Tansu inspired mixed reef & Haddoni:Clown setup
- Thread starter sugartooth
- Start date
sugartooth
Reef bully
:lmao:
Believe me, so do I!!!!
If all goes well, water will be in by the end of this weekend. I've already put water in the overflows for small leak test and so far no leaks. Then will fill the tank a little to test the bulkheads in there. Once I clear that, closed loops will be turned on and checked for leaks.
If all good, then in goes salt and rock, if still no leaks, I will pour in the sand.
What I'm most scared of is those bulkheads in the main tank. For those of you that have holes in the bottom of your main tank, how long did you test before comfortable that they won't leak?
Believe me, so do I!!!!
If all goes well, water will be in by the end of this weekend. I've already put water in the overflows for small leak test and so far no leaks. Then will fill the tank a little to test the bulkheads in there. Once I clear that, closed loops will be turned on and checked for leaks.
If all good, then in goes salt and rock, if still no leaks, I will pour in the sand.
What I'm most scared of is those bulkheads in the main tank. For those of you that have holes in the bottom of your main tank, how long did you test before comfortable that they won't leak?
sugartooth
Reef bully
*SIGH*
I've hit a block mentally and have hit the pinnacle (so it feels) of my anxiety for a couple of reasons. I've filled the tank halfway and discovered a small drip in a joint along the closed loop intake. I was so upset at myself because it was the last one I glued and rushed it since it was late at night. So I figured I would take the path of least resistance, put some more glue around the outside. I know, usually that tactic does not work but I wanted to try. Next day it was still dripping, and the other closed loop had developed a slow drip as well. This one was exactly in the same joint as the first.
Now, I don't want to re-do this plumbing if I can help it at all since this would include replacing the 2 bulkheads. So, I went to the store and got some Plumber's Putty. Here it is in case someone may need to use it down the line:
I also wanted to try a silencer besides Durso style, so I got Maggie silencers. I put one on my anemone tank and it works nicely, so I picked up some more for these tanks. Here is a picture of the Maggies and a super strainer for my closed loop - a whopping 12".
So, when I first got my tank I noticed some bubbles in the seams. I know some bubbles are expected and not every tank is perfect. However, after filling it halfway, I just looked at the bubbles again and was really uncomfortable because of the way it looked. The one I'm concerned about is long, and goes all the way down to the bottom of the tank. So I've stopped and sent pictures to make sure it's okay to continue and the tank will hold up, or if I have to get another tank. I absolutely don't plan another tank so this needs to work long term.
I've hit a block mentally and have hit the pinnacle (so it feels) of my anxiety for a couple of reasons. I've filled the tank halfway and discovered a small drip in a joint along the closed loop intake. I was so upset at myself because it was the last one I glued and rushed it since it was late at night. So I figured I would take the path of least resistance, put some more glue around the outside. I know, usually that tactic does not work but I wanted to try. Next day it was still dripping, and the other closed loop had developed a slow drip as well. This one was exactly in the same joint as the first.
Now, I don't want to re-do this plumbing if I can help it at all since this would include replacing the 2 bulkheads. So, I went to the store and got some Plumber's Putty. Here it is in case someone may need to use it down the line:
I also wanted to try a silencer besides Durso style, so I got Maggie silencers. I put one on my anemone tank and it works nicely, so I picked up some more for these tanks. Here is a picture of the Maggies and a super strainer for my closed loop - a whopping 12".
So, when I first got my tank I noticed some bubbles in the seams. I know some bubbles are expected and not every tank is perfect. However, after filling it halfway, I just looked at the bubbles again and was really uncomfortable because of the way it looked. The one I'm concerned about is long, and goes all the way down to the bottom of the tank. So I've stopped and sent pictures to make sure it's okay to continue and the tank will hold up, or if I have to get another tank. I absolutely don't plan another tank so this needs to work long term.
sugartooth
Reef bully
These are the bubbles I'm worried about:
bbart12
New member
If it were my tank and it was holding that much water in my house then I would seriously consider having them remake it. The bottom of you tank is going to be the point under the most stress. I just have this vision of hundreds of gallons of water filling your home like the video of a 1600g tank failure. You could at least ask the manufacturer to extend an extended guarantee to you. That way if it does fail you have an out. But that doesnt save your animals in case of a failure.
sugartooth
Reef bully
bbart12: Thanks, I'm glad I brought it up. I have sent a message to the store and hopefully I will get an answer quickly. I'm just leaving it all alone now.
dahenley
New member
im so sorry about the bubbles.... i know you mentioned earlier that you have had to have some of the tanks re-done already...
also, can you shoot a picture of the pipe with leak? i know you have a bunch of plumbing....
and is there a way to redo the part from a union to the bulkhead, or cut out the fitting and use an extra union..
it wont look the same as you wanted, but it will only cost a little pipe and an extra union.
but its an option..
also, can you shoot a picture of the pipe with leak? i know you have a bunch of plumbing....
and is there a way to redo the part from a union to the bulkhead, or cut out the fitting and use an extra union..
it wont look the same as you wanted, but it will only cost a little pipe and an extra union.
but its an option..
sugartooth
Reef bully
Pictures of the sump downstairs. I used my old sump, stand, and some old plumbing parts combined with leftover grey that I had. I figured it doesn't have be aesthetically pleasing. No leaks downstairs so I'm happy about that.
sugartooth
Reef bully
Thanks so much for your post. Yes, I had the other two tanks re-done. The new ones were markedly better than the originals and I know I would have had huge regrets if I did use them. At that time, I was willing to get them made for 100% more $$ by another vendor so I wouldn't have to use the original tanks.
