plumbing question

[mitchelWB]

I started putting water in my tank yesterday and testing out all the plumbing.
Everything seems to work great except for two places. Both of my return bulkheads have a small drip. I plumbed with rigid pvc and I did notice that the bulkheads seemed to be the roomiest of all the connections.

Now, when I tested the plumbing though, I shut off the return to the sump, and began filling the overflows with water. My plumbing and both overflows hold more than 5 gal of water. I also took out the return plumbing inside the overflow, so there was just a bulkhead in there with no standpipe. I've not tested with the standpipe in yet. but I didn't intend to glue it in because it didn't really seem all that necessary.

What can I do to help stop this drip? My two thoughts were to get some plumbers putty and push it up from the bottom of the bulkhead along the PVC to create a seal. The other idea would be to do a similar (but more messy) thing with silicone. It's not a lot of pressure, because it's just a drip, it's not like it's spraying water.

I didn't notice any dripping when I was pouring water into the overflows with the return line to the sump open either. So I don't think it's a major issue, but I don't want it dripping any which way.

MitchelWB

[deathmatch782]

This will probably be hard to tell, but is it dripping from around the bulkhead, or is it the pvc you hard plumbed?
Did you handtighten the bulkhead? If you overtightend it, it may leak.

[mitchelWB]

you are correct. it would be fairly difficult to tell. I did tighten it down with the wrench, but I don't think I overtightened it. when you're sittin on your keister and trying to tighten something at arms length, and chin level, but with stuff in your way, looking through two pieces of very thick glass, and just using the little double ended bulkhead wrench, it's kinda tough to get them tight in the first place!

If the bulkhead is what is leaking, I should be able to tell because the threads would be wet. I don't think that's the case, although I can't say I tested them. It appears as though the water is coming from the bulkhead/pvc joint.

MitchelWB

[Geoff]

i found this silly cone sealant tape at HD. it is super streachy and sticky to itself only. i can be wrapped very tightly around plumbing to seal tiny drips like you have. it came in a roll like electrical tape, neat stuff. this might work, if you are able to even wrap anything around i that area.

G~

[mitchelWB]

I can get to one of them pretty easily. but the other is going to be a little tougher. I don't know that I could get in there well enough to do it tightly though. That could be the hardest part.

I honestly figured I'd have a harder time with the returns than with the drains... go figure.

MitchelWB