Enough is enough!

[Jedi1199]

After the better part of 2 days trying to install the bulkheads in my new tank and STILL having leaks, I am done fooling around. I am simply going to silicone them in and be done with it. Once this tank is up and running it's not going anywhere. Why waste my time messing around with trying to install bulkheads that are easy to remove and reinstall?

 

[Pistondog]

I made the mistake of over tightening the nut which compresses the rubber gasket too much. Hand tighten, then 1/4 turn.

 

[Sam816]

have you tried teflon tape on the threads? other option is rustoleum's spray on or brush on silicone. though i would avoid making a permanent outlet.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

probably you have cheap bulkheads through no fault of your own. i would purchase some quality bulkheads before moving forward. make sure the gaskets are very soft. just please know this is an expensive hobby and buying bulkheads is really a minor cost. do it right the first time and save money in the long run.

also the gaskets go inside the tank not underneath

 

[Jedi1199]

I made the mistake of over tightening the nut which compresses the rubber gasket too much. Hand tighten, then 1/4 turn.

Did that as per the instructions. had water everywhere.

have you tried teflon tape on the threads? other option is rustoleum's spray on or brush on silicone. though i would avoid making a permanent outlet.

It is not leaking from the threads. It is leaking from inside the tank. For whatever reason I can't achieve a seal.

 

[Sam816]

Did that as per the instructions. had water everywhere.



It is not leaking from the threads. It is leaking from inside the tank. For whatever reason I can't achieve a seal.

then get the silicone that can be applied with a brush and paint it on the rubber gasket creating a water tight seal or try new bulkheads.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Hold on. First off, no Teflon tape. You didn't specify if the leak was the bulkhead to tank connection or (assuming) threaded fittings that are attached to the bulkhead.

First thing with the bulkhead....regardless of the direction the bulkhead is installed.....flange inside the tank, flange outside the tank.....the gasket always.....ALWAYS....goes on the flange side. Now, before you get to installing, look carefully at the inside flange surface. Some inexpensive flanges have injection seams which need to be removed, carefully. Once that is done, ready to go.

Now as far as the fitting that are threaded into the bulkhead, again, do not use Telfon tape. What you want to use is pipe dope (aka pipe thread sealant) made for PVC / plastic pipe. Brush that on the threads, and thread it in. That's it.

 

[Jedi1199]

probably you have cheap bulkheads through no fault of your own. i would purchase some quality bulkheads before moving forward. make sure the gaskets are very soft. just please know this is an expensive hobby and buying bulkheads is really a minor cost. do it right the first time and save money in the long run.

also the gaskets go inside the tank not underneath

I got an entire Aqueon replacement kit. The original plumbing was damaged during transport so I replaced the entire setup as the old stuff seemed old and brittle.

Yes, the gaskets are inside the tank.. lol

 

[kenchilada]

I’ve had good luck with the Lifegard Aquatics bulkheads (from Amazon). I went through two sets of leaky junk ones before trying those. I had to file the flange smooth, but their gaskets were much better than others. It was really the gaskets causing leaks for me.

Also I will get physically assaulted for posting this here, but I put a super thin layer of molykote on the gaskets. A friend showed me this in the 90s (except it was Vaseline) and it’s always worked for me.

 

[laverda]

then get the silicone that can be applied with a brush and paint it on the rubber gasket creating a water tight seal or try new bulkheads.

Silicone should not be applied to the rubber Gasket! Silicone acts as a lubricant and allows the Gasket to squeeze out.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

I got an entire Aqueon replacement kit. The original plumbing was damaged during transport so I replaced the entire setup as the old stuff seemed old and brittle.

Yes, the gaskets are inside the tank.. lol

aqueon doesnt necessarily mean good quality - in fact aqueon for me personally has been the lowest quality tanks ive owned. you may be able to buy some gaskets at your local hardware store. otherwise try and see if the flanges or bulkheads are warped. it happens

 

[Jedi1199]

Hold on. First off, no Teflon tape. You didn't specify if the leak was the bulkhead to tank connection or (assuming) threaded fittings that are attached to the bulkhead.

First thing with the bulkhead....regardless of the direction the bulkhead is installed.....flange inside the tank, flange outside the tank.....the gasket always.....ALWAYS....goes on the flange side. Now, before you get to installing, look carefully at the inside flange surface. Some inexpensive flanges have injection seams which need to be removed, carefully. Once that is done, ready to go.

Now as far as the fitting that are threaded into the bulkhead, again, do not use Telfon tape. What you want to use is pipe dope (aka pipe thread sealant) made for PVC / plastic pipe. Brush that on the threads, and thread it in. That's it.

The leak is coming from inside the tank, not from any threaded part.

The install goes like this, flange, gasket, glass, tightening nut. The bulkheads have integrated barb ends that the hoses attach to so there is no threaded part that could be leaking.

The glass is clean and dry. The tightening nut is not cross-threaded. The gaskets are new and undamaged.

Basically there is no reason for it to be leaking, but it is. I will get some new gaskets and try that, but if that doesn't work I am going to silicone the bulkhead directly to the glass and call it a day.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

Basically there is no reason for it to be leaking

they wouldnt leak if there wasnt a reason. bulkhead is a 2 part item and either one or both or=f those parts are causing a leak. you have gasket and bulkhead. one must be damaged if installer knows what hes doing. clean glass, install in correct order and hand tighten. thats it. if you did that correctly and you have a leak well then theres a reason most likely the gasket is bad or the flange is slightly warped or the bulkhead is cracked - sometimes theres a hairline crack. but thats it. nothing else to it

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

get new bulkheads. you dont want problems when you have thousands of dollars of fish and corals in there. gl

 

[Greg P]

Can you post a pic of the leak location?
There is no need to use silicone so something is wrong

 

[rob taft]

I feel your pain. I bought a overflow box which came with a set of bulkheads and despite my best efforts e.g. ensuring all mating surfaces were smooth and clean, I could not get one bulkhead to stop leaking. Drained and refilled the portion of the tank above the overflows 4 times. I had already bought the same size overflows (Life Guard Aquatics) for another project so in my desperation I just replaced the overflow box overflows with the LF ones and viola no more leaks.

I could not see anything wrong or different between the two but the LG bulkheads held. The owner of my LFS has a tank maintenance company and he won't use any other brand.

 

[Pistondog]

Sorry for your troubles.
Check the inside and outside edges of the glass drilled hole. There should be no 'burrs', or that will cause a leak.

 

[Jedi1199]

I think I finally beat the problem!! Took out the leaky one, washed and dried everything thoroughly and reinstalled. poured in a 1/2 gallon of water and so far so good. No drips or visible leaks.

I will give it a couple hours and then add a couple more gallons to the overflow boxes. I am still at least several weeks out from getting this tank filled, but for now I at least know I have the plumbing in and leak free!!

 

[Greg P]

Maybe there was something on the gasket and you cleaned it out.

Good luck !!

 

[Jedi1199]

Maybe there was something on the gasket and you cleaned it out.

Good luck !!

Most likely. I bought this tank used and it was pretty dirty when I got it. I did my best to clean it up, but the overflow boxes in particular are difficult to clean. The previous owner used a very fine grain sand and it was all over the inside of the overflows. I cleaned it twice already but I guess I still had some that found its way under the gasket.