Leak in my return plumbing

[aws2266]

This is for my new tank and just glued it together last week. It's a small leak, just little drops. I'm wondering what the best course of action is. It's glued so any change will require me to cut into the existing pvc. Is there some kind of repair kit or putty that I can put around it? Hoping I don't have to go cutting into this.

 

[Glenner’sreef]

Are you sure it’s not the clamp right above it? If not I would just redo it.

 

[C_AWOL]

Is there a particular reason why you have a metal clamp and a barbed fitting at that point of the return? If that's mandatory, I would move it a lot further down on top of redo the plumbing since I assume that's likely the point that it's leaking from what i can see clearly

 

[wlmalek]

you asked for the best action.
cut the pipe, use new connections make sure this time to cut straight sand the endges with proper inside length.

 

[The_Paradox]

Agreed about checking the bulkhead or worm clamp above it. If it’s actually leaking there, you can just smack a dab of “glue” there. CPVC will melt the leak closed. Not to be that guy but I have no idea how you screw up a PVC joint. Put glue in, push, twist , hold.

 

[PapaFishRocks]

Not suggesting it is the best method, but I have fixed many things over the years with JB Weld. Including a cracked Pontiac block. It lasted the life of the car.

 

[t5Nitro]

I had a leak in one of my newly plumbed return lines on set up. I asked the same question and ended up cutting the pipe out and redoing it with a coupler. It was more of a hassle upfront but no more leaks and unlikely to leak at all in the future.

 

[aws2266]

Agreed about checking the bulkhead or worm clamp above it. If it’s actually leaking there, you can just smack a dab of “glue” there. CPVC will melt the leak closed. Not to be that guy but I have no idea how you screw up a PVC joint. Put glue in, push, twist , hold.

I have no idea how it got messed up. It was the last place I expected a leak. It's not the clamp on the barb I'm 200% sure, that's where I initially thought the leak was from. It's a very small leak, takes a couple of hours just to get a few drops, the towel I put below it overnight isn't even damp. If it were a larger leak, I'd probably cut it out and but as long as it continues to be this small I think I'm going to try and patch it. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Id say let it go as the capillary action from the salt its self will eventually plug it.

P.S. that screw clamp is gonna rot, bad.

 

[Rmckoy]

I’m having a hard time thinking how the newly glued section if cleaned properly before applying glue , it shouldn’t leak there but more probable to leak at the threaded part above and run down the fitting .

If it is for sure the glued section leaking the only way to repair is is cut it out and re do it .
I personally would it leave it knowing it will eventually need to be repaired

 

[aws2266]

Id say let it go as the capillary action from the salt its self will eventually plug it.

P.S. that screw clamp is gonna rot, bad.

What would you suggest instead of the screw clamp? I'm out of my element when it comes to plumbing so any suggestions would be helpful.

As everyone seems to have a hard time believing how this could be leaking, I'm in that group as well. I cut it(was an even cut), and sanded the ends and the outside about an inch back. Applied primer and then the glue, then plugged and twisted just like I did on the other connections.

 

[aws2266]

I’m having a hard time thinking how the newly glued section if cleaned properly before applying glue , it shouldn’t leak there but more probable to leak at the threaded part above and run down the fitting .

If it is for sure the glued section leaking the only way to repair is is cut it out and re do it .
I personally would it leave it knowing it will eventually need to be repaired

I originally thought that's where the leak was coming from. I folded a piece of paper towel and put it in various spots to test where there is moisture. The only spot that did was the space between the barb fitting and the elbow. Nothing above that space has shown any kind of moisture.

 

[The_Paradox]

What would you suggest instead of the screw clamp? I'm out of my element when it comes to plumbing so any suggestions would be helpful.

As everyone seems to have a hard time believing how this could be leaking, I'm in that group as well. I cut it(was an even cut), and sanded the ends and the outside about an inch back. Applied primer and then the glue, then plugged and twisted just like I did on the other connections.

I’ve had worm and t-clamps on aquariums for literally decades and they are fine as long as they are not cheap steel. 316SS holds up fine. Where that clamp is it could probably be cast iron and fine.

 

[ScottJ]

What would you suggest instead of the screw clamp? I'm out of my element when it comes to plumbing so any suggestions would be helpful.

As everyone seems to have a hard time believing how this could be leaking, I'm in that group as well. I cut it(was an even cut), and sanded the ends and the outside about an inch back. Applied primer and then the glue, then plugged and twisted just like I did on the other connections.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I’ve had worm and t-clamps on aquariums for literally decades and they are fine as long as they are not cheap steel. 316SS holds up fine. Where that clamp is it could probably be cast iron and fine.

Thats usually the issue, lol. The majority arent 316ss, they are cheap crap.

 

[The_Paradox]

Thats usually the issue, lol. The majority arent 316ss, they are cheap crap.

Maybe I’m spoiled living on the water. There are three marinas closer than the nearest auto store. For US people Amazon might be the easiest.

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

Maybe I’m spoiled living on the water. There are three marinas closer than the nearest auto store. For US people Amazon might be the easiest.

Likewise, I live on my boat part time, so I get it! Even with that, they will still sell you crap from the boat supply house.