Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 34

Thread: Got a leak !

  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194

    Got a leak !

    My wife pointed out some water which was running down the side of the pond a couple of weeks ago, initially i thought it was where i had played with the overflow in the skimmer box and some water had splashed and run down the wall but after closer inspection i found a hole beneath the skimmer box itself, the hole is big enough to get my finger tip into but gets smaller the further back you go, i was going to seal the hole externally but there must be a leak somewhere around the skimmer box and over time it has pushed its way through and made this hole which no doubt has got bigger over time, its nothing major but needs to be properly repaired, on Monday Adam (local pond builder / pond doctor) is coming round with his wet suit so he will seal the skimmer box from the inside, once were happy its done the trick will then seal the external hole.... slightly concerned that water has managed to find a way through the blockwork and render, will know more once Adam has had a good look, assuming / hoping its a leak between plastic skimmer box and blockwork and nothing involving the fiberglass....... assume goldseal or MS can be applied wet/underwater and will cure ?


    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  2. Thanks davethefish1, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  3. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion samp09's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Suffolk
    Posts
    3,339
    Thanks / Likes
    6780
    CT1 cures under water as well

  4. Thanks smartin, john1, RS2OOO Thanked / Liked this Post
  5. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Quote Originally Posted by samp09 View Post
    CT1 cures under water as well
    thanks Sam...
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  6. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  7. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Bedworth
    Posts
    5,952
    Thanks / Likes
    11902
    nightmare mate

    but yeah CT1, gold fable, any MS polymer modified sealant should cure underwater...

    hope you get it sorted.

  8. Thanks smartin, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  9. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,196
    Thanks / Likes
    21092
    That's 2 leaks around skimmers in a week as john1 has the same

    starting to be glad I don't have one .

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  10. Thanks smartin, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  11. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Bedworth
    Posts
    5,952
    Thanks / Likes
    11902
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    That's 2 leaks around skimmers in a week as john1 has the same

    starting to be glad I don't have one .

    Sent from my SM-G973F using Tapatalk
    If the PVC welded ones.
    I think part of the problem is the way most are welded.
    Corner filled is a weak joint,
    Chamfered and lapped is much stronger.

    Plus if i was welding mine from scratch now I'd make it out of black 9mm polypropylene not Grey PVC as it is brittle.

  12. Thanks Ajm, samp09, john1, RS2OOO Thanked / Liked this Post
  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Quote Originally Posted by davethefish1 View Post
    If the PVC welded ones.
    I think part of the problem is the way most are welded.
    Corner filled is a weak joint,
    Chamfered and lapped is much stronger.

    Plus if i was welding mine from scratch now I'd make it out of black 9mm polypropylene not Grey PVC as it is brittle.
    I dont think my skimmer box has failed itself, i think the water has found a way along the top of the skimmer box and down the side and out the bottom, physically just under the box itself, i guess its not been very well sealed in by the pond builder - just another mistake
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  14. Thanks john1, davethefish1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  15. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,681
    Thanks / Likes
    15206
    Had similar Steve, noticed pond had dropped nearly 3ins and held there so think it was where the fiberglass went onto the skimmer plastic.

    Drained down a bit more dried off and used pu18 as I had that then left for 36hrs and topped up.
    Keeping my fingers crossed now as if it was a leak on the bottom of the pond I would throw the towel in.

    Should be fine mate.
    John

  16. Thanks davethefish1, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  17. #9
    Broken aqua forte 20000 vari and a leaky skimmer here

    thought i might as well drain the pond down to below the skimmer so i can re seal it at some point, taken the underwater returns pump off so i can keep the shower running. cant remember what the error was on the pump but i gave the insides a clean and tried it out, its working but gets up to the setting its on and cuts out then starts again

  18. Thanks smartin, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  19. #10
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,681
    Thanks / Likes
    15206
    Seems we are getting leaking skimmers this year.
    John

  20. Thanks smartin, Ajm, RS2OOO Thanked / Liked this Post
  21. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Quote Originally Posted by sephuk View Post
    Broken aqua forte 20000 vari and a leaky skimmer here

    thought i might as well drain the pond down to below the skimmer so i can re seal it at some point, taken the underwater returns pump off so i can keep the shower running. cant remember what the error was on the pump but i gave the insides a clean and tried it out, its working but gets up to the setting its on and cuts out then starts again
    Hi Sephuk,
    going to drain down below the skimmer too in the morning and get the whole skimmer box completely re sealed, i think since i have raised the water level it has caused this leak, i raised the overflow height to in turn raise the water level in the filter box to keep the jap matting fully submerged at all times as previously prior to a drum wash cycle the water level would drop exposing a good 2cm / 3cm of the matting, once wash complete the water level would rise but only just cover the jap matting - would seem the filter box was not put quite low enough when it was installed or overflow was too low.... another builder error
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  22. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  23. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    Had similar Steve, noticed pond had dropped nearly 3ins and held there so think it was where the fiberglass went onto the skimmer plastic.

