HELP! leak test -> it leaks!

deadmanh · 02/15/2007, 02:47 AM

i bought a 65g RR tank with 3 x 1inch bulkhead holes about 9 months ago, and put it in my closet. now im ready to finally put it together and did a leak test last night. It leaked around all three of the bulkheads AND from the internal overflow box(from inside the overflow box to inside the tank area) . Turns out i have the gasket on backwards. it was in the tank, but the soft side was pointed away from the glass.

So next i flipped the gaskets around, and that helped a lot. The Leaks subsided in two of the holes, and completely stopped in the third.

Next i used silicone on the edges of the internal overflow box AND around the inside glass surface of the bulkhead. When i went to leak test it tonight, one of the bulkheads is STILL leaking, the other two are now fine. likewise, the leaks from the internal overflow box to the tank have stopped ( up to 6 inches).

In other words, as of NOW, i have one leaking bulkhead. the reason seems to be because of the drilling, there are some chips of glass that are missing around the hole. normally i expect that the Rubber gasket should seal it, but no matter how i hand tighten it, its not enough. ( i didnt try it looser as well).

So, i wiped down the overflow box, have a fan to make sure things are really dry and going to try siliconing that last hole one last time. does anyone have any ideas that can help? any words of wisdom? and honestly if you can lend a hand and show me what im doing wrong, id really appreciate it.

Danny

Tang Salad · 02/15/2007, 02:57 AM

Are these new bulkheads, or the ones that came with the tank?

If they're old, replace them. The rubber can dry out and lose its sealability.

tkeracer619 · 02/15/2007, 03:06 AM

If they are new, put silicone on the gasket surfaces. Don't overtighten them or they break.

If they are not new, replace them.

deadmanh · 02/15/2007, 09:44 AM

they are all new bulkheads, which side of the gasket is supposed to be touching the glass? smooth side or side with the ridges?

secondly, When applying silicone, do i put a circle bead around the entire hole and then (WHILE WET) put on the bulkhead? and then leave it there for 48 hours? OR do i put silicone, scrape it level, and then when dry, put on the builhead?

msuzuki126 · 02/15/2007, 10:02 AM

I put two small beads of silicone on opposite sides on the dry part of the bulkhead that you turn. When you twist it, the silicone spreads evenly.

deadmanh · 02/15/2007, 10:14 AM

ok, i see what you are saying.... im worried now ( paranoid really) that two little beads wont be enough.... maybe ill try with 4 beads and twist then....

anyone else agree with this advice?

useskaforevil · 02/15/2007, 04:31 PM

my bulkheads leaked for the first 3 days i had them, then salt clogged it up. but we're talkign 1 drop of water every few hours.

DarthBaiter · 02/15/2007, 04:43 PM

If you are using silicone, apply it but don't tighten the nuts all the way. Let it dry, than give it a turn to tighten it. That should give you a water tight seal

AZDesertRat · 02/15/2007, 06:32 PM

If you have to use silicone on the gaskets something is wrong. You should never have to apply anything to a bulkhead to get it to seal. Do you have the gaskets on the flanged or non nut side of the bulkheads and not next to the nuts? How sloppy are the bulkheads in the drilled holes, if they move side to side much there may not be enough sealing surface and you might need different bulkheads? How are you tightening them, they should not be much more than hand tight, any more and you stress them. Are you suspending any piping from the bulkheads and stressing or distorting them. Any pipe should be supported seperately from the bulkhead.

cobs00 · 02/16/2007, 02:27 AM

I agree with AZdessertRat,

Never, Ever you silicone on the seals! Its not needed, if you're doing right then all you need is hand tighting with maybe 1/4 turn with a wrench. Anymore than that then you are risking the seal giving in. Also the quality of your bulkhead also speaks volumes. I'm not sure what you Americans use, but we have a really good bulkhead here made by Hayward. Look into quality not silicone.

corals b 4 bills · 02/16/2007, 05:33 AM

WTH!..... What do you mean you americans?

4everwet · 02/16/2007, 07:51 AM

I agree, no silicone needed! But like azdesertrat said, if the hole is drilled larger than your bulkhead then there isn't much contact surface left for the gasket. Never put the gasket on the same side as the nut or it will leak everytime.

deadmanh · 02/16/2007, 06:37 PM

I used the Band-Aid approach, silicone on one of the bulkheads and then tighten once dry. leak test been 10 hours and everything is working.

msuzuki126 · 02/16/2007, 06:41 PM

I just put the silicone on the dry side for added comfort.

