Overflow Leak

[cookiemn]

I have two 1 inch drains and a 3/4 returm in my overflow. I decided to test the new bulkheads and install two dursos. I filled the overflow half way and checked the bulk heads. I could not find any leaks on the bulkheads, but discovered that water was flowing down the drain lines to the sump. The only thing that I could think that would allow the water to go down the drain line was the dursos. The dursos are made of a coupling the is threaded to the each bulkhead and then a standard 1 inch pipe is inserted to the coupling without any glue. I retightened the coupling when I noticed the water going down the drain pipes. I though I fixed it, but there still seems to be water coming down. Is this set-up different from other set-ups?

Erwin

 

[jmaxwell]

Sounds like you have water coming down on the outside of your drain pipe..correct? Did you use teflon tape on all of your threads?

Jim

 

[jmaxwell]

oops I get what you are saying now...my guess is that you will have to glue the durso into place w/ pvc glue...for a less permanent weld you could use silicon. My guess is water is finding a way through the presure fitting without something to seal it....water is a bugger like that.

Jim

 

[big t]

Use some silicone, and stick them in there. They should still be able to be removed. Or just don't worry about it, it won't matter much, as long as there is plenty of room in your sump to accomidate it.

 

[Scooterman]

If the bulkheads aren't leaking, then from what your telling me is that the pipe underneath isn't glued in right?
If this is the case, Glue it, also glue a union so you can remove your plumbing, this will solve the leaking problem. Now the part of the stand pipe that isn't glued should all be inside your overflow so if it leaks it would just drain into the bulkhead, then to the pipe underneath and then the sump. Or do I not understand your problem?

 

[Thefishcouple]

There is no way for water to get from the theaded adapter of the durso to the outside of the pipe under the tank. Those are threaded to the inside of the bulkhead fitting and water leaking through the threads of the durso can only go down the drain. No need to teflon those threads. There are only two ways that water can leak to the outside of the pipe. Either the rubber gasket did not seal or it is damaged and it did not seat against the bottom of the tank. Be sure that the area where the bulkhead seals is clean of any debris or plastic. The other possible reason for the leak would be a crack in the bulkhead fitting itself although this is not very likeky as I think they have pvc pipe glued into the socket end that should prevent that. I would bet you did not get a good seal on the rubber gasket. By the way the rubber gasket goes inside the tank just thought I would throw that out as well. If you cant get it to seal best thing to do is follow the instuctions of BigT and add a little silacone around the bottom inside part of the bulkhead.
John

 

[Scooterman]

Yea that is true but I thought he said the Bulkhead tested & didn't leak, so something he isn't clear on maybe?

 

[big t]

The way I read it was like this. He does not have water escaping the outside of the pipe. He wants his durso standpipe to provide a seal that would keep all the water in the overflow in the overflow. He is having a problem with the water draining a tiny bit thru the threaded adapter at the bottom into his drain. Now I don't think this is a big deal as long as his sump can contain all the extra water in the event of a long power outtage. To solve it all he would need is a bit of silicone.

 

[cookiemn]

It sounds like I did a poor job in coummunicating the issue. My apologies, let me try again. As far as I can tell the bulkheads are not leaking. I have not seen any water leaks around the bulkhead. I have an adapter that threads into the bulkhead inside the overflow. A one inch PVC pipe that serves as the durso. This one inch pvc pipe is snugly inserted into the other end of the adapter. My thought is that somehow water is getting in thru the durso pipe fitting into the pipes going to the sump. The sump is more than large enough to handle all the water in the overflow. I placed two gallons in the overflow last night and found all of it in the sump this morning. I re-checked bulkhead gittings and found no water dripping or leaking. I hope I have explained this well enough this time.

Erwin

 

[Scooterman]

teflon that adapter

 

[bri7969]

gule the one inch pipe into your adapter

 

[cookiemn]

So then if I need to remove the durso for cleaning, I just unscrew it? Also, do they make a threaded pvc pipe that large?

Thanks

Erwin

 

[acropora]

I'm sorry but I still do not see where the water is leaking.If the B.H. is not leaking ;then everything above it will not matter. In my Durso set up,I assembled all the pvc fittings of the Durso(inside the overflow)without PVC solvent or teflon tape..Any leaks here would flow into the pipe as stated above.The male adapter that screws into the B.H., from inside the overflow does not have to be secured with teflon tape,since all water will only go into the pipe to your sump.Now directly under the overflow box is the end of th B.H. I prefer slip B.H.'s here. I glue the PVC pipe directly into the B.H. and therefore no leaks. Is your B.H. like most, a slip B.H. where only the outside is threaded for the locking nut.The washer goes on the side of the B.H. that is submerged(i/s the overflow box).
If this is the case and you are seeing water running down the outside of the pipe going to the sump;then your B.H. is leaking or the water is coming from some other source.Dry off the water with a paper towel and observe the fittings to find where the water is coming from.
Good luck

 

[acropora]

Another reason not to glue the Durso fittings is the ability to raise or lower the height of the pipe until you get the water level in the box at the height you desire.You can see that the cap of the Durso is well above the overflow box.This raises the water level up and reduces the noise that water overflowing into the box will make.

 

[cookiemn]

Anthony,
water is flowing down the pipe after the BH. I am fortunate enough that the rest of the tank is not filled and I can look down the overflow pretty easily. I dont think that the BH is leaking because I do not detect any water on the threads outside the tank not do I see any water under the tank itself. I think the leak is coming from the joint between the male coupling that screws into the BH from inside the overflow and the durso pipe itself.
On the other side of the BH is a slip on adapter that my flexible tubing slips onto. That is why I am thinking of gluing the coupling to the durso pipe.

Erwin

 

[big t]

Dont do it. I think some silicone is all you need. It will provide a great seal, yet will be easy to take apart when needed.

 

[acropora]

Anthony,
water is flowing down the pipe after the BH. I am fortunate enough that the rest of the tank is not filled and I can look down the overflow pretty easily. I dont think that the BH is leaking because I do not detect any water on the threads outside the tank not do I see any water under the tank itself. I think the leak is coming from the joint between the male coupling that screws into the BH from inside the overflow and the durso pipe itself.
On the other side of the BH is a slip on adapter that my flexible tubing slips onto. That is why I am thinking of gluing the coupling to the durso pipe.

Erwin

Edwin,If water gets into the durso it should flow through your plumbing without leaking.So you are talking about the b.H.'s that come with a slip elbow/hose barb fitting? And it is leaking from this fitting? I use PVC solvent to glue either rigid or flexible PVC directly into the bottom of the B.H. fitting.

 

[cookiemn]

BigDave gave me a call this evening and straightened me out. I see no evidence of the BHa leaking. All the water that I put into the overflow goes thru the BHs, into the tubing connected to the BHs and then into the sump. I have found no water leaking from the BHs. The problem is that I do not have the durso pipes glued to the coupling, which in turn is screwed into the BHs. He recommends that I glue the durso pipes to the couplings and then apply teflon tape to the couplings if I see fit. I bought some PVC glue today and plan to glue it after I get my sump modified. Thanls to everyone for helping me resolve this. This is my first RR tank and I am learning more about plumbing as I set this thing up.

Erwin

 

[mattseattle]

what is an RR tank?

 

[Elmo18]

RR = Reef Ready

Which basically means that a tank has a built in overflow and drilled at the bottom so you can attach a sump to it without problems.

Non RR tanks, on the other hand, is just a container with an open top. No internal overflows to get water down to the sump.

- Elmo