Last straw....about to abandon the build!!

[ShelbyJK500]

Okay, I need some serious help and/or advice. I've spent almost 5 months working on a two tank build with a basement sump.

I've got everything finally done and working smoothly after fixing rookie errors and leaks. Everything is buttoned up and now what...the bulkheads are leaking?!? It's leaking through the threads. I'm at a total loss here.

I've already searched the forum. I've only been hand tightening about a 1/4 past tight. I had always heard not to over tighten or you'll pinch the gasket causing a leak. I don't know what's going on. Should I be wrenching it tighter? The bigger tank which has 5 bulkheads in the overflow box works flawlessly. It's my smaller 3 bulkhead reef tank that is giving me fits. Please let this be something as easy as I'm not tightening them enough?? I have filled and emptied the smaller tank twice just to re-do stuff. Now I've filled and emptied the overflow box no less than 4 times, drying everything including the seals and surfaces, re-seated everything...and EVERY time, it's leaking from the threads.

I've heard some people have silicone'd around the bulkhead?? I have acrylic tanks and I doubt silicone would even work if I tried?!?

FEEDBACK...PLEASE!! My patience is at it's end. I've spent the last two months working out the bugs and learning as I go. Now these leaks have almost pushed me over the edge. I just want to get salt in this water already!!!

 

[dvenson]

how old are the bulk heads?
easiest fix would be to buy new bulk heads if yours are in question. i have a bulk head wrench you could borrow. i can bring it to the meeting Sunday.

 

[Haddonisreef]

I always use Tefflon on mine did you?

 

[Cake_Boss]

I siliconed around mine, but then again I had glass. Maybe yours are too tight? Could you put some sealant around it, I bought some acrylic sealer at Lowes. Either way, some teflon tape or that messy white gunk would be a safe bet.

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[Metalsniper]

I have no experience with bulkheads but I do with plumbing and I would always recommend using Teflon tape. Just give it a few wraps. another option would be to get some new gasket material from homedepot and try cutting some new, tight fitting gaskets.

 

[spstimie]

Is the threaded side of the bulkhead on the wet side or dry side of the tank? We just drilled a new 50 for a reef at my fathers and recycled some bulkheads I had laying around. We put the threaded sides in so we could get it closer to the wall and had to get extra seals from lowes to get them to seal. one on inside and one on outside of each bulkhead. If the threaded side is dry, I think they just aren't tight enough.

 

[jagermeister]

I've reused old bulkheads before only to find that they leak. Depending on how many times they've been put on and taken off, put on and taken off, put on and taken off, they can develop small cracks which will leak. New bulkheads will solve that problem.

I also dip the rubber gasket in water before seating it. Provides a little bit of lubrication when tightening to avoid pinching. And I always hand tighten and then use a wrench to do another 1/4 turn.

I would think silicone would work. Even though it doesn't bond well with acrylic you're not looking for a structural bond, just something to fill the gaps and voids.

HTH.

 

[that0neguy1126]

Also, what side is the gasket on, wet or dry? It should be on the wet side, and I wouldn't suggest using 2 (one on each side).

 

[Tabasco]

I just went through a similar thing w my bulkhead and was about to pull my hair out.

I had some older bulkheads laying around but got a couple new ones to use because for the cost might as well. And it just kept leaking through the threads. I must have re-seated it 6-7 times. Drying and cleaning each time. Finally I closely inspected it and there was a manufacturing seam on the gasket that was creating a tiny imperfection in the seal. Luckily I had other bulkheads and switched the gasket out and now no problem.

Hope that is your issue as it was an easy fix.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

how old are the bulk heads?
easiest fix would be to buy new bulk heads if yours are in question. i have a bulk head wrench you could borrow. i can bring it to the meeting Sunday.

I bought the bulkheads brand new within the past couple months from Elite. Unfortunately, I work on sundays so basically can't go to any meetings.

I always use Tefflon on mine did you?

I didn't I hadn't heard of doing that on bulkheads. Especially since the nut is so slender, didn't think it would make a difference.

I siliconed around mine, but then again I had glass. Maybe yours are too tight? Could you put some sealant around it, I bought some acrylic sealer at Lowes. Either way, some teflon tape or that messy white gunk would be a safe bet.

I don't think they are too tight since I haven't even tightened them past my tightest hand tightening.

 

[jagermeister]

I don't think they are too tight since I haven't even tightened them past my tightest hand tightening.

I think that's your problem. Tighten them as tight as you can get them with your hand. If it still leaks then use a wrench to tighten them another 1/4 turn.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

Is the threaded side of the bulkhead on the wet side or dry side of the tank? If the threaded side is dry, I think they just aren't tight enough.

Also, what side is the gasket on, wet or dry? It should be on the wet side, and I wouldn't suggest using 2 (one on each side).

The threaded side is on the dry side on the bottom of the tank and the wet side is inside the overflow box. How tight are you thinking they should be?

I just went through a similar thing w my bulkhead and was about to pull my hair out.

I had some older bulkheads laying around but got a couple new ones to use because for the cost might as well. And it just kept leaking through the threads. I must have re-seated it 6-7 times. Drying and cleaning each time. Finally I closely inspected it and there was a manufacturing seam on the gasket that was creating a tiny imperfection in the seal. Luckily I had other bulkheads and switched the gasket out and now no problem.

Hope that is your issue as it was an easy fix.

Well, if it were one bulkhead I would suspect a bad one or something specific to that one particular head. Since two are leaking and were both brand new when I put them in...I'm not suspecting a manufacturing flaw anymore.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

I think that's your problem. Tighten them as tight as you can get them with your hand. If it still leaks then use a wrench to tighten them another 1/4 turn.

Thanks for the feedback...I think I'll go down and try that real quick. I don't have a bulkhead wrench, I guess I'll just have to find a wrench big enough! I would LOVE for it to be this simple!

 

[mikejrice]

The gasket should always be on the non thread side. If it's on the thread side screwing the nut on will cause it to pinch.

Michael Rice
Marine Engineers Aquarium Blog
Sent from Tapatalk so excuse my poor English

 

[dv3]

screwing the nut on will cause it to pinch.

ouch!!!


...sorry in advance for derailing the thread

 

[Wicked Color]

gasket on the inside, tighten till it stops leaking, or something breaks.......

 

[Tripple T]

People may not agree but I've had bulkheads that leaked a day or 2 stop and never leak again. Just give it a bit and see.

 

[xsocali]

Make sure that the surface between the rubber seal and the glass is clean.

 

[ShelbyJK500]

Thanks again everyone...I've calmed and come to my senses about abandoning this thing for the moment. However, if it isn't one thing....

I got a oil filter/pvc wrench that works perfect for bulkheads. I tightened the bulkheads as tight as I could by hand and did at least another 1/4 turn with the wrench. Problem solved so it seems!!

The bad news...the third bulkhead was now leaking (wasn't last night). After close inspection...it appears it actually cracked when I screwed the male adapter into it the other day. I don't know how I missed that...OR why the heck it didn't leak last night but decided to tonight. Either way, I'm glad I found that before getting everything started for the long haul.

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback!!!

 

[Boogie]

Glad you found it. Don't feel bad as Dillon and I have been chasing six leaks for two days. Finally down to two...still have the pressure line to test...sigh...

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