Biocube 29 Leak Questions

[aparrado]

I was wondering if anyone with a Biocube 29 or any other Biocube has encountered this.
I bought the tank ~ 1 month ago and a few weeks ago it started making a loud running water noise. I investigated the source and found that it appeared to be water dripping through the rear 3rd chamber. It runs down the side of the wall and you can see it run through the water indicator level window. I am unsure of its source but I assume it to be coming from the main tank. I think it is throwing my entire water level readings off as it is constantly out of whack.
I don't think its leaking from the second chamber it just appears out from about the water indicator window. Luckily it isn't leaking outside the tank but I would really like to figure out a possible fix if at all possible to stop the noise - its super loud and annoying, kind of like a light running faucet.
Please help.

 

[spanko]

Hard to understand what you are saying.
So you look through the site glass into the 3rd chamber and you can see water running down a wall correct?
If so which wall is it running down, the wall between the 2nd and 3rd chamber, or the wall between the display and the 3rd chamber?

 

[aparrado]

So this is what happened... a week or so into having the biocube I started hearing a loud dripping noise like a lightly running faucet...
I looked into the rear chambers to see where the noise was coming from and noticed in the 3rd chamber (with the pump) that there was a stream of water running down the wall (the same wall as the window for the water level indicator) and it appears to drip off from the metal bar that is just above the maximum fill like. It just seems to pour into that chamber from there and from an unknown source.
So if I look into the water indicator window from the outside I see water dripping down the window from that metal bar above the max fill line and it streams down the window. Accompanying this is a light faucet stream sound.
Hope that makes sense.

 

[spanko]

Frst off I don't believe that is a metal bar but a plastic ridge, I am not at home to look right now but there should be no metal in the tank.
If the water is rinning along that ridge then I would guess there is a seal problem betwee the wall that separates the display from the 3rd chamber, or perhaps in the pump hose where it attaches to the bulkhead.
I would look at the hose first. The hose has a small pc. of rigid plastic inside that is the coupling from the hose to the right angle connection to the wall. If that is not centered between the hose and the right angle bulkhead then water will squirt out of it. This might be shooting water to the side of the chamber and running down the wall that you are seeing. Take the hose off the connection to the bulkhead and check to see that enough of the coupling is in both the hose and the right angle bulkead so there is not a lead there.
If that is correct I would next empty some of the water from the tank and watch to see if the water running into the chamber stops. Take out enough of the tank water to get the tank level below that ridge that you are calling a metal strip. If it stops then you probably need to reseal the wall between the display and the rear chamber.
Do the pump hose thing first as that would be the quickest and easiest fix.
If it turns out to be neither of those then we need to think about this more.

 

[aparrado]

Thanks. I will look into this tonight and will see if I can snap a picture or two of the problem.

 

[chaseter]

I would call Oceanic or the store you bought it from to get a replacement before the warranty runs out.

 

[engebrets]

aparrado,
Crazy! I just discovered tonight, the exact problem with my new Biocube 29. I also puchased mine about 1 month ago and the 3 chamber has started leaking near the level indicator. I did try removing the pump hose and that was not the problem. The strange thing is that when I press on the black plastic in that area from the outside the flow is reduced. Additionally, some slight pressure on the glass in that area also reduces the flow of the leak. I would bet it's a seal problem which spanko mentioned. I may drain the water and see if some aquarium safe silicone will fix it. Although getting a replacement is probably a better idea. Not happy about it!
Future problems is my major concern so I will try to contact Oceanic.
I will post if I find anything out.
Thanks

 

[aparrado]

I got my digicam out and attempted to take pictures of the leak. Here's what I was able to capture.
You will notice the stream of water coming into the tank on the side from inside the plastic window cutout so it doesn't actually run down the wall so much as it is just spewing out from that plastic window compartment.
It sounds like you and me have the same problem engebrets. Lets see if we can resolve it. I played with the hose to no success.
Tell me if these pictures tell you guys anything and give you any ideas of what I may need to seal.

 

[spanko]

At this point I would send these pictures to the manufacturer or the place where you bought the tank and ask for a new one.

 

[aparrado]

Yeah it still kind of bothers me though - I would love to know the source of the leak and I think I'm going to lower the water level this weekend to get a better idea of what is going on.

 

[engebrets]

aparrado,
I drained my biocube tonight and found that the silicone along the seam (at the tank side of the divider wall) was just really thin, also the top of the back divider wall (top of the 3rd chamber) was not solid. I could move the top of the wall about 1/4". What did is cut a chunk of plastic coat hanger to fit behind the rear wall and the divider wall (I know... I'm a redneck) just at the ledge above the water level window. Filled it back up and no leaks! Now what I am going to do is put some extra silicone along that seam once I let it dry out. Let me know if this made sense. I will provide photos if needed.
Still burns me that this happened, but what can you do? I think it would have been a bigger pain trying to get it replaced. O-well.

 

[engebrets]

I used your photo to explain.

 

[cwing]

I can't believe my luck. I have the same problem. A couple of days after setting it up I heard a loud bubbling in the pump chamber, and could see air bubbles in the water level indicator window. When I applied pressure on the main tank partition it stopped. I ended up cutting a small piece of plexiglass just about 2/16 inch oversized and placed it against the water level window side of the chamber near the top and that took care of my problem. Should have just called Oceanic but I didn't. It been a month now and no problem since.