Reef savvy Bulkhead seals

[mcgaws]

hey all, I have a reef savvy ghost overflow. I have just noticed the seals on the bulkheads have started leaking very slowly. I was just wondering how often people change out the rubber seals on their aquariums or specially reef savvy overflow boxes. Thanks in advance.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

While I do not know about this equipment specifically, I do not recall seeing anyone replacing bulkhead seals proactively. In my last tank I never changed them in over a decade of use.

 

[RedReefer]

I would think they would last at least 15 years if installed correctly. I have a set running 10 years , no leaks.

 

[mmorrison55]

Silly question… have you tried to tighten it to see if it stops leaking instead of replacing. If they are no signs of cracking, I would think a small snug down would resolve the slow leak.

 

[UncommonSense]

I was just wondering how often people change out the rubber seals on their aquariums

I’ve been having a tough time answering this question…

— given how catastrophic a leaking bulkhead can be to a particle board stand, and given how replacement isn’t actually that complex of a job…

I’ve found that treating them like car tires and replacing them every 4-6 years, before the rubber has a chance to harden too much, seems to be a logical interval!

 

[mcgaws]

While I do not know about this equipment specifically, I do not recall seeing anyone replacing bulkhead seals proactively. In my last tank I never changed them in over a decade of use.

Thanks for your answer buddy

 

[mcgaws]

I would think they would last at least 15 years if installed correctly. I have a set running 10 years , no leaks.

Ok great thanks

 

[mcgaws]

Silly question… have you tried to tighten it to see if it stops leaking instead of replacing. If they are no signs of cracking, I would think a small snug down would resolve the slow leak.

I haven’t yet I may try this tomorrow, just tighten slightly. It has been running for 8 years and haven’t encountered this before which made me think possible seal degradation.

 

[mcgaws]

I’ve been having a tough time answering this question…

— given how catastrophic a leaking bulkhead can be to a particle board stand, and given how replacement isn’t actually that complex of a job…

I’ve found that treating them like car tires and replacing them every 4-6 years, before the rubber has a chance to harden too much, seems to be a logical interval!

Yes this is also a worrying thing as that is what my stand is made from I believe.

 

[Damage12]

When I started my 180gal I siliconed the seals of the bulkheads and never had a leak in over 18 years and never changed them. This was an All Glass brand tank.

 

[dadnjesse]

In my experience I never had any luck trying to tighten them once there leaking. I would if possible remove the gasket and clean both sides of the glass and them put them back together and make sure there is no leaks.

 

[Joe31415]

Funny that this thread just popped up. A few months ago I noticed a lot of salt around one of the pipes from the overflow back to the tank. I assumed it was a leak (but hoped it was) and knocked all the salt off so I could see where it was coming from. Day after day I checked back there and never saw any water, or any more salt. I'd forgotten about it until this morning and checked it again. The pipe is entirely covered in salt, like, a lot of salt. Then, hanging off an elbow is an icicle/stalactite, made of salt, probably a foot long. I guess I need to figure this out.

In a perfect world, I'd just take that fitting apart, clean it up, fix whatever needs fixing and put it back together. However, being behind the tank, close to the wall and pipe closer to the edge of the tank, I don't want to go monkeying around with it too much. It'll be next to impossible to get tools back there if I need to. My plan right now is to clean off all the salt, and, assuming I don't see anything broken (ie cracked overflow), to put some sort of sealer around the area where the nut meets the bottom of the overflow and hope that does the trick.

When I first noticed this I picked up a tube of, I think, Loctite Marine adhesive sealer. We'll see if that works. I'm really trying to avoid taking this apart if I can.

 

[UncommonSense]

My plan right now is to clean off all the salt, and, assuming I don't see anything broken (ie cracked overflow), to put some sort of sealer around the area where the nut meets the bottom of the overflow and hope that does the trick.

When I first noticed this I picked up a tube of, I think, Loctite Marine adhesive sealer. We'll see if that works. I'm really trying to avoid taking this apart if I can.

This isn’t going to work… I’ve seen it tried countless times!

The bulkhead is weeping water around its gasket, this is going to continue as the sealant is curing… th half-cured sealant will hold back the water seepage until it starts having some hydrostatic pressure against it, causing a leak channel to be forced through the half-cured sealant!

Would it be unreasonable to use the likes of a 3d printed oversized socket wrench socket on the bulkhead nut? These do exist!

Regarding pulling the bulkhead from a tight space; you can pull it using attached plumbing once the nut has been removed!

Sadly, this tank definitely needs new bulkhead gaskets, or this water weep will only progressively get worse…