Drip from drain bulkhead

SPotter · 07/11/2010, 06:53 AM

Just setting up my tank and doing the leak test now. No matter how much I adjust and tighten my bulkhead for the drain I still get a slow drip. I don't want to put silicone around it because then it will be very difficult to take off if I ever have to make a change. Suggestions are greatly appreciated and welcomed!

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fishyness · 07/11/2010, 06:57 AM

Is your gasket on the inside of the tank?

Gary Majchrzak · 07/11/2010, 07:00 AM

the rubber gasket is on the wet side, right?

is it a good brand new gasket of the proper size?

did you install the bulkhead in a reverse configuration?

is there a lot of water pressure on the bulkhead.... how high (or low) is it positioned in what size aquarium?

SPotter · 07/11/2010, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishyness

Is your gasket on the inside of the tank?

Yup on the inside.

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SPotter · 07/11/2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Majchrzak

the rubber gasket is on the wet side, right?

is it a good brand new gasket of the proper size?

did you install the bulkhead in a reverse configuration?

is there a lot of water pressure on the bulkhead.... how high (or low) is it positioned in what size aquarium?

Hi Gary,
Gasket is on the wet side, it is a brand new gasket and appears to be the right size. I have only put water in the overflow box to test the fitting and i have only filled it up a few inches. The tank is 39 gallons.

What do you mean by "install bulkhead in a reverse configuration?"

Gary Majchrzak · 07/11/2010, 07:09 AM

threads on wet side = reverse installation.

it can be done but water can possibly wick along threads to the outside of the tank.

billdogg · 07/11/2010, 07:11 AM

The gasket DOES NOT need to be on the wet side - it MUST be on the flange side of the bulkhead regardless of how you have the bulkhead installed. That being said - you most likely have a burr on the bulkhead flange or something (a grain of sand will do it) keeping the gasket from sealing properly. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!!!!!! 1/4 to 1/2 turn past hand tight is more than enough. More than that will just deform the gasket, or worse, crack the tank.

Take it apart and clean all surfaces. If you must, a slight coat of plumbers silicone grease on the gasket (enough to make it shiny) can help get a good seal, but should not be needed. Putting silicone sealant around the outside of the bulkhead is kinda like putting a bandaid on a severed arm - it may slow the flow for awhile, but is not a cure.

HTH

Chris27 · 07/11/2010, 07:11 AM

Is there plumbing attached to the bulkhead? If the plumbing is hanging off the tank without support, sometimes it pulls on the bulkhead causing the seal to loosen in one spot - usually the 12 o'clock position.

SPotter · 07/11/2010, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdogg

The gasket DOES NOT need to be on the wet side - it MUST be on the flange side of the bulkhead regardless of how you have the bulkhead installed. That being said - you most likely have a burr on the bulkhead flange or something (a grain of sand will do it) keeping the gasket from sealing properly. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!!!!!! 1/4 to 1/2 turn past hand tight is more than enough. More than that will just deform the gasket, or worse, crack the tank.

Take it apart and clean all surfaces. If you must, a slight coat of plumbers silicone grease on the gasket (enough to make it shiny) can help get a good seal, but should not be needed. Putting silicone sealant around the outside of the bulkhead is kinda like putting a bandaid on a severed arm - it may slow the flow for awhile, but is not a cure.

HTH

Thanks Bill. I will take it down and clean everything again.

SPotter · 07/11/2010, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris27

Is there plumbing attached to the bulkhead? If the plumbing is hanging off the tank without support, sometimes it pulls on the bulkhead causing the seal to loosen in one spot - usually the 12 o'clock position.

that is exactly where the drip is coming from but the plumbing is just barbed head with vinyl hose leading straight into my sump.

Gary Majchrzak · 07/11/2010, 07:29 AM

obviously....sometimes simply lessening the downwards pressure of the drain plumbing will solve this problem

in reverse installations it's a good idea to have a gasket on the wet side as well as the flange side but at the least (as already mentioned) you should always have a gasket on the flange side no matter where it is.

Chris27 · 07/11/2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPotter

that is exactly where the drip is coming from but the plumbing is just barbed head with vinyl hose leading straight into my sump.

Relieve the pressure on the bulkhead by moving the hose - you may find it stops leaking

SPotter · 07/11/2010, 04:45 PM

Thanks for your suggestions! I wiped down the base of the sump, got some silicone grease and positioned the plumbing a little differently. No more leaks!

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07/11/2010, 06:53 AM	#1
SPotter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 5,691	Drip from drain bulkhead Just setting up my tank and doing the leak test now. No matter how much I adjust and tighten my bulkhead for the drain I still get a slow drip. I don't want to put silicone around it because then it will be very difficult to take off if I ever have to make a change. Suggestions are greatly appreciated and welcomed! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Steve Am I really doing all of this for a fish tank?????? Current Tank Info: 360g Envision Acrylic Tank, Closed Loops, Vectra L1's, MP40QD's, 400w Radiums, Regal 300ext, Dastaco Ext3 CaRx, Controlled by GHL Profilux

07/11/2010, 06:57 AM	#2
fishyness Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 219	Is your gasket on the inside of the tank? __________________ fish happens Current Tank Info: 120 reef w/basement sump

07/11/2010, 07:00 AM	#3
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	tell us about your installation the rubber gasket is on the wet side, right? is it a good brand new gasket of the proper size? did you install the bulkhead in a reverse configuration? is there a lot of water pressure on the bulkhead.... how high (or low) is it positioned in what size aquarium? __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

07/11/2010, 07:09 AM	#6
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	threads on wet side = reverse installation. it can be done but water can possibly wick along threads to the outside of the tank. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

07/11/2010, 07:11 AM	#7
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	The gasket DOES NOT need to be on the wet side - it MUST be on the flange side of the bulkhead regardless of how you have the bulkhead installed. That being said - you most likely have a burr on the bulkhead flange or something (a grain of sand will do it) keeping the gasket from sealing properly. DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN!!!!!! 1/4 to 1/2 turn past hand tight is more than enough. More than that will just deform the gasket, or worse, crack the tank. Take it apart and clean all surfaces. If you must, a slight coat of plumbers silicone grease on the gasket (enough to make it shiny) can help get a good seal, but should not be needed. Putting silicone sealant around the outside of the bulkhead is kinda like putting a bandaid on a severed arm - it may slow the flow for awhile, but is not a cure. HTH __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/11/2010, 07:11 AM	#8
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Is there plumbing attached to the bulkhead? If the plumbing is hanging off the tank without support, sometimes it pulls on the bulkhead causing the seal to loosen in one spot - usually the 12 o'clock position.

07/11/2010, 07:29 AM	#11
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	all good advice so far obviously....sometimes simply lessening the downwards pressure of the drain plumbing will solve this problem in reverse installations it's a good idea to have a gasket on the wet side as well as the flange side but at the least (as already mentioned) you should always have a gasket on the flange side no matter where it is. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

07/11/2010, 04:45 PM	#13
SPotter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC Posts: 5,691	Thanks for your suggestions! I wiped down the base of the sump, got some silicone grease and positioned the plumbing a little differently. No more leaks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Steve Am I really doing all of this for a fish tank?????? Current Tank Info: 360g Envision Acrylic Tank, Closed Loops, Vectra L1's, MP40QD's, 400w Radiums, Regal 300ext, Dastaco Ext3 CaRx, Controlled by GHL Profilux

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