bulk head leak

[GQ22]

Hey guys

Need your advice. I am setting up my tank and got an annoying minor leak in one of my bulk heads. It is a drop a minute with a half liter of water in my overflow.

Ive had minor leaks like this before which went away on its on as time went on (Dont me how but they did)

Should i ignore this and proceed? ive tightened it a bunch of time and unscrewed it a bunch of times as well. just have fully taken it apart, since my hose is already and i cant get my fingers in the holes of my stand to fully remove the nut.

 

[cb747]

Ive had luck running a bead of silicone around the bulkhead for the occasional drip.

 

[Kedd]

No don't ignore it! get a new bulkhead and don't tighten it too much, it should not contort while under pressure.
Something is wrong and should not be ignored.


Kedd

 

[junglebase]

over-tightening bulkheads can sometimes cause leaks..just make sure that the gasket lies flat and firm ..

 

[bigbris1]

Perhaps you can add another gasket so there's one on the inside of the tank & one on the outside.

 

[inline6]

Are you sure you have the rubber gasket on the right side?
By that I mean the side with the ridges goes against the glass inside your tank.

 

[OctaviousMonk]

Make sure both surfaces are very very clean and I run a thin bead of silicone on the gasket for extra protection and a small amount on the threads to keep the nut from vibrating loose at all. Neither are really necessary but it sure doesn't hurt at all.

 

[masterswimmer]

Gally, if they are schedule 40 bulkheads (which I believe they are), DO NOT USE A WRENCH TO TIGHTEN. Only tighten by hand, but definitely show your strength and go tight.

If it's a schedule 80 bulkhead, you can hand tighten it and then go 1/32 turn with a wrench.

Also, as stated above, I'm assuming the gasket is on the INSIDE of the tank.

Sometime those leaks you've had in the past have 'stopped' because salt creep at the leak will sometimes seal it.

I would have to agree with Kedd and don't ignore it. If there's a leak, it's there for a reason and you want to fix that reason (and the leak :duh: )

Russ

 

[duke62]

try taking the bulk head out.put some pipe tape on the threaded part.rubber gasket goes inside tank.on the other side run a bead of silicone all around it.screw it hand tight.wait a couple of hours and check for leaks.if that didnt work go get another bulk head.$6 is hardly alot of money for peace of mind

 

[crox99]

Also you can use some plumber's tape on the threaded part of the bulkhead. That ususally works grwat.

 

[masterswimmer]

Guys, plumbers tape (teflon tape) will not stop a bulkhead from leaking. The only purpose of the threaded knuckled 'nut' is to pull the rubber gasket tight against the tank. That is where the leak is coming from.....unless of course the bulkhead is cracked or the the hole is too large (in which case it's still the gasket that will leak).

swimmer

 

[GQ22]

thanks. definitely the hole isnt too large. problem though, this damn thing is the hardest thing to loosen up. the nut is against the glass, and i can only access it through the hole in my stand. after shredding my handing trying to turn this thing unsucessfully through the hole in the stand, ive given up.

is there a tool to do this kind of stuff? something to fit right over the nut and turn it. i noticed something @ home depot but it didnt look big enough to go over the bulk head.

 

[masterswimmer]

is there a tool to do this kind of stuff? something to fit right over the nut and turn it. i noticed something @ home depot but it didnt look big enough to go over the bulk head.

Channel Locks

 

[OctaviousMonk]

OR I believe the AGA mega flow kits come with a nifty wrench sized just right and offset so you can tighten/loosen the bulkheads. See if anyone has one you can borrow.