Leaking Rubbermaid Stock Tank

RockyProndoa · 05/26/2020, 06:34 PM

As the title suggests, I have been running a 100 gallon stock tank for roughly the last 4-5 years. Unfortunately, the bulkhead has developed a slight leak (see pic). I've tried tightening it slightly, which hasn't helped, so after reading quite a few posts regarding this topic, I guess I'm stuck replacing it.

My problem is this will require me to drain the entire sump, take it offline, and install a new bulkhead. I don't really have an efficient way to drain it other than siphon the water out with a Python, at which case all of my live rock and chaeto will sit exposed to the air while I make the fix. How detrimental will this be? Should I silicone the new bulkhead in place as well? If so, that would require an additional 24 hours to cure that I really can't afford. Is there an idea to fix it in place underwater? (I've thought about doing a 'quick' pull the old one out put the new one, but I just know that a massive amount of water will come out in that short minute and/or I won't get a good seal and will end up with 75 gallons of water on my floor!)

Any ideas appreciated!

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zoanutty · 05/26/2020, 08:36 PM

Why not use a pump to pump out the water into a brute or any other large container (solely for aquarium use), and place chaeto in there while you fix the leaky bulkhead in the sump? Btw, check there isn’t any sand caught in the bulkhead seal, because that alone will cause a leak.

RockyProndoa · 05/26/2020, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoanutty

Why not use a pump to pump out the water into a brute or any other large container (solely for aquarium use), and place chaeto in there while you fix the leaky bulkhead in the sump? Btw, check there isn’t any sand caught in the bulkhead seal, because that alone will cause a leak.

Yeah, I did assume to pump what I could into another container and put the live rock and chaeto in there while I make the repair. It's just a lot of work and hopefully not too rough on the system.

As for the sand, either way I have to take the bulkhead apart, so I might as well replace it at that point.

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05/26/2020, 06:34 PM	#1
RockyProndoa Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 204	Leaking Rubbermaid Stock Tank As the title suggests, I have been running a 100 gallon stock tank for roughly the last 4-5 years. Unfortunately, the bulkhead has developed a slight leak (see pic). I've tried tightening it slightly, which hasn't helped, so after reading quite a few posts regarding this topic, I guess I'm stuck replacing it. My problem is this will require me to drain the entire sump, take it offline, and install a new bulkhead. I don't really have an efficient way to drain it other than siphon the water out with a Python, at which case all of my live rock and chaeto will sit exposed to the air while I make the fix. How detrimental will this be? Should I silicone the new bulkhead in place as well? If so, that would require an additional 24 hours to cure that I really can't afford. Is there an idea to fix it in place underwater? (I've thought about doing a 'quick' pull the old one out put the new one, but I just know that a massive amount of water will come out in that short minute and/or I won't get a good seal and will end up with 75 gallons of water on my floor!) Any ideas appreciated! Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

05/26/2020, 08:36 PM	#2
zoanutty Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 275	Why not use a pump to pump out the water into a brute or any other large container (solely for aquarium use), and place chaeto in there while you fix the leaky bulkhead in the sump? Btw, check there isn’t any sand caught in the bulkhead seal, because that alone will cause a leak.