Cascade 1200 leak!!!

[Mexican Racoon]

I have a Penn-Plax Cascade 1200 canister filter on my 90 gal tank. I was doing an overdue water change/filter maintenance this afternoon, and upon reassembly of my filter, I noticed a leak.

The filter leaks where the lid clamps onto the canister. I have disconnected, and reassembled the filter twice now, and when it refills, water trickles down the sides from the canister.

I have two Penguin 330s running on this tank as well.

Anyone had this problem before?!?
This is a serious drop in my filtration and I would appreciate any replies.

Thank you

 

[customdrum]

how old is it? sounds like the top o ring. you can always try some vasoline on the ring to see if that stops it. there may be an internal ring on those filters to that sometimes can cause a leak.

 

[Mexican Racoon]

It isn't new...maybe 2 years old.

 

[NeonFlux]

Hey Mexican Racoon, looks like you been here for a while, huh? 2005 like me. Anyways back on subject. Good luck with the filter

 

[Bnoble]

hmm.. i have a PennPlax cascade as well 1500.. had that problem once before and figure that there was something in between where the lid clamps down on the canister, it was a small gravel, check there! other than that no problems at all.. mines is about 4-5yrs old!

 

[redfishblewfish]

I agree, it sounds like the top O-ring is on the way out. However, don’t use vasoline. Since that is a petroleum based product, it will swell the rubber and cause it to go to crap pretty fast. Use either silicone plumber’s grease or TeflonÒ plumbers grease (such as Magic Lube), or Leslie’s Pool and Spa lube (Dupont KrytoxÒ). All these produces extend the life of rubber stuff without causing them to swell and disintegrate. Plumber’s grease is available at Home Depot or Lowes, while the Pool lube is available at Leslie’s Pools. The Pool lube is the better deal…about $6.50 for a 3.5 ounce tube.

 

[Mexican Racoon]

Ok, lube sounds cheaper than a filter, and my only other idea was to cut a piece of rubber to size. My only question with the lube is, if the canister leaks now, hasn't the ring already failed, meaning it is to late to lube it?

 

[thebrandon]

not exactly, the lube may very well help, may not. If not call up penn plax. You never know they may send you a new seal or you may be able to buy one.

 

[chiphead]

I had the exact same problem a couple of times on a 1200 I owned. I fixed it by taking a paper towel and running it along the groove and oring multiple times with the oring in place. I got a ton of black junk off when I did this. Upon reassembly the leak stopped. Having said all that, I just put my 1200 out in the trash two weeks ago due to a leak after maintenance that I could not locate or cure.

 

[7itanium]

I second the O-Ring theory