Return inlet question

[barks]

hi all,

ive just grabbed them by the hand and drilled my tank! 3 holes following beans design for the outlet. it went fine.
my question is should i drill another for the inlet? or is it better/ safer to pipe it over the back to the surface?
what have you guys done?

regards

barks

a quick reply would be really appreciated as it raining and i need to get the tank in.

 

[GlassReef]

I would say go up over the back - then drill a siphon break hole about 1/8" beneath the surface.

 

[barks]

ok,
im going with that, thanks tom.

im just fitting the bulkheads, should i have the thread and nut on the outside with the rubber gasket on the inside and should i use silicone just to make sure?

regards
barks

 

[medic29]

The gasket should go on the side of the flange; it doesn't really matter which way you install the bulkhead. As far as the silicone...it will be said you shouldn't need silicone; or even stronger opinions. My experience, I had always used silicone and had not had a problem. Then I started not using it because of what I had read and then had a few instances where I had leaks. I went back to using a slight film of silicone. Again, this is just my experience.

 

[barks]

thanks rick,

i am going to put the flange on the inside with gasket siliconed just to be safe, i will cut down the bulkhead and elbow to give 10mm so the internal overflow isnt too wide.

how tight can i tighten up the bulkhead on 10mm glass?

thanks
barks

 

[medic29]

hand tight; you shouldn't have to go any more than that, especially if you have silicone on there. If you do, you will find that the gasket will slip out of place.

 

[barks]

really??

ive got the adjustable spanner out:eek1:

 

[NanoReefWanabe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13660565#post13660565 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by medic29
hand tight; you shouldn't have to go any more than that, especially if you have silicone on there. If you do, you will find that the gasket will slip out of place.

exactly why you shouldn't silicone the gaskets...

and yes hand tight will be more then enough..

also i would drill multiple holes in your return line...snails dont seem to care if the power goes out, and they never move off the relief hole when the tank is draining... very bad first hand experience...(4" of water out of my 20 sure filled up the 5" of room i had left in my 10g sump...)

 

[medic29]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13661537#post13661537 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NanoReefWanabe
exactly why you shouldn't silicone the gaskets...

See I told you this would come up! :lol: Someone just has to say it.

 

[justilorah]

silicone is not needed if all is done right, with that said some ppl just like the little extra insurance of the silicone to help prvent a leak.. i myself used silicone on my bulkhead gaskets and i am having no trouble.. jm.02