Cracked my sump!!!!!!!

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newbeereef

Guest
I accidently put a crack around the bulkhead in my 30 gllaon sump. the crank is about 4 inches long and goes though the bulkhead hole. What a stupid mistake. I dont mind buying a new tank but the problem is how to get it into the cabinet. I had to drop it in from the top and thats pretty much impossible now. The display tank is a 125 and I just set it up yesterday. Do you think I can take off one of the side braces in the back of the cabinet?
I drained the sump and put a patch of silicone on both sides of the crack last night. Its one of those cracks thats you can't feel if you rub your finger along it. I think I'll test it out tonight and see if it leaks before ripping everything apart. Damn!!!!!!
 
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newbeereef

Guest
This is pretty much what it looks like.
BTW, the water level in the sump will be at the middle of the bulkhead. There shouldn't be too much pressure on the crack right?
 
tony detroit

tony detroit

Active Member
You can go to home depot and get Marine Goop Gel Glue. I have used this before, on plumbing mishaps just keep in mind once it is on it is not coming off. Try to keep the area you apply it dry, give it a day to cure, run the tank off an airstone and powerheads in the meantime. It may work, it may not, but it will be much easier than taking the tank down, etc. Try putting it on with a small brush so you really get it in the cracks, maybe even make 2 applications.
Or you could just buy a new sump.
You could also cut out the area that cracked and install a bigger bulkhead like a 3'' bulkhead and then reduce it down to whatever size you need.
If the sump is acrylic, you can also get a sheet of acrylic cut to cover the hole and use acrylic weld on glue to just patch a piece of new acrylic over the crack and bulkhead area.
 
sly

sly

Active Member
If the sump is glass then you can just buy some 100% silicone sealant. Smear the silicone all around the crack on both sides and make sure you don't get any air bubbles in it. Let it dry for about 2 or 3 hours and you should be fine.
If it's acrylic, then you can just super glue around the area on both sides.
 
evilss

evilss

Member
i had a cracked acrylic overflow. the crack was most of the way down the back. i got it like that when i ordered it. i got a new one sent to me but though y not try to fix the old one. cant hurt to have an extra. i used thin acrylic glue. it seaped into the crack and has never leaked a drop. it fused the acrulic together very tight. i would suggest that before removing any part of your stand. thats a problem waiting to happen.
 
mpls man

mpls man

Active Member
you can use the Marine Goop and heat it up with a hair dryer if you have 1 , i did this on some plumbing to the sump and it works great, ran water through it in less than 1 hour. by heating it up it cures the outer layer faster.
 
S

scott6321

Guest
I just thought I'd add that I add a 1/4 patch to a 30gal. tank by adding a peice of plexi and som silicon it has to be running over a year now with no probs. 1/4 tank that is about 6in. long 11 or so wide just a thought
 
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