Leaking Sump/Fuge

Good morning everyone,

I've been working on sealing the joints up on my 29G sump/fuge but can't seem to eliminate two small, pinhole type leaks. These are VERY small leaks whereby small drips of water slowly drip from one chamber to another. What kind of effects will this have on my build if I can't get them sealed up. I gotta think this is no big deal/somewhat common?

The perfectionist in me is DYING here... Please help. I'm tired of re-sealing and waiting 24 hours. It's been 4 days!!!

Regards,

Pac

 

If it's just between chambers it shouldn't be a big deal, after all the water is just gonna end up there anyway.

 

K+!

So far, I'm happy as to what I'm hearing!

Pac

 

I just recently built a sump/fuge and left some leaks between chambers. i don't think it will be a problem as long as sand/mud from the fuge can't escape.

 

No problem at all between chambers

 

Thanks a ton guys! Looks like I can start filling the sump w/ RO/DI and hopefully get everything pumping today to start the cycle!

K+ to all!

Regards,

Pac

 

wont cause a problem, you also gotta think that when you fill the chambers one by one for a leak check there is a lot more pressure on the full side of the glass then the empty. when your sump is in use most of the dividers will have similar pressures, so might not even "leak" at all

 

just thought about something. noticed its a fuge as well. a leak wont hurt anything but you want to make sure that if you have a section with sand in it that those supporting dividers are secured very well. dont want them to collapse shredding your pump or skimmer.

 

I just recently set mine up as well. Had to resilicone a few of the baffles to get it right, but I do have a pinhole of water that takes a few hours for it to even get enough noticeable water so I left it. Its in the baffling for reduction of microbubbles anyhow so I didnt care.

Like others have said, the baffle between the fuge and the other chamber should be 100%. If that gives, and you have 6" of sand in there, you'll have a dead pump for sure.

 

I would say just make sure you walls are secure I have but together a 27g custom sump/refuge and I also had a small leak. With the pressure from my intake it only lasted 3 days for the wall to knocked down the wall. Now I have the nasty task of draining the sump part to put the wall back up. I am luck in the way the wall fell, water is leaking into the refuge part and not the other way around. Not sure if it is from the leak or a flaw in the design.

good luck.