Almost a disaster

[wally]

Just put everything together plumbing wise for my 75g reef build and low and behold I have a leak. It's not major, but the rubber washer at the bottom of my overflow, on the pump side, is a dud. The guy I bought the tank from said he was sure he bought the right replacement. Ugh, there are two drips coming from it. Luckily I didn't overfill the tank or my sump would've not been able to handle the water in the overflow when I shut the pump off.

So now I have to figure out how to remove the return tube and figure out what the right washer is.

Question: I have about 8 lbs. of LR in a stirafoam(spelling) cooler. It is wet with newspaper on top and about 2 inches of water in the bottom. Is the live rock gonna be ok it there, or should I put it in my DT until I get the washer replaced? Mind you, my tank has no water movement until I get the washer replaced tomorrow.

 

[buddyro]

You can put 8lbs of LR in a 5gal bucket with a maxi jet and be fine... As far as the washer, I'd replace both bulkhead(w/washer and all).
And yes your rock will be ok for a few days if kept wet, But I would put some flow on it asap...

 

[sharkbait]

If you had a power head you could just throw that into the DT and also add a heater as you will need to keep the temp around 77-78 as best as possible, that will allow you a day or so to fix the leak. From what it sounds like you need the rubber gasket for the bulk head. The rubber gasket goes inside the overflow and not on the bottom where the nut screws on.

 

[wally]

I have the gasket on the overflow side of the return, but it msut not be on there correctly or is the wrong one for the job. The one on the drain side is completely flat, and the one on the return side has a raised center. I'm guessing I just need to get a flat one like on the drain side.

As far as the LR, I am going to put it in a bucket with a Koralia 1050 running in it, as this is all that I have. Luckily I do have a heater I can put in there to keep it between 77-79 degrees.

Thank you both for your advice!

Wally

 

[sharkbait]

Wally;673775 wrote: I have the gasket on the overflow side of the return, but it msut not be on there correctly or is the wrong one for the job. The one on the drain side is completely flat, and the one on the return side has a raised center. I'm guessing I just need to get a flat one like on the drain side.

As far as the LR, I am going to put it in a bucket with a Koralia 1050 running in it, as this is all that I have. Luckily I do have a heater I can put in there to keep it between 77-79 degrees.

Thank you both for your advice!

Wally

Yeah you need a completely flat surface on those rubber gaskets otherwise it will leak forever.

 

[buddyro]

Good Deal Bro', You will be fine... I just PVC everything under my tank and am so happy I didn't get any leaks... Best of luck...

 

[wally]

Sharkbait;673776 wrote: Yeah you need a completely flat surface on those rubber gaskets otherwise it will leak forever.

I'll be at Home Depot first thing in the morning for a flat gasket.

Ew Ha Ha!...I had to do it. Your screen name is the best. I yell, "Sharkbait, Ew Ha Ha," at my 15 month old son all the time, and he laughs hysterically.

Wally

Edit:

BuddyRo;673778 wrote: Good Deal Bro', You will be fine... I just PVC everything under my tank and am so happy I didn't get any leaks... Best of luck...

I plan to go PVC too, once I get money for some upgrades. This is my first attempt at a tank with an overflow and sump, and I am always looking for ways to improve.

Wally

 

[sharkbait]

Wally;673779 wrote: I'll be at Home Depot first thing in the morning for a flat gasket.

Ew Ha Ha!...I had to do it. Your screen name is the best. I yell, "Sharkbait, Ew Ha Ha," at my 15 month old son all the time, and he laughs hysterically.

Wally

Edit:

I plan to go PVC too, once I get money for some upgrades. This is my first attempt at a tank with an overflow and sump, and I am always looking for ways to improve.

Wally

Just go to your LFS and ask them for the correct bulk head rubber gasket. Just tell them the size and they will more then sure have the correct part.

 

[wally]

LR should be ok. I have it in a 5 gallon bucket with a Koralia 1050 in it.

 

[smallblock]

you probably don't have to replace the gasket, there may just be a piece of sand or something under it. Make sure the actual bulkhead is flat and not slightley up on one side. those rubber washers are pretty tough man. You are talking about up under the bulkhead right? How tight did you tighten the bulkhead?

Edit: You can remove the drain out of the overflow box, I use and I thought most people use a slip bulkhead there for the one inch drain. I just slide my pipe into it and when I want to clean or have a problem I can drain the overflow by just pullling up the drain tube. Once youv'e done that then you can remove or just loosen the return bulkhead and figure out whats wrong. Another problem I have seen is the bulkhead flange being too big and setting on something keeping it from setting flat. If you have that problem just shave a little bit off of the flange untill it clears and sets flat.

Edit: Don't ever glue the drain pipe into the bulkhead just slide it in good. There is no pressure on this and it wont leak.

 

[wally]

Smallblock;673823 wrote: you probably don't have to replace the gasket, there may just be a piece of sand or something under it. Make sure the actual bulkhead is flat and not slightley up on one side. those rubber washers are pretty tough man. You are talking about up under the bulkhead right? How tight did you tighten the bulkhead?

I know the rubber washer is the wrong one, but how tight should it be? Like hand tight or do I use a wrench? I have it as tight as I can get it by hand.

 

[sharkbait]

Wally;673844 wrote: I know the rubber washer is the wrong one, but how tight should it be? Like hand tight or do I use a wrench? I have it as tight as I can get it by hand.

As much as you can hand tight, then a quarter turn with channel locks or the like.

 

[wally]

Round 2: bought a bulkhead gasket for my return and low and behold it's the wrong size. Not by much, almost like metric to standard. Tomorrow I'm taking all my plumbing hardware to my LFS and have them get me straight. Ugh!

LR is still in a bucket with a PH.

 

[smallblock]

It really doesnt have to be the exact size IMO, I think something else was the cause.

 

[wally]

Smallblock;674169 wrote: It really doesnt have to be the exact size IMO, I think something else was the cause.

I thought the nut screwed on tight. Turned the tank on and it was dripping again. Then when I tried to unscrew the nut, is pulled off, and clicked all the way down as the threads rubbed against each other.

 

[smallblock]

well that could be salt creep in there from the drip, or maybe it was cross threaded. If I were you I would replace the whole bulkhead at this point. Just make sure that it sits flat. I've seen a few that the edges would get caught on the other bulkead or sit on some silicone and keep one side of it up. This is very dangerous because it could easily crack the glass. You want to make sure they are totally flat and really clean. Sharkbait does like I do. I handtighten them and just do turn them with some chanell locks. Not much at all maybe like a 1/16 or 1/8 or a turn.

Edit: I also will get a small drip if I adjust my locline and it kind of binds the pvc in the overflow. I'll have to make sure that it is completely vertical not leaning in either direction and then it will stop. Thats alot of leverage to be putting on the bulkead. I'm terrible at explaining things so I hope I'm helping not hurting.

 

[wally]

Smallblock, I appreciate the advice. Hopefully I get this all fixed today.

 

[wally]

So I took all my plumbing up to Pure Reef, and they took care of me. I replaced all my fittings. Turns out it still leaked...so I went and bought channel locks and tighten everything 1/4 turn and Bam!...I am up and running. I started a build thread with pics coming in the morning.

Thanks everyone for all your info and ideas!


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- Wally

 

[smallblock]

good deal, just dont tighten it anymore if it starts leaking. Overtightend bulkheads are a major cause of tank cracking