Dave:
It seems like you have a plan to fix it. To my mind, it must be a vibration problem if you do not see rust. Your solution should address why it came about as well. For instance, is the filler hose or tube locked solid to a bulkhead or something similar that would flex differently than the water tank? When the gas tanks are full, there may be some flexing or there may be some vibrations when the engines fire up that caused the separation.
If the intake filler tube was standing by itself and not attached, then it may have vibrated itself off as the water tank vibrated and transferred the energy to the filler, whipping it back and forth over time. In that case, you could install a short length of rubber hose between the tank, and as close (2 or 3 inches) as possible to the tank, and the filler neck so that there is enough flex that the separation does not occur again.
Or if there is a way you can lift the tank when it is empty, you may be able to slide something soft like foam rubber under the tank to cut down on the vibrations. Or even use some foam rubber to wedge between the tank and something solid to dampen the vibrations.
Jerry
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