Stupid Plumbing Mistake

[tdileo]

For some reason my drain bulkhead started leaking yesterday. I got it turn about 1/4 turn with a wrench and then thought it stopped so I superglued where the bulkhead meets the glass. When my dad got home to help, we realized it was still leaking, although very slowly (maybe 1 drop every 3-4 minutes). Well now the bulkhead is superglued and won’t turn. Is there a way to fix this mistake or is my tank ruined?

 

[Mandelstam]

Glass or acrylic tank? You can remove super glue with acetone but if it's an acrylic tank I don't know how well acrylic does in contact with acetone.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Don't beat yourself up to bad. I was plumbing my new 40 breeder last week. I had the entire drain pipe dry fitted and everything was fitting perfectly. So I started glueing it together. Got it all glued together and the glue dried..only to come to realize that I forgot to put the collar on the pipe that tightens up to the other pipe..Had to scrap the whole thing and start over....Acetone will un-stick superglue, but I don't know if that will have any negative effects on your tank. Best of luck to you!

 

[Mandelstam]

From http://www.supergluecorp.com/?q=removingsuperglue.html:

Use acetone to soften glue and then start working at the glue. Brush, scrape, shave, peel, sand or whatever mechanical means is available to work the glue off. Reapply acetone and continue to work at the glue.

 

[jsker]

Acetone is the best to dissolve superglue. Is the system up and running?

 

[jsker]

From http://www.supergluecorp.com/?q=removingsuperglue.html:

Use acetone to soften glue and then start working at the glue. Brush, scrape, shave, peel, sand or whatever mechanical means is available to work the glue off. Reapply acetone and continue to work at the glue.

+1

 

[WWIII]

Don't beat yourself up to bad. I was plumbing my new 40 breeder last week. I had the entire drain pipe dry fitted and everything was fitting perfectly. So I started glueing it together. Got it all glued together and the glue dried..only to come to realize that I forgot to put the collar on the pipe that tightens up to the other pipe..Had to scrap the whole thing and start over....Acetone will un-stick superglue, but I don't know if that will have any negative effects on your tank. Best of luck to you!

Did this at least 3 times on my setup. Those unions are expensive to waste... I have at least 3 extra of the end without the collar if anyone needs them. Haha

 

[Ryan Browne]

I was at LAX Aquarium which is a LFS near the airport, and the guy was using acetone to wipe off the paint pen marker they use to display
the price of fish and coral. He was wiping it off from their acrylic display tanks. I even asked him if it was bad for the acrylic, he said it wasnt
the best thing to use, but it works great. The acetone didnt seem to harm or distort the acrylic. I would also suggest that you replace the bulkhead
with a new one. Don't buy the crappy ABS plastic ones, spend the extra money on the PVC bulkheads and save yourself from these kinda problems.
Note to self in the future, Do Not use superglue. Invest in a tube of silicon. Good luck.

 

[tdileo]

Glass or acrylic tank? You can remove super glue with acetone but if it's an acrylic tank I don't know how well acrylic does in contact with acetone.

It’s glass. Think the acetone is worth trying?

 

[tdileo]

Acetone is the best to dissolve superglue. Is the system up and running?

Yes, for some reason it decided to not leak until now. It is fishless at the moment though until I transfer everything over, but draining a couple gallons still isn’t fun lol

 

[tdileo]

From http://www.supergluecorp.com/?q=removingsuperglue.html:

Use acetone to soften glue and then start working at the glue. Brush, scrape, shave, peel, sand or whatever mechanical means is available to work the glue off. Reapply acetone and continue to work at the glue.

I’ll tell my dad about this and hopefully we can try tonight or tomorrow. Thanks!

 

[tdileo]

I was at LAX Aquarium which is a LFS near the airport, and the guy was using acetone to wipe off the paint pen marker they use to display
the price of fish and coral. He was wiping it off from their acrylic display tanks. I even asked him if it was bad for the acrylic, he said it wasnt
the best thing to use, but it works great. The acetone didnt seem to harm or distort the acrylic. I would also suggest that you replace the bulkhead
with a new one. Don't buy the crappy ABS plastic ones, spend the extra money on the PVC bulkheads and save yourself from these kinda problems.
Note to self in the future, Do Not use superglue. Invest in a tube of silicon. Good luck.

It’s the kind that came with the tank, so I assume it’s an ABS one. I have a few tubes of silicone from resealing other tanks and building sumps but I figured since the tank has been running already silicone wasn’t the best bet

 

[Mandelstam]

It’s glass. Think the acetone is worth trying?

Then it's good to go. Use eye protection and breathing mask. It's nasty stuff.

 

[ciscomania]

not a good idea to glue bulkheads to your tank

 

[tdileo]

not a good idea to glue bulkheads to your tank

I knew that and explained one of the many problems of this in the original post. Was just hoping that it would seal the gap and prevent the little leak but didn’t work as I had hoped

 

[cracker]

I"think" silicone even if not completely cured At least 48 hours won't hurt if the tank has no livestock .I'm not sure about this .So let's see if anybody comments.

 

[IvanW]

Do not use any silicon on the bulkhead. There is a good thread/sticky about bulkhead installation in the equipment forum. I suggest you read it.

 

[IvanW]

Sorry double post

 

[Daltrey]

I use marine goop for every thing. Just put some on and you will be good to go.

 

[landlubber]

I use marine goop for every thing. Just put some on and you will be good to go.

sorry but this isn't good advice. there may be a time and place that a glob of glue will help but you're asking for trouble in gluing anything threaded.