    Drained down a bit more dried off and used pu18 as I had that then left for 36hrs and topped up.
    Keeping my fingers crossed now as if it was a leak on the bottom of the pond I would throw the towel in.

    Should be fine mate.
    Hi John,
    hope its ok now mate..... when did you top back up?
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  24. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  25. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Picture of leak, difficult to see the water seeping down the wall but its there constantly.... picture 3 shows the hole under the skimmer box, as you can see its not a great finish..... out of sight i did not notice this until recently..
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by smartin; 23-01-2022 at 06:14 PM.
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  26. Thanks Ajm, RS2OOO, davethefish1, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  27. #14
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,681
    Thanks / Likes
    15206
    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    Hi John,
    hope its ok now mate..... when did you top back up?
    Left it for about 1.5 days then topped up with sod thio and bicarb as I have low kh in the tap.

    See how it goes for a few days Steve.
    John

  28. Thanks Ajm, smartin Thanked / Liked this Post
  29. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Pond still leaking.....

    run out of ideas, sealed around the inner front, sides, screw holes, i have not sealed the hole under the skimmer box itself as i wanted to see if the sealant had done the trick, amazed its still leaking to be honest, should i seal the hole under the skimmer box do you think? it is only a very slight trickle certainly not enough to effect the pond level, i worry that if i seal this hole the water might travel else where ?
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  30. Thanks davethefish1, john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  31. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Bedworth
    Posts
    5,952
    Thanks / Likes
    11902
    Quote Originally Posted by smartin View Post
    Pond still leaking.....

    run out of ideas, sealed around the inner front, sides, screw holes, i have not sealed the hole under the skimmer box itself as i wanted to see if the sealant had done the trick, amazed its still leaking to be honest, should i seal the hole under the skimmer box do you think? it is only a very slight trickle certainly not enough to effect the pond level, i worry that if i seal this hole the water might travel else where ?
    fixing leaks is not the hard part... finding them is...
    can be damned frustrating sometimes.
    did you seal it with the skimmer full of water?

    might need to drain below the level of the skimmer to see if you can find where the leak is....
    possibly between the fibreglass and skimmer front plate?

  32. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  33. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion smartin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    2,461
    Thanks / Likes
    5194
    Hi Dave,
    yes pond was drained down below skimmer, fbg intact put sealant everywhere that you could get it into... taking the skimmer box out completely looks a real pain to do let alone trying to lift the coping tile above... think i will seal up the hole under the box and hope there is not pressure that will push the water out else where, no chance of the water within the block work freezing as water temp too warm...
    2200 gallons,infinity window,
    Evolve 4k combi,spindrifter,
    2x20k pumps, BD,Skimmer,
    Shower, ASHP

  34. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  35. #18
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    N.Wales.
    Posts
    8,681
    Thanks / Likes
    15206
    That's where mine was leaking,I think, the fiberglass had come away from the skimmer front plate on one side.
    I let it leak till it stopped going down then surveyed it,couldn't see much water to be honest but the middle of the block was damp so must be running down the inside.

    I would seal the hole Steve if you can as its elimination.
    John

  36. Thanks davethefish1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  37. #19
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion davethefish1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Bedworth
    Posts
    5,952
    Thanks / Likes
    11902
    Quote Originally Posted by john1 View Post
    That's where mine was leaking,I think, the fiberglass had come away from the skimmer front plate on one side.
    I let it leak till it stopped going down then surveyed it,couldn't see much water to be honest but the middle of the block was damp so must be running down the inside.

    I would seal the hole Steve if you can as its elimination.
    i've always thought a better bond for fibreglass would be a faceplate that screws on to the skimmer the same as a liner plate with sealant in between them,
    but made out of fibreglass... then when the pond was fibreglassed it would bond to it solid, no chance of it coming away from the fibreglass...

    it would work the same on bottom drains too....

  38. Thanks john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
  39. #20
    just a thought you guys that have already been out with sealant, ive just read on an old gold label i had that it should only be used above 10c, not sure about other sealants? Ive just drained down to under the skimmer and left it at that, the pond is covered so there nothing to skim really. in other news i was looking at another aqua forte pump and saw that they are new sine wave ones that are apparently cheaper to run, i spoke to aqua forte and the guy said that the old dm varios 20000 were cheaper to run but are discontinued !

  40. Thanks davethefish1, john1, RS2OOO Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:27 AM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.