Seating O-Ring on reactor

[KathyC]

I know many of us use the 2 Little Fishies reactors for carbon & GFO. Am I the only one frustrated by screwing that top back on and not having that O-ring seat until I've tried it about 30 times?

Do you have a trick to seat that O-ring?
If so, I REALLY want to know

Does anyone use Vaseline or something else on it to help?

 

[beerfish]

I constantly had problems with these leaking. I found that a TON of teflon tape on the threads stopped the leaking even if it wasn't together just right.

If you're careful opening and closing it, the tape lasts at least a few changes before you need to replace it.

 

[prattreef]

I know many of us use the 2 Little Fishies reactors for carbon & GFO. Am I the only one frustrated by screwing that top back on and not having that O-ring seat until I've tried it about 30 times?

Do you have a trick to seat that O-ring?
If so, I REALLY want to know

Does anyone use Vaseline or something else on it to help?

Wow and this from a women who completely re-modeled her own kitchen, built her own massive backyard pond and captains her own boat.

 

[beerfish]

LOL... Sometimes even the best can be beat down by two little fishies!

 

[KathyC]

Wow and this from a women who completely re-modeled her own kitchen, built her own massive backyard pond and captains her own boat.

Don't forget the 2 bathrooms ...lol...but these reactors make themselves my least favorite part of the hobby!!! :sad2:

 

[House of Laughter]

Kathy,

When all else fails, use saliva - I just wet the ring with my finger and it sticks -

It's the wet equivalent of duct tape

House

 

[beerfish]

When all else fails, use saliva - I just wet the ring with my finger and it sticks

The fish are secretly saying... Ewwwww... human spit in our house! :fish:

 

[KathyC]

Kathy,

When all else fails, use saliva - I just wet the ring with my finger and it sticks -

It's the wet equivalent of duct tape

House

Do I have to use yours? lol

Funny, I actually do this when I am putting a screw in an odd location and don't have a magnetic screwdriver handy, works like a charm!


Where do you put the O-ring - in the top portion on on the edge of the reactor?

 

[pecan2phat]

Odd, I never had any problems with the screw top TLF reactors. Never even thought about it and opened/closed them after recharging media.

 

[KathyC]

Odd, I never had any problems with the screw top TLF reactors. Never even thought about it and opened/closed them after recharging media.

You must have magic hands Warren

 

[marrone]

I never had a problem until recently, as no matter what I did, it leaked. I had to change the O-Ring and it worked without a problem. How old is the O-Ring?

 

[KathyC]

I never had a problem until recently, as no matter what I did, it leaked. I had to change the O-Ring and it worked without a problem. How old is the O-Ring?

Could be original, no idea.

The top has to screw on 100% and that is the only way they don't leak.
No way to hang these on the inside of the sump so the leaking makes no difference..sump configuration...:sigh:

 

[DaddyReefer13]

From my experience, I find that over tightening the lid deforms the O-Ring and causes the leak. So now I just give it a little twist and it seems to work out.

Good Luck