Leaking pluming!!!

[Kyle_bania]

I’m working 70 hours a week minimum. Stressed beyond belief and i now have a leak with my tank. I noticed a dripping sound coming from under the stand… worst fear. Found water coming down from the threads of the bulkhead… could be cracked? I can’t really tell at the moment. Anyone know if I can phill swift this and throw some flex putty on it? It’s a 150 reef tank with 15k+ in coral and fish. Replacing the bulkhead isn’t an option without draining the entire tank

 

[polyppal]

Unless you see cracked glass around it, The bulkhead might just be too loose, or the gasket broken. If it doesn’t just need a good tightening your gonna have to replace

 

[ColoredRock]

slow and go... what is the volume leaking? My guess is that of you use a puddy, as long as it does not come in contactact with the tank you should be good to go.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I’m working 70 hours a week minimum. Stressed beyond belief and i now have a leak with my tank. I noticed a dripping sound coming from under the stand… worst fear. Found water coming down from the threads of the bulkhead… could be cracked? I can’t really tell at the moment. Anyone know if I can phill swift this and throw some flex putty on it? It’s a 150 reef tank with 15k+ in coral and fish. Replacing the bulkhead isn’t an option without draining the entire tank

Likely overtightened and stretched. When I had that, I laced a bucket underneath as it was slow. On the weekend, I drained the tank, added new gasket and although not recommended asmear of aquarium sealant in lieu of grease on seal and all fixed

 

[workhz]

How does replacing a bulk head require draining an entire tank?

Anyway, may just need a little tightening but I’ll add that the plastic nut on my bulkhead always liked to slip if overtightened. I’ve been meaning to replace it by draining the overflow but have never gotten around to it. I try not to go near it or touch the drain pipe that comes out of it.

 

[Guttersnipe]

Can we see a picture of the bulkhead? Where is the location of the bulkhead? Bottom of tank?

 

[Kyle_bania]

slow and go... what is the volume leaking? My guess is that of you use a puddy, as long as it does not come in contactact with the tank you should be good to go.

Drip every 4 seconds

 

[Kyle_bania]

How does replacing a bulk head require draining an entire tank?

Anyway, may just need a little tightening but I’ll add that the plastic nut on my bulkhead always liked to slip if overtightened. I’ve been meaning to replace it by draining the overflow but have never gotten around to it. I try not to go near it or touch the drain pipe that comes out of it.

Overflow overflows and drains through the bottom

 

[Kyle_bania]

Can we see a picture of the bulkhead? Where is the location of the bulkhead? Bottom of tank?

Bottom of the tank. It’s a corner overflow

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

Can you see where in the area of the bulkhead it’s leaking? Running down the threads? Dripping from under the nut?

Can you gently tighten it?

 

[Kyle_bania]

Can you see where in the area of the bulkhead it’s leaking? Running down the threads? Dripping from under the nut?

Can you gently tighten it?

I believe the threads because they are wet. I’ve messed with the plumbing slightly and gotten it to stop dripping… every 30 seconds or so

 

[ColoredRock]

I believe the threads because they are wet. I’ve messed with the plumbing slightly and gotten it to stop dripping… every 30 seconds or so

SO.. setting up mymixing station. Slow leaks... and then they stop.. lol.

 

[Gregg @ ADP]

I believe the threads because they are wet. I’ve messed with the plumbing slightly and gotten it to stop dripping… every 30 seconds or so

If you were able to give the bulkhead nut a little turn, it was probably just loose. It might take several minutes for water under the gasket to work it’s way out.

 

[Kyle_bania]

SO.. setting up mymixing station. Slow leaks... and then they stop.. lol.

Ok ok not stopped. I shouldn’t have used that word. It has slowed down

 

[workhz]

Bottom of the tank. It’s a corner overflow

Maybe I’m not understanding the issue. Why do you need to drain the whole tank if you have a corner overflow?

Stop the return pump. Push an empty gallon jug into the main tank area to displace some water. Drain the overflow part.

What am I missing?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Agreed as said above! I just recently replaced my 'return' bulkhead as I went to a dual drain setup and moved the return to a 'over the top' setup. Pumped out/ drained my corner overflow and swapped it all. It was a royal pain due to being a corner drain but I didn't loose too much water. This was on a 120 gal. Only thing I can think of is that you have a overflow that's leaking ?

 

[polyppal]

If it’s a corner overflow just drain the few gallons to bring it up to the overflow intake and replace the bulkheads… will prob clean a lot of nasty stuff out of that overflow as well

 

[Tamberav]

Overflow overflows and drains through the bottom

If you have an overflow then you should only have to drain the overflow. Not the entire tank.

I have slathered silicone around a bulkhead before just to get it to temporarily stop for the night until I could fix it the next day. DO NOT expect stuff like that to be a permanent fix.

 

[Garia666]

Man I can’t give you any advise but I feel ya and I hope you get this resolved swiftly and with out any disaster.

 

[biecacka]

Agreed, if it is just a corner overflow, drain that. Then inspect the bulkhead and the seal Looking for any signs of tears or cracks. While you have it out, clean the area of debris so when you put it back in it has a flat unobstructed area to form the seal. I just went though this on my tank a few months ago. I just bought a new bulkhead because I got tired of thinking mine was okay. After doing the above steps, I have had no issues with it leaking yet…..haha
good luck!

corey