Need help quick please - Calcium Reactor leaking behind uniseal.

jay24k · #1 06/08/2007, 09:59 PM

Anyone have any idea what I can do to fix it. My eheim pumps water into the side of the chamber which has a uniseal on it. Behind it is a slight leak. Is there something you seal it with or exactly how does it work?

tkeracer619 · #2 06/08/2007, 10:01 PM

I would pull the uni-seal out, clean everything, and try again. The seal might not be seated properly.

dandy7200 · #3 06/08/2007, 10:08 PM

I would get a new uniseal ordered and turn off the reactor for the time being. The pressure will only build and the leak will get worse. What brand of reactor is it? How old?

jay24k · #4 06/08/2007, 10:23 PM

Aquatic Systems Design. It's about a year and 3 months. I just filled some new media in. I drained it and looked at the uniseal. It looks still pretty good. I guess I will try to reput it back in. Any tricks to get a good seal?

jay24k · #5 06/08/2007, 10:35 PM

Cleaned the rubber and pipe with vinegar. Pushed the pipe back in and put water in the chamber to test. It still leaks. So I take it I need to now go buy a new uniseal?

xtrstangx · #6 06/08/2007, 10:37 PM

Buy a new one, they are cheap.

jay24k · #7 06/08/2007, 10:45 PM

Thanks. I guess I'll call around. Got a feeling I'm going to have to wait till Monday to get this reactor going. What a PITA

I was doing a search on here and saw someone said they always used silicone on the inside of the rubber and never had a leak. Is that a bad practice? I was thinking it would probably be due to silicone not adhering to rubber and plastic well.

Do local hardware stores carry uniseals or is that an aquaticeco thing? Closes one is 45 minutes away.

dandy7200 · #8 06/08/2007, 11:03 PM

I put uniseals in the microwave for about 5 seconds to soften them and use silicone spray lubricant on the pipe. Works pretty good but if you leave it in the microwave too long they get toasted. Doubt you will find them at a hardware store, so your probably out of luck until at least Wednesday about the time UPS shows up

jay24k · #9 06/09/2007, 12:44 AM

yea. aquaticeco has them and they are 45 minutes away. By the time I drive there and back, I could have them shipped. But I hate to have my reactor down for a few days. I go through so much calcium/alk it is crazy.