Leak test

[84Reasons]

My Ada 60p has been sitting in a garage for a few years, my dad stored it this way before giving it to me, visually it looks fine and all the seals look intact, however I'd like to leak test it before setting it up properly.

Trouble is the only place I can do this is my garage as it's the only place inside that doesn't matter if it gets wet... The garage is not heated.
My questions are do you think it will be fine to leak test in there if I have the water heater going in the water so the tank water temp isn't fluctuating wildly? Additionally it might be on a slight slope, nothing major but could put pressure on one pane more than the others, would this be a no go?

 

[dino21]

Should not be a problem as long as what you put the tank on has a good flat surface and you use a suitable rubber or polystyrene underlay.
Just make sure the underside of the tank is clean with no bits of grit etc stuck to it .
Personally would not bother with heating it, just leave it for 24 hours ; dont't mistake condensation for a leak either.

 

[84Reasons]

That's good, it'll be on the cabinet with the Ada garden mat underneath. Only thought of heating it since it's going to drop to 4 degrees tonight and I didn't think the temp fluctuations would be good whilst water is in the tank?

 

[dino21]

Just pop the heater and a circ pump etc in if not confident, again it would not worry us, Silicone is quiet strong stuff having a temperature range of at least -40c to +100c, depending on make.

 

[84Reasons]

Thank you. I haven't got a pump only a filter that I wasn't going to use just to avoid it sitting with water in once I've finished the leak test since I'm not setting the tank up until the new year , think the heater is pointless without circulation?

 

[84Reasons]

This is the uneven ground I'm dealing with , don't have a better spot, reckon that will be okay for 1 day?

 

[dino21]

Never run a heater without some water movement around it , though it will work, it will just cause it to fail early.

No problem with that small slope while testing, just fill it to within 5mm of the top and see if it leaks., it looks all good and clean in the picture.

Just take care when cleanig the glass that you do not get any sand particles in the cleaner pad that will then scratch the glass.. we tend to use a razor blade cleaner and avoid those magnetic cleaners which can so easily hold on to bits of sand etc.

We would connect up and run that external filter though the tank now as it will help soften any residual muck left in the fliter and pipes, then it will be easier to give it a good clean.

 

[Connswater]

This is the uneven ground I'm dealing with , don't have a better spot, reckon that will be okay for 1 day?

That is very uneven, could you not use a wedge to get it more level. Bet however, the silicone will be fine. I have silicone tanks hold up for 30 years, if the silicone was right from day one.