Small Leaks... How to fix them?

[uztaryn]

I have put about half of my water in my 500g. I have some seapage leaks mostly where I have threads.

Other than draining the entire tank and taking all the plumbing apart and redoing the threaded portions what can I do?

The leaks are very small but I want no leaks at all.

 

[szwab]

your best bet is to take them apart. It will get worse as the tank fills since there will be more pressure. You can silicone them but that is no guarantee. Since the pressure is from the inside it could eventually work it's way through again anyways. If it were me I'd take the time to pull it apart and redo your threaded joints. Although work it's easier w/o livestock in the tank. is there a way you can plug your bulkheads? that way you'd only have to drain the lines and not the tank.

also a good rule of thumb is not to do plumbing work unless there is a lowes, home depot or savko open

 

[uztaryn]

The drain that has the leak is the CL drain in the bottom of the tank... so I would litterly have to drain every drop of water.

 

[itZme]

If you have unions on the plumbing and can separate things enough you could unscrew the fitting a turn or two and then goop it with some "pipe dope" and then turn it back in (one additional turn if possible) and hook things up. I would not want to start trying to put band-aids on anything this early in the set up as it will just get more and more difficult to repair later. The best way to look at it is that at least you don't have to worry about where to put all the livestock while you drain and fix it.
I know that doesn't make things much better for you but just imagine that tank full for a year and THEN you have to fix it.

 

[ronc98]

Now I bet you are glad you waited to fill it with water.

Take Swabs advice and fix it right. There are no magic bullets on leaks.

Quick question on your Bonaire trip, did you go on your Own or travel down with COSD? They had a trip going to the same time you went down?

 

[Norm R]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8671372#post8671372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uztaryn
The drain that has the leak is the CL drain in the bottom of the tank... so I would litterly have to drain every drop of water.

Not sure which CL it is but as szwab stated, get a 2" threaded plug, use teflon tape, and insert it in the bulkhead on the water side. That will block water from coming through the bulkhead and you can leave the bulkhead in and take the plumbing below it apart and re-do it (assuming it's not the bulkhead itself leaking). It's good to have two of these plugs around anyways in case you have leak in the CL once the tank is functioning. I keep 2 in my stand for an emergency.

If it's a very small leak, it may seal over time as salt builds up in the threads. I left one like this and it sealed already. It just depends how small it is.

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8671764#post8671764 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Norm R
Not sure which CL it is but as szwab stated, get a 2" threaded plug, use teflon tape, and insert it in the bulkhead on the water side. That will block water from coming through the bulkhead and you can leave the bulkhead in and take the plumbing below it apart and re-do it (assuming it's not the bulkhead itself leaking). It's good to have two of these plugs around anyways in case you have leak in the CL once the tank is functioning. I keep 2 in my stand for an emergency.

If it's a very small leak, it may seal over time as salt builds up in the threads. I left one like this and it sealed already. It just depends how small it is.

uztaryn, With your threaded joints, did you use teflon tape ?? If so put one more layer on, also you can go to HD / Lowes and get one those rubber adjustable wrenches (I am not sure what they are called) and used that to tighten the threaded joined about a 1/4 turn...

When I was setting up my tank I used as many threaded joints as I could so that if I needed to work on anything I would be able to with ease... I used teflon tape on all my joints, but forgot the two on my Dart... I un-threaded them and put 2 or 3 wraps on and used the rubber wrench thing and everything was good to go...

 

[uztaryn]

As for Bonaire I went with the COSD. As for the tank I am glad I waited; however, I have spent so far only today on it and it is close to done. When I got back from dinner the leak had stopped so looks like salt may have clogged it already. It was very small.

I am about to begin on live rock... worse case scenario I have to drain it... that wont matter much if it has rock in it or not.

 

[ronc98]

Glad to hear about the leak.

How many Dives did you guys get in? I was going to go on that one but I ended up passing.

 

[uztaryn]

I got 17 dives and I don't think anyone else got more than me... Jason (LPFSthefett) went as well and he got the same number of dives as I did. The trip was pretty awesome. The best reef I have ever seen.

 

[ronc98]

17 dives that is great for the trip. I went with them to Cozymel in april and got 12 dives. Bonaire is one of the next places to go. I figure we need to hit as many places as we can because their decline.

I got Cert with COSD last spring. Dave R was my instructor. Deek and Joey are fun to have around on a trip like that. I ended up going to another shop just because the advanced training was a bit cheaper.

 

[uztaryn]

Yeah I am advanced and am working towards Master now. Dave was my instructor too. I thought he did a great job. We may go on the Cozymel trip in the spring too.

 

[ronc98]

I just finished up my advanced, I am 3/4 through rescue diver trianing then I hope by the end of Jan I will have my Dive master training started.


I am
SSI Open Water
SDI advanced
SDI Master Diver
then will be working towards PADI Dive master then instructor.

 

[hollback]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8671964#post8671964 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by asnatlas
... I un-threaded them and put 2 or 3 wraps on and used the rubber wrench thing and everything was good to go...

I'd highly recommend at least 6 wraps on all threaded fittings. Teflon paste with the tape is also another great option.

 

[asnatlas]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8675719#post8675719 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hollback
I'd highly recommend at least 6 wraps on all threaded fittings. Teflon paste with the tape is also another great option.

6 wraps... I guess I mean 3 layers... which would be like 5-6 wraps to cover most of the threads... If that make since...

 

[jh2pizza]

I recommend never using thread tape at all. I used too, and after dealing with salt creep, micro bubbles and time at installation, I started using a small amount of aquarium grade silicone placed on the threads, then tighten hand tight, thats it. Don't stand on them. Never had an issue since. Got the idea from a professional installer that used to go around to different pet-co shops installing new systems.

 

[cbonito]

Re: Small Leaks... How to fix them?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8671267#post8671267 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by uztaryn
I have put about half of my water in my 500g. I have some seapage leaks mostly where I have threads.

Other than draining the entire tank and taking all the plumbing apart and redoing the threaded portions what can I do?

The leaks are very small but I want no leaks at all.

There is a silicone wrap available that they use to protect spark plug wires in the auto racing industry. It is also self-vulcanizing and can easily be removed when the time comes. Check summitracing.com.
They might have it.

 

[jh2pizza]

There is a silicone wrap available that they use to protect spark plug wires in the auto racing industry. It is also self-vulcanizing and can easily be removed when the time comes. Check summitracing.com.

Way over thinking this. just a simple tube of silicone from any pet shop