Tank mystery leak (emergency)

[Xanthurum]

You need to move your return lines. In your picture they appear to be a couple inches below the teeth on your overflow box. Return lines, especially on larger tanks need to be near the water surface or at least about the same level as the overflow teeth. When pumps are off they will back siphon and with them that far below the overflow teeth in a 220 you could easily overflow the sump to the tune of 20 gallons or so. You mentioned that the lines were out of the water but that’s only because they had already drained a bunch of water. The water level in that picture is right at the return lines.

If your closed loop is leaking then that is a separate issue but to me it looks like your main culprit is the return lines being too low.

 

[LiLinka]

So many pumps for closed loop. I wonder if it’s worth it overall. How do you prevent over flow if power shuts off ?

It’s only 1 pump for the closed loop. I don’t get how so many people don’t understand the design lol.

 

[LiLinka]

You need to move your return lines. In your picture they appear to be a couple inches below the teeth on your overflow box. Return lines, especially on larger tanks need to be near the water surface or at least about the same level as the overflow teeth. When pumps are off they will back siphon and with them that far below the overflow teeth in a 220 you could easily overflow the sump to the tune of 20 gallons or so. You mentioned that the lines were out of the water but that’s only because they had already drained a bunch of water. The water level in that picture is right at the return lines.

If your closed loop is leaking then that is a separate issue but to me it looks like your main culprit is the return lines being too low.

Thank you I will extend the return lines to the same level of the water. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[sc50964]

It’s only 1 pump for the closed loop. I don’t get how so many people don’t u feet sand the design lol.

Suspect most ppl hate doing plumbing…, ur special!

 

[Jamie814]

Closed loops have no effect on the sump level when running or during a power outage.

 

[Jamie814]

You need to move your return lines. In your picture they appear to be a couple inches below the teeth on your overflow box. Return lines, especially on larger tanks need to be near the water surface or at least about the same level as the overflow teeth. When pumps are off they will back siphon and with them that far below the overflow teeth in a 220 you could easily overflow the sump to the tune of 20 gallons or so. You mentioned that the lines were out of the water but that’s only because they had already drained a bunch of water. The water level in that picture is right at the return lines.

If your closed loop is leaking then that is a separate issue but to me it looks like your main culprit is the return lines being too low.

Those aren't return lines according to the OP those are the closed loop returns. Which will have no effect on the water level during a power outage.

 

[LiLinka]

Those aren't return lines according to the OP those are the closed loop returns. Which will have no effect on the water level during a power outage.

The way it’s set up is it sucks water in through a bulkhead on the side of the overflow box. It’s then hard plumbed through the overflow box down directly into the Vectra and pumped back in . Not the leak is the bulkhead was not sitting completely flush on the side of the overflow box allowing a small stream of water to swap through into the box. And causing the water to run down into the sump and the reef mat. Here is a pic of the leaking component.

 

[Adamc13o3]

It’s only 1 pump for the closed loop. I don’t get how so many people don’t understand the design lol.

It was initially confusing, but once you said that its running on the pump which sits on a shelf its was pretty obvious that its a closed loop. All of these comments and questions on "how is this a closed loop" are simply from people not reading the entire thread. Your plumbing looks great! Looking at your plumbing, I am sure you already knows this. Besides the check valves a simple method that I always use on return lines is to drill a small hole on the bottom of the lock line or return elbow. When the water drains the hole is exposed and the air beaks the siphon. You can also just use the VCA Random Flow Generators, penductors or eductors (depending on your pump). They will increase and or randomize your flow and also have the siphon break as they are designed with holes.

 

[sc50964]

2 of them are sucking water form sump acting as the returns. There is 1 Vectra plumbed in the middle which I suspect is leaking so I turned off the ball valve on it. That one is plumbed in line

I was confused by this part bc there appears to be 3 pumps and they are all in the sump. I do admit that I’ve never paid much attention to the necessary and complex plumbing in a reef that has both open and closed loops.

 

[sc50964]

There is a total of 3 Vectra, 2 of them are open and sucking water from the sump, they are acting as returns. The third one is a closed loop in the middle image is sits on a shelf.

Sorry. I missed this msg lol, and I think a prior note that the 3rd is plumbed in-line is also another clue. Just couldn’t see there was a shelf from the pix.

 

[LiLinka]

All good everyone thanks for the help!

 

[sc50964]

All good everyone thanks for the help!

Sorry I didn’t help

 

[salty joe]

I use both - gasket and silicone because I'm paranoid.
A tip I learned the hard way is that little strands of black silicone can look like a crack - so use the clear stuff!

A lot of people say never use silicone with bulkheads, but I do. The trick is, especially if you have an uneven surface is to let the silicone cure before snugging up the bulkhead. In fact, if you tighten a bulkhead with uncured silicone, the silicone acts like grease and the gasket can be made to slide to one side. I apply the silicone, just barely hand tighten and allow the excess silicone to squish out. I let it cure at least a day before snugging things up.