there’s definitely some trial and error involved.

A quick tip on leaks: make sure the white washer goes inside the overflow box. Same rule for the returns—just make sure that washer is inside the tank.
Happy Reefing

 

[xiaoxiy]

I poured water into the overflow yesterday morning and so far nothing leaking down. I am in the process of filling the system with salt water and so far only filled the tank. Making more water for the sump right now. (Is this always the most stressful part of the set up?)

Perfect!

Stress is the name of this hobby!

 

[Privateye]

(Is this always the most stressful part of the set up?)

Haha, in my experience the leak test is indeed the most-stressful part. The most time-consuming part for me is arranging the rocks in a way I like. I often end up doing most of it, putting the animals in, and then I go back over the next month and tweak the aquascape.

 

[DmitryB]

Haha, in my experience the leak test is indeed the most-stressful part. The most time-consuming part for me is arranging the rocks in a way I like. I often end up doing most of it, putting the animals in, and then I go back over the next month and tweak the aquascape.

Oh I did the scape last night and have no feelings about it, which means it's going to get rearranged. Problem is I ended up with WAY too much live rock. So now I have too many options, some of which are like "No I can't not use this! Or this! Or this!" But I can't use it all. (And then I guess try to sell it on Facebook or something. I am tired of buckets with rocks in them.)

 

[DmitryB]

Good news is I've refilled the full system with salt water and no leakage, so very relieved! Thanks to all for the help!

One more question: the water surface in the sump is not moving much. There is currently no equipment in the sump except heaters and the return pump. Have not put in the skimmer yet. The middle chamber will be a refugium. Any idea why the surface isn't moving? Water comes down the drain, into filter cups/socks/roller section. Goes down through that chamber and then flows on the bottom of where the skimmer will be to the refugium. Will this be remedied when there is a skimmer sitting there? Just trying to get full turnover with the newly activated system.

 

[Saltyreef]

Good news is I've refilled the full system with salt water and no leakage, so very relieved! Thanks to all for the help!

One more question: the water surface in the sump is not moving much. There is currently no equipment in the sump except heaters and the return pump. Have not put in the skimmer yet. The middle chamber will be a refugium. Any idea why the surface isn't moving? Water comes down the drain, into filter cups/socks/roller section. Goes down through that chamber and then flows on the bottom of where the skimmer will be to the refugium. Will this be remedied when there is a skimmer sitting there? Just trying to get full turnover with the newly activated system.

is your level set in the return section of the sump?

 

[DmitryB]

Good news is I've refilled the full system with salt water and no leakage, so very relieved! Thanks to all for the help!

One more question: the water surface in the sump is not moving much. There is currently no equipment in the sump except heaters and the return pump. Have not put in the skimmer yet. The middle chamber will be a refugium. Any idea why the surface isn't moving? Water comes down the drain, into filter cups/socks/roller section. Goes down through that chamber and then flows on the bottom of where the skimmer will be to the refugium. Will this be remedied when there is a skimmer sitting there? Just trying to get full turnover with the newly activated system.

is your level set in the return section of the sump?

Not sure I understand. I filled the tank until the sump was at the level I wanted. Then turned on the return pump. The level in the return chamber dropped a little. (I actually expected it to drop more, but )

There is an adjustable baffle between the refugium and the return chamber. I raised it to its highest position.

 

[Saltyreef]

Not sure I understand. I filled the tank until the sump was at the level I wanted. Then turned on the return pump. The level in the return chamber dropped a little. (I actually expected it to drop more, but )

There is an adjustable baffle between the refugium and the return chamber. I raised it to its highest position.

You said no surface movement but sounds like theres flow through the sump.

Usually the only movement you see is the baffle to the return section through the bubble trap.

 

[DmitryB]

You said no surface movement but sounds like theres flow through the sump.

Usually the only movement you see is the baffle to the return section through the bubble trap.

There's movement through the sump, but the water on the surface is basically still. All (or most) of the water is moving through the lower half of the sump. I wondered if that was normal.

 

[Saltyreef]

There's movement through the sump, but the water on the surface is basically still. All (or most) of the water is moving through the lower half of the sump. I wondered if that was normal.

Usually it is since theres nothing like a powerhead to agetate the surface and most sumps use a surge box for the drain section to minimize noise.
imo it helps stuff settle to the bottom better for cleaning.

 

[DmitryB]

There's movement through the sump, but the water on the surface is basically still. All (or most) of the water is moving through the lower half of the sump. I wondered if that was normal.

Usually it is since theres nothing like a powerhead to agetate the surface and most sumps use a surge box for the drain section to minimize noise.
imo it helps stuff settle to the bottom better for cleaning.

That makes sense!