Welcome to BAR - the Bay Area's premier saltwater hobbyists hub!

Nhan’s 140g

Neptune Aquatics
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
1,422
BTW…I had returned several tanks with this exact same issue to CDA in the early years. Hopefully this is not one of them that he resold without repairing it.
I was your first few customers when you order the first few batch of CDAa tank 9-10year ago. At the time CDA workmanship is not good. This new tank sure not from those early batch because the double Euro brace on top and bottom, also CDA does not have the starboard inside and outside back then.
 
Neptune Aquatics
LFS Owner
Joined
Dec 28, 2007
Messages
2,451
I was your first few customers when you order the first few batch of CDAa tank 9-10year ago. At the time CDA workmanship is not good. This new tank sure not from those early batch because the double Euro brace on top and bottom, also CDA does not have the starboard inside and outside back then.
Took him a long time to finally learn to build the tanks properly but because he ran into a bad batch of builds because the silicone mfg. changed their formula without his knowledge, he got sued out of business. Now, everyone have one less choice on the west coast for tank builders…lol. This is not an easy industry to be in.
 
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
1,422
Last night I fill the tank up and pay attention to the overflow again, I noticed 3 small bubble where it leak, other than that the tank is fine.
I run it for an hrs and check again, I don’t see any leak on the tank beside the overflow.
I power off a few times to make sure the sump can hold up and doesn’t overflow when power out stage, I make adjustments on the gate vale of the main siphon to make it silent.

While drain water out, I notice a tiny wet on one of the thread fitting.
 
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
1,422
Today, after wiped down the tank, I apply some Momentive RTV103 silicone to the area where it leak from inside the overflow . I understand it may not work this way but let see after cx

I tighten up the fitting where I saw it wet. Also raise up the main siphon pipe.
 
Past President
Joined
Mar 26, 2010
Messages
18,870
One other option, but also likely not worth it, you could remove the overflow box and install and exterior one. Would have to use or cap the existing holes in the bottom tho
 
Vice President
BOD
Joined
May 24, 2022
Messages
5,254
Took him a long time to finally learn to build the tanks properly but because he ran into a bad batch of builds because the silicone mfg. changed their formula without his knowledge, he got sued out of business. Now, everyone have one less choice on the west coast for tank builders…lol. This is not an easy industry to be in.
Jeff Turner that runs RAD in Florida always has videos about his builds on YouTube and the one thing he blurs out is the silicone manufacturer/type. Cost is low overall compared to the price of the tank but it's such a key component and obviously a trade secret for the good ones.
 
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
1,422
One other option, but also likely not worth it, you could remove the overflow box and install and exterior one. Would have to use or cap the existing holes in the bottom tho
Thanks for the idea but it too much work for me at this point.
 
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2013
Messages
1,422
Is the overflow siliconed on the inside of it, the outside, or both?

Maybe possible to put a thick bead on the non siliconed side? Cutting it out on a brand new tank seems like it'd be extremely frustrating.

Another hack option, cut a piece of PVC into a third and silicone it around that corner on the inside? Might be a huge pita to do, and might lead to weird stagnant water. However if done with a narrow pipe maybe you could fill the whole thing with silicone?

The slip bulkhead idea seems like the bestest idea.

I personally would probably take the lazy route, use it as is, do a test fit and confirm no drips. Then when the power goes out during the summer windstorms I'd be scrambling to deal with a flooded living room and coral sitting in the air.

Can you charge back an out of business company?
The overflow is smoke glass. They siliconed it in the edge like standard tank, there isn’t any on inside or outside. There is some silicon in the inside bottom where the overflow meets the bottom glass, this is where I found the leak.
 
Top