Anybody Ever Fill Overflows With Silicon?

[Staceon]

Hey Guys...current tank been set up about 10 years and just moved to new home with family. Been setting up the tank again and keep having very small leaks where bulkheads attached to the bottom of the tank. I have tried tighting them, loosing them, hand tight, plyers, taking some weight of the plumbing, etc...and still have these small leaks.

I am now thinking about just pouring sililcon down into the bottom of the overflows and sealing everything. Anybody done this? I do not plan to ever move this tank again, at a minium at least another 10 years, so not really concered if I need to take it apart.

Drawbacks? Side Effects? Any issues?

 

[corbett_n]

maybe you need a new washer between the bulkhead and the nut

 

[jpc763]

I would try buying new bulkheads first.

 

[Staceon]

About 2 years ago I swapped out the acrylic tank and replaced it with a new AGA glass tank with new overflows the same day. They are not that old, but are 1 1/2 inch fittings, so large area to seal.

Not to keen on idea of cutting the PVC under the tank to get the bulkheads out since all the plumbing is done, which is what I would have to do to replace the bulkheads.

 

[nicfo25]

See if you cant loosen the nut and pull the bulkhead up a little to get some silicon under the gasket. If not I dont see any problem with silicone in the bottome of the overflow. It will be pretty thick and take a while too cure. Good luck!

 

[cilyjr]

2 and 1/2 years is more then enough time for the rubber gasket on a bulkhead to become leaky especially if they sat dry for some time

 

[noahm]

I agree with replacing the gaskets. Also, if you are going to put anything on the gasket. Use silicone grease, not silicone sealant. That is what it is made for. I can't coun't the number of times a dry gasket was the cause of leaky underwater camera housings. Just enough to make it look wet.

 

[jlawson382]

The previous owner of my current DT layered in about an inch of silicone at the bottom of the overflows at some point... it didn't hurt anything, just made it a real pain to redo the plumbing when I moved.

 

[jason12345]

i would go with replacing the gasket, the silicone will become a pain

 

[Staceon]

I know Silicon on/around the gaskets is a big no-no b/c of fears of it loosing it down the road. I cleaned the gaskets & flanges pretty good when I took apart the tank. The gaskets looked good...