steveoutlaw November 28, 2009 November 28, 2009 I had a sump made for me by someone in CMAS. Unfortunatly one of the seams has started leaking. What can I do about this? Would silicone do it or do I need to get a type of weld-on to repair it? Please help......I just got this freakin thing set up and now I have a leak. TIA.
davelin315 November 28, 2009 November 28, 2009 Silicone won't do squat on it. You have to drain it and empty it out and then put some weld-on on it and also do a patch. From what I understand, if it's already been bonded once, it degrades the acrylic a bit and makes it harder to get it right again. I would let some of the weld-on get into the seam and then clamp it as well as take the opportunity to put a patch across it to strengthen it. If it's splitting from pressure, you may want to brace it inside and outside (a patch that spans the seam will act as a brace) or possibly add a brace to the top. Got a picture of where the leak is?
steveoutlaw November 28, 2009 Author November 28, 2009 Silicone won't do squat on it. You have to drain it and empty it out and then put some weld-on on it and also do a patch. From what I understand, if it's already been bonded once, it degrades the acrylic a bit and makes it harder to get it right again. I would let some of the weld-on get into the seam and then clamp it as well as take the opportunity to put a patch across it to strengthen it. If it's splitting from pressure, you may want to brace it inside and outside (a patch that spans the seam will act as a brace) or possibly add a brace to the top. Got a picture of where the leak is? I isn't from pressure, the sump is only 6" wide and only has 10" of water in it. Is there a type of weldon that can be used to bead along the bottom corners to seal it? It's hard to figure out exactly where the leak is. I know it's not on any of the vertical seams because I can see and feel all of those. So it has to be coming from the bottom seam somethere. I thought it was only the corner but I don't know where it's coming from now. I guess this is what I get for getting a sump built on the cheap.
jason the filter freak November 28, 2009 November 28, 2009 *samething happened to tina and I with the sump on the 75 gal system. you need to put thin weldon into the seam that is leaking with a needle tip applicator bottle
steveoutlaw November 29, 2009 Author November 29, 2009 Ok, are we talking weldon 16 in the tube applicator?
jason the filter freak November 29, 2009 November 29, 2009 4 is for seams, 16 is gap filling, for a thin line like a seam coming apart but isnt busted due to being droped and cracked you want 4
NAGA November 30, 2009 November 30, 2009 Steve, are you sure it's acrylic? I know of someone on CMAS that builds stuff but, he uses Lexan (a polycarbonate) not acrylic. This material does not bond up as well to begin with even for the experienced fabricator. I'd find out for sure whether it's that same guy and if it's Lexan I'd take it back to him and have him fix it. Did you buy it new or used?
steveoutlaw November 30, 2009 Author November 30, 2009 Steve, are you sure it's acrylic? I know of someone on CMAS that builds stuff but, he uses Lexan (a polycarbonate) not acrylic. This material does not bond up as well to begin with even for the experienced fabricator. I'd find out for sure whether it's that same guy and if it's Lexan I'd take it back to him and have him fix it. Did you buy it new or used? I bought it new. I will send him an e-mail and find out if it is acrylic or lexan.
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