Emergency Help, Bartlett, IL

[mbierzyc]

Hi,

I just finished setting up my new 48gal reef and there is a slow leak in the drain bulkhead. I really don't know what I can do at this point, so I'd like any suggestions, or if someone could physically come out to my house and give me a hand I would really appreciate it.

I'm located in Bartlett. I have a 1" bulkhead with a durso standpipe coming in as my drain, and a 3/4" bulkhead as my return.

The leak is from my 1", but it looks like there's a small leak on the 3/4" as well. I have my tank filled, but odds are I'm going to have to empty it.



Thanks in advance for the help.

Matt

 

[Douglas LEHMAN]

Hello
Double check and make sure that the gasket is mounted on the flange side of the BH.

 

[mbierzyc]

can you dumb that down a bit? this was my first bulkhead application

 

[Swamp Donkey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7845368#post7845368 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbierzyc
can you dumb that down a bit? this was my first bulkhead application

There is a flange side to the bulkhead. make sure the gasket is on that side. Flange = lip or rim

 

[johj26]

opposite from the nut side

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Also if I am reading what you wrote right you are going to have to dr drain the tank to fix the problem. You have to have a gasket on the bulkheads.

 

[mbierzyc]

the tank is actually divided in a way that draining of the display shouldn't be necessary.

i think i know what you guys mean by flange and gasket. i'm pretty sure i have it set up right, but wasn't able to find a tool to tighten the nut any more than i could by hand. is there something i can run out and buy for this? my tool selection is limited.

 

[mbierzyc]

i have my bulkhead set up like this

the part in that picture that is on the left is above the glass, and the one peice to the right in the image is what is below the glass of my tank. so i guess i do have the gasket above the glass, so not on the flange side.

i take it i should reverse this?

 

[johj26]

yes and go to home deot and buy a pair of channel locks

 

[mbierzyc]

oh man,

i found a pair of channel locks at my house, turns out there's not really enough room in the overflow to get them attached and make a turn.

i'm gonna have to find a really clever way to fix this one ...

 

[ostrow]

You can hand tighten once the gasket is on the flange side. And it won't leak then. Generally, that flange side is in the tank, the nut on the outside (bottom in your case). You need to do that I think.

 

[mbierzyc]

does anyone use bulkheads with the nut inside of the tank? i have the drain setup this way and it isn't leaking at the moment. my return pipe will be more difficult to fix, but i want to see how everyone else sets theirs up.

thanks for the help so far everybody, i can't wait to get this thing running.

 

[Douglas LEHMAN]

Hello
I plumb all my aquariums with the nut on the dry side. Much easier to tighten the nut that way. Hand tight only, + quarter turn with a channel locks if needed!

 

[aaronpentz]

It doesnt matter which way you install them but in the picture you have the rubber gasket installed on the nut side and it should be on the flange side. It doesnt matter if the gasket is on the inside or the outside of the tank it just has to be on the flange side. Easy way to tighten would be to twist the plumbing under the tank that is glued to the bulkhead. Unless you bought the threaded style. then you should take them apart and install them correctly.

 

[mbierzyc]

yeah i bought the threaded version.

i'm in the process of draining the tank right now, just needed a break. my goal is to get everything running smoothly tonight. i had to saw through some of my plumbing to gain access to the bottom of the bulkhead, so i have to re-do some plumbing as well. i'll post pics in a new thread once everything looks nice.

thanks for all the help.

 

[aaronpentz]

Just make sure that you dont put too much teflon tape on the fitting or screw it in too far as you could split the bulkhead. I always go for the threaded bulkheads as you can repair leaks. Not so with a solvent welded version.

Good Luck

Aaron

 

[mbierzyc]

the drain bulkhead is finished, but i can't unscrew the reuturn bulkhead. i don't have any room for tools in the over flow, so i'm not sure what i'll do with this one.

big pain, because now i already glued my pvc, i have to go buy new peices.

 

[Sullyman]

Matt that's why the nut should be on the bottom. You don't want to use a tool to tighten it, hand tight, as hard as you can should do it. With a wrench, you could break the glass.
You may need a dremmel tool with a cutting disk to get the bulkhead out

 

[mbierzyc]

it's an acrylic tank, and i was actually never able to use a tool to tighten it. the one that i'm trying to unscrew now was done by hand. i've tried for nearly an hour now to take this bulkhead out to no avail.

i'm getting pretty sick of trying, i may call it a night. i really like the aquascaping i had in there too, but i have to put my rock back in a big rubbermaid so that it stays wet. I think I'll try Sully's advice tomorrow and just cut this bulkhead out.


on that note, anyone know where i can get a 3/4" bulkhead in the area? i ordered my last from premium aquatics, but would rather not pay shipping if i can get around it.

 

[Sullyman]

Any lfs should have one. Have no idea for sure if this will work but try some hot water, maybe it'll loosen it up the plastic.