Small leak in my overflow silicone...should I be worried? *pics*

Brandon M · 05/01/2008, 10:17 AM

I have a very small leak in the silicone on the bottom of my overflow in my new 20g...the water seems to be leaking threw just a bit.

*picture borrowed from Travis L. Stevens thread

Should I be worried about this? It's not a large leak but the water does come threw the bottom of the silicone at the bottom of the overflow.

If I do need to re-silicone it...should I remove the old silicone? Remove just the bottom portion, or all of it? Or just apply the new directly over it?

Thank you!

rbursek · 05/01/2008, 10:21 AM

I would just leave it or silicone over it.

Reef-Ski · 05/01/2008, 10:21 AM

I would be concerned if you ever had a power outage, the water would keep draining on you.

I would remove the old silicone and put a new bead to seal it up. I think you should only have to re-seal the bottom.

AZDesertRat · 05/01/2008, 10:51 AM

As long as you do not have a bottom drilled overflow with no standpipe you are good. It appears you have the overflow drilled in back so water will never drop below that outlet even if the silicone leaks. No biggie.

Playa-1 · 05/01/2008, 11:45 AM

I agree with AZDesertRat.

WinnipegDragon · 05/01/2008, 12:34 PM

It might be enough 'extra' water to flood your sump though.

The tank is empty, why not fix it?

Reef-Ski · 05/01/2008, 12:36 PM

Brandon M:

I agree with AZDesertRat and Playa-1 that it is not necessary since your drain is so high.

My question would be if the tank is empty why not just take the extra time and seal it off?

Brandon M · 05/01/2008, 01:49 PM

Thanks for all of the replies everyone.

I have decided to just go ahead and reseal the overflow. I will apply an extra layer of silicone. It should not take long and I'm sure this will fix the problem because it is such a small leak.

Thanks for all of the help!

AZDesertRat · 05/01/2008, 01:53 PM

Looks like its maybe all of 1 to 1.5" from high water level to the bottom of his homemade bulkhead. If that gallon or two is enough to overflow the sump then it is too full. Always calculate the volume of water to your lowest possible backsiphonage point, then calculate how many inckes that is in your sump then never ever fill your sump past that point. Did I mention never?
If you follow that rule you never have to worry about an overflow incident or flood.

wiscsaltwater · 05/01/2008, 03:15 PM

the tank is empty, dont even think about filling it without resealing it, if it was full and like that maybe id say dont worry but its empty, its a no-brainer.

05/01/2008, 10:17 AM	#1
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	Small leak in my overflow silicone...should I be worried? pics I have a very small leak in the silicone on the bottom of my overflow in my new 20g...the water seems to be leaking threw just a bit. *picture borrowed from Travis L. Stevens thread Should I be worried about this? It's not a large leak but the water does come threw the bottom of the silicone at the bottom of the overflow. If I do need to re-silicone it...should I remove the old silicone? Remove just the bottom portion, or all of it? Or just apply the new directly over it? Thank you!

05/01/2008, 12:34 PM	#6
WinnipegDragon Canuckian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 1,276	It might be enough 'extra' water to flood your sump though. The tank is empty, why not fix it? __________________ Working on a neeew tank! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=25596043

05/01/2008, 01:49 PM	#8
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I have decided to just go ahead and reseal the overflow. I will apply an extra layer of silicone. It should not take long and I'm sure this will fix the problem because it is such a small leak. Thanks for all of the help! __________________ Brandon Current Tank Info: 315g 84"x24"x36" FOWLR

05/01/2008, 03:15 PM	#10
wiscsaltwater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 429	the tank is empty, dont even think about filling it without resealing it, if it was full and like that maybe id say dont worry but its empty, its a no-brainer. __________________ I have a 10g tank, how many tangs can i keep in it? Current Tank Info: 550g salt, 55g salt, 29g salt

05/01/2008, 10:21 AM	#2
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	I would just leave it or silicone over it.

05/01/2008, 10:21 AM	#3
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	I would be concerned if you ever had a power outage, the water would keep draining on you. I would remove the old silicone and put a new bead to seal it up. I think you should only have to re-seal the bottom.

05/01/2008, 10:51 AM	#4
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	As long as you do not have a bottom drilled overflow with no standpipe you are good. It appears you have the overflow drilled in back so water will never drop below that outlet even if the silicone leaks. No biggie.

05/01/2008, 11:45 AM	#5
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I agree with AZDesertRat.

05/01/2008, 12:36 PM	#7
Reef-Ski Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 368	Brandon M: I agree with AZDesertRat and Playa-1 that it is not necessary since your drain is so high. My question would be if the tank is empty why not just take the extra time and seal it off?

05/01/2008, 01:53 PM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Looks like its maybe all of 1 to 1.5" from high water level to the bottom of his homemade bulkhead. If that gallon or two is enough to overflow the sump then it is too full. Always calculate the volume of water to your lowest possible backsiphonage point, then calculate how many inckes that is in your sump then never ever fill your sump past that point. Did I mention never? If you follow that rule you never have to worry about an overflow incident or flood.