SaraB's 268 Gallon Build¦ Try #3!

[glparr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13948868#post13948868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NancyC
Just use the teflon with about 15 layers!!

After two layers, Sara gets it all twisted and tangled. It's very sad. The last time she wrapped tape on a fitting, one of her dogs got a paw caught in the tangle and had to be cut free with a box cutter. The whimpering and whining was painful to hear--and that was just what was coming from Sara.
Gary

 

[glparr]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13948889#post13948889 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ekrunch
Is there any possibility that you have a piece of plumbing with some bad threads? It could be that one of the sides is defective and it's going to leak no matter what. I know it's a PITA but have you considered just changing out the couplers and such? (If possible)

Checked that. The threads on the adapter that goes into the pump housing are clean--no burrs or mold defects. The pump housing threads also look clean, but replacing that is much less of an option. We had a leak with the adapter that goes to the pump inlet. The paste stopped that leak. The exit fitting is the problem, I'm sure because it's under so much more pressure. The pump is driving the return to the tank and two surges that are easily 7 ft. above the pump.
Gary

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13948896#post13948896 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glparr
After two layers, Sara gets it all twisted and tangled. It's very sad. The last time she wrapped tape on a fitting, one of her dogs got a paw caught in the tangle and had to be cut free with a box cutter. The whimpering and whining was painful to hear--and that was just what was coming from Sara.
Gary

Funny Gary! I did say on Page #1 that I'm not a plumber!

:lol:

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13946204#post13946204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reeferpnoy
Wow that is nice !... My wife said it looks really nice and asked me how come our stand is looks crappy :lol:

:lol: Thanks! I just got my bill for it ... wanna buy it from me :eek1:

 

[cloakerpoked]

New to this thread as far as posting, but figured I'd throw in my 2 pennies on the silicon issue. I've used GE Silicon 1 on PVC with success in the past. Whether or not that translates to plastic might be an issue of debate, but I'd think that once it cures, it would fill the void pretty well, since we're talking about a small leak to begin with. If it was leaking quickly, it might be a bigger issue, but a very small leak the silicon should handle quite easily.

 

[ekrunch]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13951370#post13951370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SaraB
:lol: Thanks! I just got my bill for it ... wanna buy it from me :eek1:

Will it fit on a 60x44x24 tank?

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13951527#post13951527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ekrunch
Will it fit on a 60x44x24 tank?

Nope, don't think so! Nice try though!

 

[Dejavu]

Great build Sara! That a lot of plumbing.

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13951832#post13951832 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
Great build Sara! That a lot of plumbing.

Thanks Brian!

I'm still working through some fixes on the plumbing with Gary. We get one part fixed and another threaded piece down the line starts leaking too! We fixed one last night and another one proactively as well. I just received 2 new parts via FedEx from a friend and we will change out those threaded pieces that are going directly into my Dart Pump tonight. Hopefully after a 24 hour cure time I'll be running water again tomorrow night!

 

[pookstreet]

Don't you just hate waiting??? It's getting close, Sara.

 

[slojmn]

Tick Tock

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13977372#post13977372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pookstreet
Don't you just hate waiting???

I've been pretty patient so far, but it's starting to wear thin! I'm sure I'm wearing Gary out too with evening plumbing projects!

Hopefully tonight is the last of the big fixes!!!

 

[pookstreet]

Keeping my fingers crossed for ya!

 

[sugartooth]

I hope you get that resolved soon, I know it would drive me nuts!

All of your hard work will pay off. Keeping fingers crossed here for you too.=)

 

[BenjieC]

Come on slacker it's been 6 days already. What have you been doing sledding north of the great cheese border.

 

[glparr]

Since Sara is busy testing out her newest sled, I will boldly speak on her behalf.

This past Saturday we finally turned the main drive pump on without any leaks. While it seems like we had leaks everywhere, that was not the case. The leaks we were experiencing were at the drive pump connections. We tried gobs of tape twice, tape and silicone lubricant once, and PVC pipe thread goop. Nothing held. As Sara stated, a friend of hers read this thread (I don't remember his name, but both of us extend a huge thanks for the long-distance assist) and sent e-mail to Sara explaining that she needed fittings designed specifically for pump threading and that those, coupled with marine silicone sealant, would seal up the system. He sent her the necessary fittings, and we installed them, waiting 24 hr. for the sealant to cure. We also had two other threaded fittings from bulkheads at the bottom of the main sump that we didn't trust, so we took those apart and used the silicone sealant on them.

After the 24-hr. curing period, we fired up the system and it's been bone dry ever since. The key was fittings designed for the pump threads and the silicone sealant.

Rock that has been curing for a year was put into the tank, along with some active live rock. I'm not sure what Sara's plans are, but for now it is clear that the system is just going to run for awhile. The two surges are working well, but definitely need some fine tuning. When they drain, they put an excellent jolt of water into the tank.

The next project is the light racks and hoods. I don't know the status of that end of the project. It won't be too many more weeks and we should start to see some life in the tank.

I'm confident Sara will add to this when she gets thawed out.

Gary

 

[mflamb]

I'm glad you got it fixed. I think the silicone is the cure. I use HD/Lowes fittings on all of my pumps with tape and aquarium silicone. No leaks.

 

[glparr]

We did not use tape on the fittings that went into the pump housing, but we didn't skimp on the sealant. You're right, the silicone is the tip-in component.
Gary

 

[SaraB]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14017247#post14017247 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BenjieC
Come on slacker it's been 6 days already. What have you been doing sledding north of the great cheese border.

Yes, I'm behind the cheddar curtain! We got 4 inches of snow last night and we are waiting for the freezing drizzle to stop so I can put the first mile on my new sled!

Thanks for providing the updates to the thread Gary! It sure looks like we are cleared of the leaks and it's time to stack some rock in the New Year when I'm back home Also a big thanks goes out to Gary for helping me with the fixes!

 

[mpoletti]

Glad to hear that the leaks are fixed. I use silicon on my threaded joints. Sch 80 can have some really deep threads and even the pink tape doesn't always work.