Bulk head emerency

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E-rock

Aquarium Advice Activist
Joined
Jul 24, 2011
Messages
125
Location
Buffalo NY
Okay I just finished pluming my 90 gallon to my sump. I used all PVC. The tank has a corner overflow with two one inch holes and I filled up the tank. And as soon as water starts pouring over, the over flow water starts leaking from the bulk heads. I tighten them as hard as I could by hand. I didn't want to use a pipe wrench for fear of cracking the glass any ideas. The tank is full of rodi water I would prefer if I didn't have to drain the tank. Any ideas?????
 
It's coming from above the the threaded part so i think it's something in-between the glass or the gasket I don't know
 
silicone worked on my bulk head. and teflon tape on the threaded part it all also really helps with salt creeps.
 
yep thats would work best, its either that or the gasket is to hard and not sealing or there is a crack somewhere
 
Thanks for the responses. Umm where can I get bulkhead grease/ what is it. And if I use silicone I wouldn't be able to take it out after would I? I ended up draining the tank :/. It made me nervous leaving all the water weight on the overflow wall.
 
i'm sure you can buy it at your local fish store, or homedepot might have plumbing lube for drinking water
 
i've never seen a bulk head with 2 gaskets. i think a gasket on the outside of the tank would cause more problems then anything else
 
I am put the tank up in our basement which we are currently remolding. I am thinking a piece of debris or something maybe got caught in-between. Could that cause anything? I am gonna try and get someone to help tomorrow to see if I can clean it our with cutting the pipe.
 
Silicone in-between which layer? Top of the bulkhead-gasket-glass-screw??
 
You may be able to run a bead of silicone around the bulkhead from the outside of the tank without taking the bulkhead off. Make sure it is dry first. It will make it harder to remove later but not impossible. Best thing is to remove the bulkhead, clean the glass around the hole, clean the gasket and the bulkhead then put it all in. A thin film of lube or silicon on the gasket may help it seal but if everything is clean and smooth the rubber gasket should do the trick by itself. Just make sure it doesn't buckle or get pinched while tightening it up. You don't want to tighten it too much like you said but I don't know that "Hand Tight" would be enough. Get it hand tight then, with a wrench, carefully tighten it another 1/4 turn.
 
is your bulkhead fitting a lot smaller than the hole in the tank?.If your putting a washer/gasket on the inside of the tank try to use the nylon ones as these dont go brittle like the rubber ones,if you only use 1 gasket put it on the outside of the tank.As stated before put a small bead of silicon on both sides of the gasket,tighten it up and let it set for 24hours,this will still be easy to remove if needed.
 
Took a closer look. It's looks like the hole was drilled to close to the side. So the bulk head is over lapping on the slicone on the side I am gonna try to take a razor an cut a piece back
 

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Sorry the picture is upside down. (I think) but I am almost positive thats whats causing it because its only dripping on side. I tried trimming it back but I don't wanna take to much off. But it didn't do the trick. Sooo I can try to find a smaller bulk head(so the top lip inside the tank is smaller) or maybe I can just silicone it. Sorry but after trying to cut back that silicone, I am a little afraid to put it on the bulk head
 
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