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Cody Pearce View Drop Down
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Joined: November 04 2004
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    Posted: April 08 2005 at 4:44pm
I was doing some of the mods to my skimmer that Anthony Calfo suggested and I loosed one of my bulkheads so that it has a a slow drip.  I'm struggling to get it back tightened up.
90 gallon mixed reef
My fish swim naked.
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dnellans View Drop Down
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Points: 842 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dnellans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2005 at 5:13pm
pipewrench?  sometimes loosening just a bit then retightening can get you tighter.
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Cody Pearce View Drop Down
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Points: 633 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cody Pearce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2005 at 5:26pm

I don't have enough room to get a pipe wrench around it.  Plus I don't want to over tighten it.
90 gallon mixed reef
My fish swim naked.
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Jake Pehrson View Drop Down
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Points: 4279 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jake Pehrson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2005 at 5:28pm
Bulkheads should only be hand tightened (or maybe a 1/4 turn past hand tight).  Most bulkhead leaks I have seen are caused by over-tightening the bulkhead.
Jake Pehrson

Murray

coralplanet.com

:)
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Cody Pearce View Drop Down
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Points: 633 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cody Pearce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2005 at 7:37pm
How big a hole could I cut out of my stand to get to the bulkhead?
90 gallon mixed reef
My fish swim naked.
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Mark Peterson View Drop Down
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Points: 21436 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 08 2005 at 11:56pm
Glass aquariums sit only on the frame around the edge. The rest of the stand top board is practically useless. I recommend cutting a huge hole (8")for bulkheads.

After the tank is in place and filled it may seem like a pain and it can make a mess, but it works if you take a pair of Channel Locs and rip it apart bite by bite from the bottom. Pry down not up. Don't hit or put pressure on the bottom glass of the tank, or

Edited by Mark Peterson
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:
www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244
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SharkByteShaz View Drop Down
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Points: 1076 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote SharkByteShaz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 09 2005 at 8:08am

I agree with Jake. Something else that may help is to ensure that the gasket is supple(soft). If the gasket is really old or cracking no amount of torque or lack there of in this case is going to give you a good seal. I've often used a small amount of petroleum jelly (old plumbers trick) but now I use silicone lube (the same stuff that PVC unions and high end pump gaskets are using from the factory) to increase the contact. Petroleum jelly has a tendency to breakdown the gaskets in the long run, but it works as a quick fix.
HOLD MY BEER, I WANT TO TRY SOMETHING...
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