leaking return

[advocate777]

I have a 75 gallon reef ready tank. My return line is dripping a little onto the sump. I have tried to seal it but still leaking. Will try to 're-bed' the return pipe better but not sure what to do.
check out picture, it is the line on the right-

 

[azjohnny]

Silicone wont seal. Is the gasket on the outside of the tank? if it is that is your problem. You want the gasket on the wet side

 

[advocate777]

gasket

gasket

well, the gasket is installed inside, but there is part of it that extends down lower. It only started leaking when I pulled out the pipe on the inside to add an attachment on the top.
I am gonna pull out the pipe again and see if it seals better....but that doesnt make sense because there has to be a hole between the gasket and the bottom glass for there to be leakage. Ugh- plus the tank has been filled all the way to test the plumbing. Now that I am looking at it, the pipe does seem to be a little askew.

 

[NastyZ]

I have the same over flow have u tightened the threads silicone is only masking the problem

 

[advocate777]

feeback appreciated

feeback appreciated

initial set-up-

kinda too late now as the leak is very small and the tank is already filled up (to test the plumbing)

the leak is just a small droplet, every 15 minutes or so- I noticed if I re-position slightly the return pvc pipe, then no leak.

I think I will just watch it for a day and see if it stops now or starts droplets and/or gets worse.

I mean, do you recommend that I empty the whole tank, pull out all the tubing, take the tank out, put it upside down and strip the sealant and check out the gasket. I will if you think that is best. Or, is it okay to just put a wad of paper towel to absorb the droplets -

Not sure what to do - any input is greatly appreciated as I never had this problem before and do not know if I should 'manage' it or take the whole thing down and really look into it.

 

[NastyZ]

No it's not to late the fittings are at te bottom of the tank all would have to do it tighten down and second if u wanted to take out the bulk heads all you have to do is empty the water from the overflow and turn off the return the over flow should stay empty

 

[advocate777]

ur right

ur right

yeah u r right - okay, now i feel better - i will just keep an eye on it and if it continues i will siphon out the overflow and then strip the acrylic and see what is up with the gasket - thanks

 

[NastyZ]

Myb u should looking into hard plumbing it really simple I had mine with flex hose and then hard plumbed it and this was with the tank full here's how I did mine

 

[advocate777]

looks good

looks good

that looks really good- that is the way to do it - mine is still drip leaking - soaks a wad of paper towels in a few hours-
how is your hard plumbing sealed into the bottom of the tank. should i take out the screw in gasket i have already in there? how did you seal it all - what did you use to seal it all good?

 

[NastyZ]

The bulk head has a gasket/seal on it and then a washer/nut the seal goes on the wet side I didn't use any thing to seal it just hand tightened it and then with a pipe wrench

 

[NastyZ]

If I'm see it right the seal is on the outside of the tank on your incoming line I can't tell on the return if it were me I would get new bulk heads and replumb

 

[advocate777]

Good idea

Good idea

Yeah- I bet I put the gasket in upside down. Plus I sealed it with aquarium acrylic. I think I should take everything out and replumb like u did - plus, my return pump is emptying out the sump faster than the water is coming in. Looks like u have some valves - I'm gonna post a pic and maybe u could tell me what kind of PVC piping width wise I should get. But isn't I gotta take the old plumbing out and do it right. I hope I will be ale to get the aquarium sealant out and be able to unscrew the gaskets I put in. Isn't the sealant gonna make it impossible to actually screw that gasket out? The return gasket that is inside out is sealed with clear acrylic- the intake gasket is not sealed. Not sure why I sealed it at the time years ago- probably paranoid that it would leak- any input would be great

 

[advocate777]

I want to do mine like NastyZ has

 

[NastyZ]

Is it hard or mushy like silicone

 

[advocate777]

It is rubbery hard silicone sealant in the threads of the gasket

 

[NastyZ]

It should be easy to take off then just tear off the majority of it and reveal the nut and it should unscrew over the silicone on the threads the previous owner did the same on mine and I was able to take it off

 

[advocate777]

thanks

thanks

thanks -as for the pvc piping you did - can I get that at lowes? And what is the valve called? I might just take my ipad with me and show the guy there your setup- anything I should know before I go to Lowes?

 

[NastyZ]

You can get all the fittings at lowes idk bout the bulk heads tho if ur planning on running new ones

 

[NastyZ]

What I would do is take the bulk heads with u saw some trips to lowes I had a hard time getting the threads to screw on the bulk heads to he ball valve on the incoming I couldn't get one to on the return to I have to spa hose to connect it to the PVC can out better that way since I can move it for when I put grade my return pump

 

[advocate777]

removed gasket

removed gasket

you were right - I took all the acrylic off and the gasket unscrewed fine. Now, I have it out. It was put in upside down.
I did notice some of the plastic (not the rubber seal) seemed worn - maybe that is what caused the leak.
Okay, so now I will put the gasket in right side in and figure out how to re-plumb following your picture.
On the inside of the overflow chamber how did you seal the inner pvc return pipe to seal?
see pics-