Leaky seal on my overflow

anjhof · 05/30/2007, 09:08 PM

I moved around my return tubes for my overflow today and noticed a slight leak coming from the hole in the bottom of the overflow. I believe the leak is coming from the bulkhead being a little loose on the inside of the overflow.
Could I just silicone around the bulkhead to stop the leak? I have very poor access to tightening up the bulk head (due to some poor planning), but if I have to cut my plywood under the tank, I will.

NewSchool04 · 05/30/2007, 10:13 PM

You can't silicone it when it's leaking, you need to fix the problem. Try tightening the bulkhead, you should be able to get something in there to give it a slight twist. If this doesn't work, you need to drain the overflow, loosen the bulkhead and clean around it making sure that where the bulkhead connects with the glass is totally clean of debri. Tighten it back up and poor some water in to see if it leaks and then start it up!

I've heard of bristle worms getting between bulkheads and glass causing leaking so it's not an unusual thing to happen. I had to do it a couple of times on my old tank, same problem with the plywood bottom also!

anjhof · 05/30/2007, 10:22 PM

Thanks. I did drain the overflow. I really hate dealing with a 29" high tank. Even simple things like this are a pain in the arse.

NewSchool04 · 05/30/2007, 10:31 PM

Yeah, that sounds tough as far as cleaning it but I bet something got between the bulkhead and glass and caused the leak. Some people silicone their bulkheads in but if anything goes wrong with that, you're done.
Try cutting one of those out reaching in to an overflow 29" deep!

squibley2 · 05/30/2007, 10:35 PM

If it is dry and you can let it set without water silicon should work. Could you get a pick of the situation and we might be able to come up with something else for you.

mbunaman · 05/31/2007, 10:47 AM

Bulkheads are not meant to be siliconed. Many people do it here but that is not the way they are designed. The gasket works fine if it has the right amount of tensional force applied. If the gasket or the glass is not clean then you wont have a tight seal. The cheaper bulkheads are poorly made. I only use Hayward bulkheads when I can. Unfourtantely they dont fit in standard sized drilled holes. If you have problems tightening it use a strap wrench. It is usually made out of a rubber or fabric strap and wrap it around the bulkhead nut and tighten.

Napervegas · 05/31/2007, 08:23 PM

Thats why I go overflow j tube box... Just kidding.

The "gasket" on the inside or outside of the tank. If its on the inside, just put like an inch tall of silicone in there ,it comes near the caulk at hd' etc. Or find some really long needle nose vice grips maybe.

anjhof · 05/31/2007, 09:41 PM

I managed to cut out a larger area of the plywood, without hitting the glass bottom thank God! I now have access to tighten the bulkhead and I was able to turn it just a little - probably enough to allow a few drips a minute. I think I will silicone the inside of the overflow bulk head area tomorrow and fire up the system tomorrow night. Thanks for all the advice so far.

05/30/2007, 09:08 PM	#1
anjhof Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 746	Leaky seal on my overflow I moved around my return tubes for my overflow today and noticed a slight leak coming from the hole in the bottom of the overflow. I believe the leak is coming from the bulkhead being a little loose on the inside of the overflow. Could I just silicone around the bulkhead to stop the leak? I have very poor access to tightening up the bulk head (due to some poor planning), but if I have to cut my plywood under the tank, I will.

05/30/2007, 10:13 PM	#2
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	You can't silicone it when it's leaking, you need to fix the problem. Try tightening the bulkhead, you should be able to get something in there to give it a slight twist. If this doesn't work, you need to drain the overflow, loosen the bulkhead and clean around it making sure that where the bulkhead connects with the glass is totally clean of debri. Tighten it back up and poor some water in to see if it leaks and then start it up! I've heard of bristle worms getting between bulkheads and glass causing leaking so it's not an unusual thing to happen. I had to do it a couple of times on my old tank, same problem with the plywood bottom also! __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/30/2007, 10:31 PM	#4
NewSchool04 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Go Bears! Posts: 7,629	Yeah, that sounds tough as far as cleaning it but I bet something got between the bulkhead and glass and caused the leak. Some people silicone their bulkheads in but if anything goes wrong with that, you're done. Try cutting one of those out reaching in to an overflow 29" deep! __________________ 180 w/ Tek 8 bulb T5 fixture 2 6105 Tunze w/ 7095 controller Tunze Wave Box

05/30/2007, 10:35 PM	#5
squibley2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs Posts: 644	If it is dry and you can let it set without water silicon should work. Could you get a pick of the situation and we might be able to come up with something else for you. __________________ Golden Rule 7,468,102: Good things take time and bad things happen 10 mins ago. Current Tank Info: 90G Reef

05/31/2007, 08:23 PM	#7
Napervegas Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Naperville Posts: 225	Thats why I go overflow j tube box... Just kidding. The "gasket" on the inside or outside of the tank. If its on the inside, just put like an inch tall of silicone in there ,it comes near the caulk at hd' etc. Or find some really long needle nose vice grips maybe. __________________ Caution, driver does not carry any corals or inverts...just cash... Current Tank Info: 90 G mixed reef

05/30/2007, 10:22 PM	#3
anjhof Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 746	Thanks. I did drain the overflow. I really hate dealing with a 29" high tank. Even simple things like this are a pain in the arse.

05/31/2007, 10:47 AM	#6
mbunaman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chicago,IL Posts: 1,031	Bulkheads are not meant to be siliconed. Many people do it here but that is not the way they are designed. The gasket works fine if it has the right amount of tensional force applied. If the gasket or the glass is not clean then you wont have a tight seal. The cheaper bulkheads are poorly made. I only use Hayward bulkheads when I can. Unfourtantely they dont fit in standard sized drilled holes. If you have problems tightening it use a strap wrench. It is usually made out of a rubber or fabric strap and wrap it around the bulkhead nut and tighten.

05/31/2007, 09:41 PM	#8
anjhof Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Huntley, IL Posts: 746	I managed to cut out a larger area of the plywood, without hitting the glass bottom thank God! I now have access to tighten the bulkhead and I was able to turn it just a little - probably enough to allow a few drips a minute. I think I will silicone the inside of the overflow bulk head area tomorrow and fire up the system tomorrow night. Thanks for all the advice so far.