02/15/2007, 02:47 AM	#1
deadmanh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California, Huntington Beach Posts: 1,813	HELP! leak test -> it leaks! i bought a 65g RR tank with 3 x 1inch bulkhead holes about 9 months ago, and put it in my closet. now im ready to finally put it together and did a leak test last night. It leaked around all three of the bulkheads AND from the internal overflow box(from inside the overflow box to inside the tank area) . Turns out i have the gasket on backwards. it was in the tank, but the soft side was pointed away from the glass. So next i flipped the gaskets around, and that helped a lot. The Leaks subsided in two of the holes, and completely stopped in the third. Next i used silicone on the edges of the internal overflow box AND around the inside glass surface of the bulkhead. When i went to leak test it tonight, one of the bulkheads is STILL leaking, the other two are now fine. likewise, the leaks from the internal overflow box to the tank have stopped ( up to 6 inches). In other words, as of NOW, i have one leaking bulkhead. the reason seems to be because of the drilling, there are some chips of glass that are missing around the hole. normally i expect that the Rubber gasket should seal it, but no matter how i hand tighten it, its not enough. ( i didnt try it looser as well). So, i wiped down the overflow box, have a fan to make sure things are really dry and going to try siliconing that last hole one last time. does anyone have any ideas that can help? any words of wisdom? and honestly if you can lend a hand and show me what im doing wrong, id really appreciate it. Danny

02/15/2007, 02:57 AM	#2
Tang Salad Algae skeptic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 78702 Posts: 3,098	Are these new bulkheads, or the ones that came with the tank? If they're old, replace them. The rubber can dry out and lose its sealability. __________________ Your algae is not special. Current Tank Info: TBD ADA 120-P SPS NLPS

02/15/2007, 03:06 AM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	If they are new, put silicone on the gasket surfaces. Don't overtighten them or they break. If they are not new, replace them. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/15/2007, 10:02 AM	#5
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	I put two small beads of silicone on opposite sides on the dry part of the bulkhead that you turn. When you twist it, the silicone spreads evenly. __________________ Red House=My 90 build. Matt. Current Tank Info: 90 rebuild

02/15/2007, 04:31 PM	#7
useskaforevil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: kent, ohio Posts: 1,012	my bulkheads leaked for the first 3 days i had them, then salt clogged it up. but we're talkign 1 drop of water every few hours. __________________ "and the delicate mechanism stripped its gears" Current Tank Info: 80gallon bowfront

02/15/2007, 09:44 AM	#4
deadmanh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California, Huntington Beach Posts: 1,813	they are all new bulkheads, which side of the gasket is supposed to be touching the glass? smooth side or side with the ridges? secondly, When applying silicone, do i put a circle bead around the entire hole and then (WHILE WET) put on the bulkhead? and then leave it there for 48 hours? OR do i put silicone, scrape it level, and then when dry, put on the builhead?

02/15/2007, 10:14 AM	#6
deadmanh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California, Huntington Beach Posts: 1,813	ok, i see what you are saying.... im worried now ( paranoid really) that two little beads wont be enough.... maybe ill try with 4 beads and twist then.... anyone else agree with this advice?

02/15/2007, 04:43 PM	#8
DarthBaiter Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 662	If you are using silicone, apply it but don't tighten the nuts all the way. Let it dry, than give it a turn to tighten it. That should give you a water tight seal __________________ "Fluke, I'm yo faddah, come join me on the DockSIde!" Current Tank Info: 90g reef display 30g sump, 75g display 10g sump, 30g cube display, 12g AP reef, 14g BC reef, and a 75g planted livebearer tank.

02/15/2007, 06:32 PM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	If you have to use silicone on the gaskets something is wrong. You should never have to apply anything to a bulkhead to get it to seal. Do you have the gaskets on the flanged or non nut side of the bulkheads and not next to the nuts? How sloppy are the bulkheads in the drilled holes, if they move side to side much there may not be enough sealing surface and you might need different bulkheads? How are you tightening them, they should not be much more than hand tight, any more and you stress them. Are you suspending any piping from the bulkheads and stressing or distorting them. Any pipe should be supported seperately from the bulkhead.

02/16/2007, 02:27 AM	#10
cobs00 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 409	I agree with AZdessertRat, Never, Ever you silicone on the seals! Its not needed, if you're doing right then all you need is hand tighting with maybe 1/4 turn with a wrench. Anymore than that then you are risking the seal giving in. Also the quality of your bulkhead also speaks volumes. I'm not sure what you Americans use, but we have a really good bulkhead here made by Hayward. Look into quality not silicone. __________________ 250 Red Sea Max in the works

02/16/2007, 05:33 AM	#11
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	WTH!..... What do you mean you americans? __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

02/16/2007, 07:51 AM	#12
4everwet Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: oklahoma Posts: 165	I agree, no silicone needed! But like azdesertrat said, if the hole is drilled larger than your bulkhead then there isn't much contact surface left for the gasket. Never put the gasket on the same side as the nut or it will leak everytime.

02/16/2007, 06:37 PM	#13
deadmanh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California, Huntington Beach Posts: 1,813	I used the Band-Aid approach, silicone on one of the bulkheads and then tighten once dry. leak test been 10 hours and everything is working.

02/16/2007, 06:41 PM	#14
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	I just put the silicone on the dry side for added comfort. __________________ Red House=My 90 build. Matt. Current Tank Info: 90 rebuild