Small leak from bulkhead....options?

[number1gsxxr]

I'm setting up a new tank and currently have it full of fresh water while testing for leaks. Well I found one on an 1.5" bulkhead that is part of my drain to my sump. It's a very minor leak, it takes 3 minutes for it to form 1 drop large enough to run down the tank.

What are my options? I've tried tightening but it is already pretty tight. I'm afraid to tighten it further but I could tighten it a little bit more I guess even though I had to use a wrench to turn it that last little bit. All the other bulkheads I tightened by hand and seem to be good so far. I also have enough play in the plumbing to back the nut off and try to reseat the bulkhead and gasket if necessary, but I can't remove it completely since it is already glued.

Here is a poor cell phone pic.

 

[yukyuklee]

have you laced the teeth with Teflon tape?

 

[number1gsxxr]

I did not. Maybe that's my problem. The nut is just to keep the bulkhead in place, right? Isn't the gasket supposed to keep the water out?

 

[jamesdong009]

Can't really tell from the pic, but did you put the gasket on the flange side?

 

[number1gsxxr]

It goes bulkhead flange > overflow box > gasket > glass > nut.

 

[Miller]

From the photo is looks like you have it right. If you have the gasket on the flange it could be that you just need to tighten it up just a smidgen more.

When you installed the bulkhead did you make sure the gasket, flange and glass were all clean of any debris?

have you laced the teeth with Teflon tape?

The threads don't need Teflon tape on bulkheads. The nut is there just to tighten the flange and gasket up to the glass.

 

[gweston]

Try teflon tape or paste (messier but theoretically seals better) on the threads. Some I have heard coat just a tiny bit of vaseline on the gasket (on the side where it touches the glass).

Others may chime in. I am still putting my tank together and plan to do that.

 

[Miller]

It goes bulkhead flange > overflow box > gasket > glass > nut.

Is it a glass hole style overflow box? If so those need a gasket on both sides of the box.

Ex..... flange, gasket, overflow box, gasket, glass, nut.

 

[number1gsxxr]

I cleaned the glass and gasket well before installing so I don't think any debris is in there.

I'm going to give it an 1/8th turn more and see what happens.

 

[jamesdong009]

Is it a glass hole style overflow box? If so those need a gasket on both sides of the box.

Ex..... flange, gasket, overflow box, gasket, glass, nut.

Agreed

 

[number1gsxxr]

It's like a glass holes. I copied Doherty's design from the DIY section.

 

[JohnK]

It goes bulkhead flange > overflow box > gasket > glass > nut.

You absolutely need two gaskets on a set up like that. It should go ;
Flange >gasket >overflow box > gasket > glass > nut.

By not having that second gasket water is allowed to seep through the threads. You could try teflon tape on the threads which might help, but the fix is definately a second gasket. (you can get orange gasket material at HD lowes, and use that to cut your own second gasket out). A properly installed bulkhead will NEVER need teflon tape anywhere...

 

[jamesdong009]

From glass-holes...

 

[number1gsxxr]

Well clearly I didn't do enough research into this even though I thought I had it all planned out.

Here is a better pic. As you can see I don't have much PVC pipe showing to be be able to reuse the bulkhead. I can cut it out and install a new one (this time with 2 gaskets ). That's probably the best option right?

 

[stingythingy45]

It's your only option.
Your best best would be to mot get slip fit bulkheads.
Get the threaded I.D. ones.

 

[STiTCH87]

I'd put a teflon taping on the bulkhead threads, and possibly a foam gasket between the plastic of the bulkhead and the glass of the tank, on BOTH sides too btw. If it leaks after that, then i'm out of ideas, lol.

 

[number1gsxxr]

If I made my own gasket like this with a slit to get it around bulkhead threads without removing the bulkhead, water would just seep down the slit I made right? What if I used a soldering iron to melt the slit shut once it was in place?

Pretty ghetto I know but but just trying to figure out a way to fix it without replumbing everything.

 

[STiTCH87]

Well if you loosen it to slip in that gasket, it's gonna leak a lot being loose. Also, any leak is gonna find that one sot it cn leak through, and leak through it, so like you said, yes it'll almost definitely leak through that slit.

No need to replumb anything, just to redo the seals. If you are worried about having to drain water to get at the bulkhead, you can try and put up a wall of some sort inside the tank, maybe a container flipped upside down to make an air pocket then press against the bulkhead to keep water from gushing out the bulkhead, but it's a possible theory at best and likely would be a headache.

All I can honestly suggest is to undo the entire bulkhead assembly, use two proper gaskets, teflon tape the threading, and put it back together. It may sound like a headache cuz it most likely will involve draining the tank, but believe me, anything else will likely be a bigger headache. Can always drain the water into some 5G buckets and reuse the water when your done...

 

[stingythingy45]

Personally,I would do it right and get some threaded bulkheads.What happens if for some stupid reason you need to replace a gasket down the road?You'll be cutting the plumbing out anyways.You could split the gasket like that and silicone it heavily on the slit side.
But even that's going to suck,cause as you tighten the nut on the bulkhead the gasket is going to keep bulging out.
You'll never melt it together,you'll just fill the house with smoke.lol

 

[Jim Tansey]

I have reused bulkheads many times by cutting the pvc flush with the end of the bulkhead and grinding out the PVC pipe with a Dremal. It's very easy to see when to stop because of the white color of the pipe and the joint gets soft at the glue line. The first time I did this was on a Sunday night with nothing opened to purchase a new bulkhead, but after seeing how easy it was to do this I have reclaimed many bulkheads.

Jim