Here is the picture(s) you requested. The drip was coming from the edge of the coupling. Both of them were coming from the same part. It has me worried now that the drains will drip the same way. If I re-do it, I would have to get a sawsall(?) because the bulkhead nut won't fit over the coupling. I can add another coupling to the leftover pipe. Then I would have to cut the 2" pipe above the elbow and add a coupling there to make up the difference. It can be done, but I figured I would try the putty first. I made so many plumbing mistakes already it makes me wish I paid someone to do it. Too bad I couldn't make the putty come out looking nice.
I wish it could have ended up nicer, but this was the best I could do with little plumbing experience.
sugartooth
Reef bully
Here is the DI resin unit for water. You can see the other end over the top of the sump ready to fill in the previous picture. It gives me about 3000 gallons of TDS 0 before I have to get the two tanks replaced, while the third is being used. What I like is that there is no waste water and it's re-charged and ready to use again.
dahenley
New member
the looks of the leaks look like they are leaking from the threaded fitting on the bulkhead. are you sure they are from a glue joint? (or are the bulkheads glue only.)
i never use Teflon tape....
i only use the liquid teflon or liquid PTFE from your local bigbox store. (its in the plumbing next to the tape and glue)
if they are threaded, the loosen the bulkhead and just un thread it off the plumbing. then remove all tape, and apply more tape, or the liquid PTFE and drop the bulkhead back in and thread it together and dont forget the nut for the bulkhead.
your done. (if its the threaded fitting which it looks like...)
hope the best, and take a quick second look before too much happens....
i never use Teflon tape....
i only use the liquid teflon or liquid PTFE from your local bigbox store. (its in the plumbing next to the tape and glue)
if they are threaded, the loosen the bulkhead and just un thread it off the plumbing. then remove all tape, and apply more tape, or the liquid PTFE and drop the bulkhead back in and thread it together and dont forget the nut for the bulkhead.
your done. (if its the threaded fitting which it looks like...)
hope the best, and take a quick second look before too much happens....
newtank
Member
I hope the putty works out. I know the plumbing in my 265 stressed me out having to water test 4 times and still have a few tiny leaks- the whole build was so intesive and long I just drained everything, dried, then gobbed silicone all over the joint that leaked, its been 8 months and everything dry as a bone. I figure when my return pump goes bad I'll take the time to redo some plumbing when swapping out pumps. Taking the easy way got my build done, plus alot of people said they have done the same thing.
Beautiful build so far, hope the display works out ok. I know my glass tank has all kinds of bubbles in the seams, but I dont loose any sleep over it.
Beautiful build so far, hope the display works out ok. I know my glass tank has all kinds of bubbles in the seams, but I dont loose any sleep over it.
sugartooth
Reef bully
I'm fairly sure it's from the glue joint. There is an adapter that was threaded into the bulkhead, and you can kind of see hexagonal shape. Then I directly glued a 1 1/2" pipe into it that is glued to the coupling. I had to use the coupling because I would have had to buy another 5 foot of pipe if I wanted it all to be one piece. Looking at it again, I completely forgot that I can unthread that adapter and not have to saw it....thanks for that catch!
The drip was coming from the coupling and 1 1/2" pipe. I have more putty on the right side than the left that also covers a bit of the adapter.
I have never used the liquid teflon and that's a great suggestion. I HATE the tape. If the issue is not resolved, I will certainly re-do it. I'm pretty mad at myself for a janky plumbing job.
Thanks so much for having a look at it and your glue suggestion. That's definitely something I will do if there are leaks coming from the oceans motions, which are all threaded.
The drip was coming from the coupling and 1 1/2" pipe. I have more putty on the right side than the left that also covers a bit of the adapter.
I have never used the liquid teflon and that's a great suggestion. I HATE the tape. If the issue is not resolved, I will certainly re-do it. I'm pretty mad at myself for a janky plumbing job.
Thanks so much for having a look at it and your glue suggestion. That's definitely something I will do if there are leaks coming from the oceans motions, which are all threaded.
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sugartooth
Reef bully
Hahaha, I hear you on that!!
I was pretty close to trying out that MIGHTY PUTTY I remember seeing on informercials some time ago. Thanks for your comment, I hope it turns out alright too.
I mean, I hope to have the patience needed to see this through so that it turns out alright in the end.
sugartooth
Reef bully
Badgus: Thanks very much. I'm located in the Northern suburbs near Great America and Gurnee Mills. Are you familiar with the area? It's close to Lindenhurst.
BADGUS
New member
Ahh ok,i'm near O'hare.About 45mins away.I'll keep an eye out for updates,i know at the moment the bubbles in the seams are a concern,i do hope that you can continue the build if everything is a GO.Best of luck.
-Gus
