Overflow/Bulkhead/Plumbing leak, Plumbing question

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

Hi guys,

As you can see from the pics below, looks like I have a leak either between my HOB overflow and bulkhead or the bulkhead and plumbing. I think its between the OF and BH, based on where the salt creep is, but not sure...

Questions:
Where do you think the leak is?
Do you think it's something I can quickly fix or at least trouble shoot? (its a running tank, so not sure how long I can work on this...)
Should I go ahead and install hard plumbing for my Overflow? Maybe do the return too... This is my first tank and obviously did not fully know what I was doing a year ago. Not that I know too much more now about plumbing, but it took me DAYS to figure out how to connect plumbing to the bulkhead... (who knew the threads were not to used...)
If I were to convert to hard plumbing, is this possible in a running tank? Figure I don't want the return Off for more than an hour or two...
Is it even worth hard plumbing a tank that's not "reef ready"?

Tank info:
Its a 75 g half circle with a HOB OF. A hard flex tube (?) connected to BH and converted to flex tubing before it enters the sump. Flex tubing for return as well...
(excuse my newbie plumbing lingo....)

Crabs McJones · Feb 7, 2018

Wonf said:
Hi guys,

As you can see from the pics below, looks like I have a leak either between my HOB overflow and bulkhead or the bulkhead and plumbing. I think its between the OF and BH, based on where the salt creep is, but not sure...

Questions:
Where do you think the leak is?
Do you think it's something I can quickly fix or at least trouble shoot? (its a running tank, so not sure how long I can work on this...)
Should I go ahead and install hard plumbing for my Overflow? Maybe do the return too... This is my first tank and obviously did not fully know what I was doing a year ago. Not that I know too much more now about plumbing, but it took me DAYS to figure out how to connect plumbing to the bulkhead... (who knew the threads were not to used...)
If I were to convert to hard plumbing, is this possible in a running tank? Figure I don't want the return Off for more than an hour or two...
Is it even worth hard plumbing a tank that's not "reef ready"?

Tank info:
Its a 75 g half circle with a HOB OF. A hard flex tube (?) connected to BH and converted to flex tubing before it enters the sump. Flex tubing for return as well...
(excuse my newbie plumbing lingo....)

Is the pipe glued into the bulkhead or just pushed in? If so what I would do is turn off the return pump. let the overflow drain, and loosten the bulkhead nut, and then re-tighten it. And check for leaks

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

Just pushed in... I don't have/see any water leaking/dripping anywhere, just the salt. How do I check for leaks?

Crabs McJones · Feb 7, 2018

Wonf said:
Just pushed in... I don't have/see any water leaking/dripping anywhere, just the salt. How do I check for leaks?

Your leak is most likely coming from where the pipe is pushed into the bulkhead. Those should be PVC glued into place. Best bet would be to run to your local hardware store, pick up a bottle of pvc glue, turn off your return pump, clean up the pipe, take the pipe out of the bulkhead, and glue it in. Also If that's a reducer bushing you'll want to glue the pipe into that as well. When pipes are just pushed in, there's always little channels for the water to escape. Gluing fills these channels and gaps and makes it water tight.
Check out this video from bulk reef supply on plumbing and gluing. It better explains it

Kzguns · Feb 7, 2018

Wonf said:
Just pushed in... I don't have/see any water leaking/dripping anywhere, just the salt. How do I check for leaks?

That’s where it’s leaking then. That needs to be glued in not just slipped together.

Kzguns · Feb 7, 2018

If you clean all the salt away you might see the leak. Might not drip even. Just tiny leak after a while will look like this

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

Thanks, I'll definitely glue that piece in. Maybe I'll even put in a union joint so I can clean/change in the future without having to replace everything (did learn some things since starting up tank

.

But if it was leaking between the BH and pushed in pipe, why would there be salt on the BH?

count krunk · Feb 7, 2018

+2 def need to glue ALL of your pvc pieces together. Use clamps for the flex hoses (plastic clamps). That is some serious saltcreep, the salt won't be there if there isn't water going there first.

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

One more ?, is it even possible/feasible to drill or convert to reef ready on a live tank???

count krunk · Feb 7, 2018

As for salt on the bulkhead, idk the physics but it is possible for the salt to creep up down and around over time. The union is a great idea as well. You do NOT need to use tape or paste on the threads of the union as the rubber gaskets are what makes it water proof

Crabs McJones · Feb 7, 2018

Wonf said:
Thanks, I'll definitely glue that piece in. Maybe I'll even put in a union joint so I can clean/change in the future without having to replace everything (did learn some things since starting up tank .

But if it was leaking between the BH and pushed in pipe, why would there be salt on the BH?

they call it "creep" for a reason

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

Gotcha. Thanks so much for info guys... Much appreciated!!!

To recap:
Glue small PVC to BH
Glue union to pvc
Glue my current stiff/flex pvc (the white piece with orange lines in pic) to the union.

Am I missing something here???

Crabs McJones · Feb 7, 2018

Wonf said:
Gotcha. Thanks so much for info guys... Much appreciated!!!

To recap:
Glue small PVC to BH
Glue union to pvc
Glue my current stiff/flex pvc (the white piece with orange lines in pic) to the union.

Am I missing something here???

Correct, anywhere you have pvc going into other pvc (and your bulkhead) you want to glue.

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

Wait, if I glue everything together, what is the point of the union? I won't be able to take anything apart anyway because of the glue no? So confused...

Sorry for the dumb questions...

Crabs McJones · Feb 7, 2018

Can you post a picture of your "union" not sure were talking about the same part..

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

Haven't gone out and bought the parts yet... I prolly don't know what I'm talking about. So with a union, the 2 sides that are glued to it come apart by unscrewing the union? (the union can turn into 2 pieces?)

Wonf · Feb 7, 2018

oh, I see that now. nevermind...

Crabs McJones · Feb 7, 2018

Wonf said:
Haven't gone out and bought the parts yet... I prolly don't know what I'm talking about. So with a union, the 2 sides that are glued to it come apart by unscrewing the union? (the union can turn into 2 pieces?)

Correct, one end glues onto the pipe and is threaded, the other end glues onto the pipe with a collar with threads, then the two thread together to seal it up, and can be unthreaded for maintenence or tear down.