Return line leaking

[Jakepen]

So I set my tank up, and pushed it against the wall. Two days later I noticed a leak. Where the return line meets with the bulkhead going into the tank. What do I do?

 

[Crabs McJones]

So I set my tank up, and pushed it against the wall. Two days later I noticed a leak. Where the return line meets with the bulkhead going into the tank. What do I do?

If it's threaded on did you make sure it's nice and tight, and use thread tape?

 

[Jakepen]

Man to be honest I did not use tape, didn’t think of it.

 

[Jakepen]

Oh wait, yes I did

 

[Jakepen]

That’s without the loc line on, looking in and I do see that I taped it.

 

[Jakepen]

Could I drain the water below it, and work some silicone in there?

 

[Jakepen]

Without the loc line on there, it doesn’t seem to leak.

 

[dbl]

Is that threaded directly on the outside threads of the bulkhead? The same threads as the bulkhead nut? If that's the case, that's the problem.

 

[Crabs McJones]

I would TEN double check that all is tight, If so look to see that something didn't crack during assembly

 

[Crabs McJones]

I'm kind of confused on how you have that set up. I see the 90 elbow, what is the fitting going to the bulkhead?

 

[Jakepen]

Is that threaded directly on the outside threads of the bulkhead? If that's the case, that's the problem.

I believe it is.

 

[Jakepen]

I'm kind of confused on how you have that set up. I see the 90 elbow, what is the fitting going to the bulkhead?

A threaded piece that reduces from 1” to 3/4”

 

[dbl]

A threaded piece that reduces from 1” to 3/4”

That's the issue. That outside thread is for the bulkhead nut. Your pipe should be secured to the inside of the bulkhead. Can't really tell from the picture, but it looks like a slip fitting. So you would run your return line and glue it to the inside of the bulkhead.

 

[Jakepen]

That's the issue. That outside thread is for the bulkhead nut. Your pipe should be secured to the inside of the bulkhead. Can't really tell from the picture, but it looks like a slip fitting. So you would run your return line and glue it to the inside of the bulkhead.

I’m new to plumbing, clearly. I’m afraid I do not understand. I want to glue my pipe to the inside of the bulkhead?

 

[Crabs McJones]

I’m new to plumbing, clearly. I’m afraid I do not understand. I want to glue my pipe to the inside of the bulkhead?

Correct the outside threads on the bulkhead or for the nut to secure the bulkhead fitting to your glass you don't want to thread anything onto that or it's going to leak your pipe should go inside the bulkhead fitting and glued in place

 

[dbl]

I’m new to plumbing, clearly. I’m afraid I do not understand. I want to glue my pipe to the inside of the bulkhead?

No worries. Yes, run your return line from your pump up to the bulkhead. Not sure of your pump or the size of that bulkhead. So if your pump return is 1" and the bulkhead is 3/4", run 1" line up as far as you can, then use a reducer to take it to 3/4", then it gets glued in to the inside of the bulkhead. If the inside of the bulkhead is threaded, you'll need to use a slip to thread adapter.

So what size return is your pump? Do you know the size of the bulkhead and is the inside smooth or threaded? What size locline are you using inside the tank, 1/2 or 3/4? That will tell us the size of the bulkhead.

 

[Jakepen]

Return pump is the L1, return line is 1” and the bulkhead is 3/4”. Inside of the bulkhead is smooth. 3/4” pvc would fit into 3/4” bulkhead?

 

[dbl]

Return pump is the L1, return line is 1” and the bulkhead is 3/4”. Inside of the bulkhead is smooth. 3/4” pvc would fit into 3/4” bulkhead?

You've got it. So you'll have to reduce 1" return to 3/4" and then glue that in to bulkhead.

On a side note, and I can't see your set up, but you'll want to support your pipe somewhere along the line. It's best not to just rely on the bulkhead to hold it up.

 

[Jakepen]

You've got it. So you'll have to reduce 1" return to 3/4" and then glue that in to bulkhead.

On a side note, and I can't see your set up, but you'll want to support your pipe somewhere along the line. It's best not to just rely on the bulkhead to hold it up.

Man, any other option? Like I said if I take the loc line off it doesn’t leak. To pull the tank off the wall is difficult, then have to cut the plumbing apart and redo it. It’s such a slow leak, and like I said without the locline it doesn’t leak.

 

[Jakepen]

It has some support