small leaks

[nitrofish]

is there any way to seal up those little leaks out of the threads of bulkheads and other pipe fittings after its already asymbled? maybe some plumbing puty or something. I can't take it apart without cutting the pipes.

 

[Andy O]

Depending how much of a leak it is sometimes salt creap will self seal it. I have had success with this in the past.

 

[wrassefan]

not really....might be a good time to add a union where you will have to cut to do the repair

 

[MarkO]

I'd like to learn how to make leak-proof seals as well.
Might this be covered at the next meeting by any chance?

 

[dedfish]

Leak proof seams with screw on pipe fitting just takes a few good wraps of teflon tape on the threads. For glue fittings you need to use the primer to clean the area, apply the glue to both pieces and after you insert them together give them a quarter twist.

As far as repairing after assembled it depends on of much it's leaking. I once fixed a leaky bulkhead (due to it cracking) with a healthy about of silicone.

 

[nitrofish]

its just sweating thru the threads. if I can't get it to stop ill have to rip it all apart and start over,( maybe with spaflex.) ill coat all the threads with teflon, but i really hope it dosen't come to that.

 

[MikeG]

its just sweating thru the threads. if I can't get it to stop ill have to rip it all apart and start over,( maybe with spaflex.) ill coat all the threads with teflon, but i really hope it dosen't come to that.

Did you not use any teflon tape on the threads to begin with?

 

[BearrNH]

I had a few small leaks and after about 5 tries to fix it , I just put a piece of plexi under it to let the water drip into the sumps

 

[mloebl]

I've had mixed success with these too. I find the standard bulkheads seem to be much more prone to leaking than the heavy duty ones. Like other's have said very often they seal themselves off with saltcreep. Sometimes it's a matter of playing with the tightness until the rubber gasket makes the right seal; you can overtighten if not careful causing it to leak. I know Rosey and I had a tough time with one on his sump and he ended up adding a 2nd gasket on the opposite side and that fixed it for him.

-Mike

 

[dedfish]

Did you not use any teflon tape on the threads to begin with?

Yes this is a good question. All threads should be wrapped no matter what.

 

[necco]

is there any way to seal up those little leaks out of the threads of bulkheads and other pipe fittings after its already asymbled?

If its the bulkhead then wouldn't it be the rubber gasket?, teflon tape wouldn't help there. If the water can be lowered to the level of the bulkhead then just loosen it and inspect the rubber gasket. I'm setting up my 50g now and had a bulkhead leak, just loosened the fitting and reseated the rubber gasket. Some also silcone there bulkheads.

Yea if its a MPT, I'd have to agree with the teflon tape as the others have stated. But then again if its a MPT then that should be able to come off and be easily taped and put back together again?

 

[nitrofish]

I never used the pipe thread sealent. guess i should have. I thought it was a tight enough seal without it. ill just cut the plumbing off and start over. im going to use flex pvc this time around also.

 

[dedfish]

Yea if its a MPT, I'd have to agree with the teflon tape as the others have stated. But then again if its a MPT then that should be able to come off and be easily taped and put back together again?

It only comes off easy if it's not attached to many other plumbing parts. Once you put a few elbows on and whatnot it gets pretty tough to unscrew a fitting without something in the way.

 

[Matt L.]

I take no chances

High quality bulkheads may be less inclined to leak, but I still silicone seal* all my bulkheads.

Matt

* This involves laying a ring of silicone between the top and the gasket, and another between the gasket and the glass. Pushe the bulkhead against the glass and use your finger to eliminate any extra silicone that has come out from between the top flange, the gasket, and the glass. Then fill in from the opposite side between the glass and the bulkhead shaft. Take the bulkhead nut and put a ring on the top. It is important that these rings go all the way around. Also, take a line of silicone down from the glass about 1/4" across the threads. Fasten the nut but again don't go past hand tightening. Finally, I take another ring of silicone around between the nut and the threads on the protrusding shaft.

 

[Jim Tansey]

The rubber gasket is often installed on the wrong side of the bulkhead, it is ALWAYS to be located between bulkhead flange and the aquarium glass regardless of the flange location in water or out. If the gasket is placed between the nut and glass the threads are not sealed they are straight threads and not designed to seal with any type of sealent. Properly installed there is absolutely no to need silicone seal them. Teflon tape or similar sealent should always be applied to NPT threads, straight threads use other methods such as gaskets or o-rings.

Jim

 

[nitrofish]

just when I think I have things under control, I find my acrylic sump has a crack in the bottom. I have no idea how it could have cracked. I got a patch on it now, hopefully its good enough. well see tomarrow when I re-fill it.