Help! Gasket leak.

[jsharp13]

Finishing up filling my 120, and I am getting dripping off of the overflow and return pipes coming out of the aquarium. The rubber gaskets are there (on the aquarium side) and the nuts are hand tightened. I assumed that would be good. Do they need to be wrench tightened? Don't want to break the glass. Do I need to loosen them a bit? I am a big dude and hand tight is pretty tight.

Thanks for your help.

 

[billdogg]

To fix them properly, drain the tank below where they are at and try again. Check all surfaces very carefully for any debris - a single grain of sand is enough. Also check for burrs on the threads - although the outside threads do nothing as far as the actual seal, if they are not smooth they can trick you in to thinking you have tightened them enough. Re-assemble, and then go 1/4 to 1/2 turn past hand tight. If the gasket has deformed at all, you are too tight.

Also make sure that the plumbing is well supported so that no stress is on the seal - a small amount of torque can cause it to leak as well.

Although it is not recommended by many, I use a very slight amount of silicone plumbers grease on the gasket - just enough to make it barely shiny - no more, to help me get it "just right" Doing it that way I've never had a leak.

hth

 

[thegrun]

+1, I would first try to tighten them 1/4 turn past hand tight, if that does not stop the leak dissasemble.

 

[jsharp13]

Alright, looks like it is good now. I drained and loosened them all the way, shook them around a bit, letting the water that was in the bottom clean them off and then reattached with 1/4 turn past hand tight. Not seeing any drips.

Thank you so much for your help. I was so afraid of over tightening that I didn't want to do anything without getting some feedback. I've done a lot of home plumbing, and had porcelain toilets on my mind.

Now I have added salt and everything is running well. Had to restrict the flow a little out of the pump because it was pumping all of my water out. Now my only issue is that the water coming down from the overflows is a bit noisy, but I'm sure I can come up with something to fix that.

 

[thegrun]

Good to hear the leak is gone. Do you have two drain lines or only one? If you have two drains you can add a gate valve near the bottom of the drain line and restrict the flow so the water backs up almost to the overflow box which will silence the drain. Only do this if you have a second emergency drain or you run the risk of a flood if you get any restriction in the drain line.

 

[Sk8r]

SOmetimes too if you just wrap them in cloth to absorb water and let them warm up, they settle.

 

[jsharp13]

Oy. I'll get there eventually. Now I have a leak in one of the elbows. It was the last joint I put together, so was unable to do the 1/4 twist. Going to replace it tonight.

Everything else is looking good. Doesn't appear to be any more leaks.

As far as drain lines, I have 2. One in each corner of the tank. I was thinking of just putting a small piece of PVC at the dump end of each line to get them underwater. Is that a no-no? I can't think of any problems it would cause, but I'm a little behind on my fluid dynamics.

Also, wanted to make sure..the pump was way over-pumping, so I have both valves closed a bit more than halfway on the way back into the aquarium. I understand pumps actually work a little better with extra head. The pump has a 1" outlet, which I reduce to 3/4" at the tee and take 3/4" the rest of the way.

Thanks again everyone for your help. I just know once I get this part done, I can start doing the fun part. You know, animals.

 

[thegrun]

Yes you can certainly extend the ends of the drain lines to extend them below the waterline, most of us use flexible tubing at the end of the drain line.

 

[Sapelo]

Following along.
We started re-plumbing our new tank 5 weeks ago now, it was going to be so simple!
Leak, leak, leak!
We've learned a lot but the waiting is maddening! I would like to get out from underneath the tank and be able to enjoy the stuff that goes into the (non-leaking) water.
Good luck! I am absolutely in the same boat!