PVC leaks.... need advice

[fishfreak1242]

So I just finished building my DIY fuge, i put some LS and LR rubble in there. It was running fine for about a week and now I found that one of my PVC connections is leaking. I cant take it apart now because all of it is glued with PVC cement and it will be almost impossible to take it down without destroying the tank or the pipe. This is for an undrilled 55 gal DT and 20 gal fuge. Does anyone have any advice on how I can stop the leaks temporarly?

 

[ameno]

I ran into that nightmare when I plumbed my 125, learn to use lots of glue on anything over 1" dia. and glue both fittings.
Anyway to answer your question, I was able to fix a few leaks by adding glue to the outside of the fittings, make sure the fitting is dry and put glue all around the joint so it can seap down onto it, let it dry and add some more to be sure you get a good coat in the leak. That worked for me on a few of the small leaks.
Good Luck.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by ameno
http:///forum/post/2578333
I ran into that nightmare when I plumbed my 125, learn to use lots of glue on anything over 1" dia. and glue both fittings.
Anyway to answer your question, I was able to fix a few leaks by adding glue to the outside of the fittings, make sure the fitting is dry and put glue all around the joint so it can seap down onto it, let it dry and add some more to be sure you get a good coat in the leak. That worked for me on a few of the small leaks.
Good Luck.
Thanks. I think that im going to try that later tonight and see how it turns out.

 

[ameno]

Hope it works

Just be sure and give it plenty of time to dry before running water thru it.
At least a couple of hours.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by ameno
http:///forum/post/2578333
I ran into that nightmare when I plumbed my 125, learn to use lots of glue on anything over 1" dia. and glue both fittings.
Anyway to answer your question, I was able to fix a few leaks by adding glue to the outside of the fittings, make sure the fitting is dry and put glue all around the joint so it can seap down onto it, let it dry and add some more to be sure you get a good coat in the leak. That worked for me on a few of the small leaks.
Good Luck.

Done this too. Another thing you can keep in mind is that if the leak isn't big and you can temporarily deal with it (like with a bucket underneath or something) over a little time the salt creep is going to build up and plug the leak.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by m0nk
http:///forum/post/2578378

Done this too. Another thing you can keep in mind is that if the leak isn't big and you can temporarily deal with it (like with a bucket underneath or something) over a little time the salt creep is going to build up and plug the leak.
This might sound like a noob kinda question but what salt creep?

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by fishfreak1242
http:///forum/post/2578385
This might sound like a noob kinda question but what salt creep?
As water evaporates, salt is left behind. This is referred to as salt creep. You'll usually find it along the top of your tank, but now that you have a fuge you'll experience it on a whole new level.

But the way it works is over time, as the leaking water evaporates and salt is left behind, it gets harder and harder and will eventually plug the leak.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by m0nk
http:///forum/post/2578394
As water evaporates, salt is left behind. This is referred to as salt creep. You'll usually find it along the top of your tank, but now that you have a fuge you'll experience it on a whole new level.

But the way it works is over time, as the leaking water evaporates and salt is left behind, it gets harder and harder and will eventually plug the leak.
Ohhhh ok. That makes sense.