Hello,
I am in the process of setting up a 90g reef-ready tank and have a few questions, the first is regarding installation of the overflo kit. Pressure fitting the return tube in the bulkhead is fine, no leakage, however, the drain tube does leak so should I cement both tubes in their respective bulkheads? LFS folks tell me it's not necessary, that pressure fitting them should do the trick...hmmm?
Also, is there a reason why the aquarium manufacturers don't drill a larger hole in the tempered glass bottom because I don't think a one inch hole is enough? Is it possible to increase the drainage of a predrilled tank so that I don't have to cutback flow of the return pump?
Thanks,
Bill the OlGeezer :mrgreen:

You cannot enlarge the hole, its tempered glass, it will shatter. If you want more drainage, you can use both holes to drain and return over the sides of the tank. I personally think that the 600 gph the stock setup provides is plenty.

I would not glue the durso (the J pipe) into into the bulkead, you will need to remove it on occasion. How are you attaching to the overflow? With the barbed fitting? Are you sure that you have the gasket on the correct side of the bulkhead?

Hello Poppin-Fresh,

Both bulkheads are installed properly, that is, the gaskets are inside the tank. Leak is coming from between the bulkhead and reducing tube in the durso asm. Even though I've tapped the reducing connector into the drain bulkhead it still leaks. Know that I do not have a drain pipe connected to my sump yet, I thought testing the connections first was a good idea.

Having worked with glass over the years I am familiar with tempered glass and drilling of same. I hadn't thought of adding the tank return to the drain for added drainage to the sump. Thanks!

Bill

If I understand you correct...

If you fill up the back side of the overflow some water will leak down the drain between the durso and bulkhead? If the plumbing was hooked up it would harmlessly end up in the sump, correct?

A small leak, like the one I described is not a big deal. It will usually stop leaking once everything slimes up a little. The thing to remember is that a leak like that will only drain the contents of the overflow, not the tank. My guess is that it would take hours of the return pump being off for the water in the overflow to make its way to the sump. As long as the sump can handle this small amount of water you wont have a problem.

dumb question but could you or are you using plumbers tape?

Hello Poppin-Fresh,

Both bulkheads are installed properly, that is, the gaskets are inside the tank.
Bill


I want to clarify for people reading this who may not know.

The gaskets MUST go on the flange side of the bulkhead, which may, or may not be the "wet" side depending on how you decide to install them. If you install the bulkhead with the nut on the wet side and place the gasket there, it will leak. In this case the flange is on the dry side and thats were the gasket must be.

Hello PhotoJohn and Poppin-Fresh,

Thx for responding so quickly. As re plumber's teflon tape, no it's not a dumb question, and no I'm not using it as of yet. Have used it many times in the past for threaded pvc connectors only. I may just try that as I'm anal when it comes to preventing leaks.

Poppin-Fresh, yes you do understand me correctly. The sump will be located directly under the DT so if there is a small leak early on then I agree it would not a problem.

Take care,
Bill the OlGeezer :mrgreen:

Wrapping the pipe end with teflon tape and pushing it into place will probably solve your leak. I thought you were already doing that... sorry. :)

Hello Poppin-Fresh :up:

No need to apologize. As much as I've used teflon tape in the past it was only on threaded connectors not slip type. I will give it a try, for sure, and if it fails, then I still have the option to cement just the reducing connector into the bulkhead, or as you suggested, wait and it'll solve itself.

Thanks again for being there and taking the time to respond.

Bill