I use silicon grease, and hand tighten. There's anecdotal evidence that plumbers tape can lead to overtightening. I've cracked every bulkhead I've used pliers on, so now if I get a leak I just rotate the entire assembly by 1/4 turn instead of tightening. That seems to do the trick.Should I be using teflon tape? I just added water to the overflow box again and I still have water weeping on the threads of all three. I already cracked one overtightening and I do not have any more spares. I have to be doing something wrong. Bulkhead through the hole, then gasket, then nut .... it's not the solvent joint. what the heck?
I think I know what I did wrong. My last tank has gasket on the outside, so I just followed suit. It just occurred to me that may be the reason why his bulkhead fittings always dripped! I called a friend and he said gasket on the inside or else it will weep on the threads. Well .... CRAP! I can get unions in the morning to fix the three in the overflow but I will need to completely replace the return bulkheads. I mean --- they are not leaking (yet). Better to do this right once than have rework later, right? Dang it, Darn it .... utter frustration.