Despite Knowing Better...Bulkhead Gasket on Wrong Side...Options?

[LilElroyJetson]

Despite knowing better, I messed up. While removing and reinstalling my bulkhead from my overflow a couple of times while finalizing the sump plumbing on the tank I’m setting up, I had a lapse of focus and put the bulkhead gasket on the nut side outside of the tank. Unfortunately, due to the parts I was rigging together, I gorilla glued the pvc drain to the other side of the bulkhead, so I can’t get it off to slide off the gasket (dumb, I know). I should’ve done more research before hooking up the plumbing.

Anyway below are photos of what I’m working with. I think my options are:

(a) Leave it and hope it doesn’t leak because everything is pretty snug. (I know the most likely cause of leak is water coming down the threads, but the tolerance between the bulkhead flange, the overflow plastic maybe acting as a gasket, and the tank glass might prevent it?)

(b) Try to obtain another bulkhead gasket and just stretch it over the bulkhead from inside the overflow and re-tighten, thus, I’d have bulkhead —> gasket —> overflow —> tank glass —> gasket —> nut.

(c) Cut a slit into the gasket, sliding it in between the tank glass and overflow box with the slit at the top towards the edge of the water surface, and retightening that way? (This seems like a poor option because I’d ruin the integrity of the gasket.)

I’d appreciate any thoughts or suggestions! Was hoping to add water to the tank today.

 

[Nubbs01]

Did you actually use gorilla glue?

If so I would buy some new pieces and redo it. I would not trust gorilla glue not to leak.

 

[lbacha]

Hate to say this but the gasket on the nut side isn’t going to do anything. Like you stated the water will run right down the threads. You may get lucky and it will seal itself but I wouldn’t count on it. You may be able to put silicone between the flange and the overflow (where the gasket should be) and then tighten things down and let it dry. This may seal the flange and keep water from getting to the threads (this is what the gasket would have done)

 

[lbacha]

Something else I noticed is that your overflow box looks separate from the tank. If that is the case you actually need a gasket between the tank and the overflow and also between the overflow and the flange. The other option would be to turn the bulkhead around and use a single gasket on the outside of the tank (like you currently have except it’s the flange on the outside and threads on the inside)

 

[Nubbs01]

If you do re-do it I would suggest a threaded bulkhead rather then a slip for this application. I can imagine scenarios for cleaning that you might wish to take this apart in the future.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I appreciate all the feedback. I tried getting it off but it is not budging. I’ll likely break the tank before getting it off. So I’m confident with the Teflon tape and the amount of extra strength gorilla glue I used that that part won’t leak, but I cannot remove the bulkhead to get a gasket between the overflow and the tank. I can however stretch a gasket just enough to get it over the flange side in between the flange and the overflow. Any other suggestions?

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Did you actually use gorilla glue?

If so I would buy some new pieces and redo it. I would not trust gorilla glue not to leak.

Yes. It was already a pretty snug fit so some Teflon tape and a hefty amount of extra strength gorilla glue. It’s rated for water fixtures and honestly the amount I used and with how much it’s hardened, I actually trust that point of the set up as haphazardly thrown together as it may be.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I know one of my options is to silicon around the bulkhead edges and around the threads at the edge of the nut at the back of the tank. The permanence of this is unsettling, but do I really have any better option at this point? Aside from literally sawing the bulkhead off, re-doing the PVC section, obtaining a new bulkhead and re-installing properly? I’d like to avoid this but will bite the bullet if that is what needs to be done.

 

[JDnKY]

Imho, cut it off and start over with new parts. It will be much easier to do it now, while empty, than to chase the problems it could cause and end up having to cut it off while full of water and livestock later.

 

[Nubbs01]

If this was a threaded fitting the teflon tape should be enough without the gorilla glue.

 

[Reefer1978]

Do it right. Rebuild it. You won't sleep at night unless you know it's done right and won't leak.

 

[JDnKY]

Lowes or Home Depot should have the bulkhead, even my little local hardware store stocks them.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

I’m going to cut it off and re-do it. It’s a small inconvenience in exchange for peace of mind and hopefully averted future crises.

Any ideas how to get this off without literally hand sawing it? I live in an apartment with no jigsaw or anything similar. I don’t mind the handsaw it’ll probably be off within 5 minutes but figured I should ask.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

Lowes or Home Depot should have the bulkhead, even my little local hardware store stocks them.

Yeah my LFS will probably throw me one for free. I’ll probably drop by there and then Home Depot if they don’t have one because I need a hose adapter for my RO/DI unit either way.

 

[Reefer1978]

I’m going to cut it off and re-do it. It’s a small inconvenience in exchange for peace of mind and hopefully averted future crises.

Any ideas how to get this off without literally hand sawing it? I live in an apartment with no jigsaw or anything similar. I don’t mind the handsaw it’ll probably be off within 5 minutes but figured I should ask.

PVC cutter should do it. On the new one, make sure to use silicone instead of Gorilla Clue. Cleanup is a pain but at least you can reuse.

 

[JDnKY]

I’m going to cut it off and re-do it. It’s a small inconvenience in exchange for peace of mind and hopefully averted future crises.

Any ideas how to get this off without literally hand sawing it? I live in an apartment with no jigsaw or anything similar. I don’t mind the handsaw it’ll probably be off within 5 minutes but figured I should ask.

Hack saws are cheap at HD, or they also have a PVC cutter that’s like a pair of pliers with a blade.

 

[LilElroyJetson]

PVC cutter should do it. On the new one, make sure to use silicone instead of Gorilla Clue. Cleanup is a pain but at least you can reuse.

Will do. On the PVC sections should I use PVC glue or silicon there as well?

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Do it right. Rebuild it. You won't sleep at night unless you know it's done right and won't leak.

+1.

I am no stranger to your situation. I have learned after many, many, many mistakes the best thing is the right thing. It may hold water when filled but I’ve seen water start dripping on me the next day. Or one day it gets bumped and starts leaking.

If you do try to get a gasket in there I would do the cut idea you had. Make a careful cut, insert it like you mentioned and try to keep the cut together while tightening. Stretching it over is going to do just that. Stretch the gasket and it may not seat correct.

Good luck, I’m sure you will work it out

 

[JDnKY]

Will do. On the PVC sections should I use PVC glue or silicon there as well?

PVC glue. And the the right parts(threaded vs unthreaded) so you don’t need glue at all.

 

[JDnKY]

PVC glue. And the the right parts(threaded vs unthreaded) so you don’t need glue at all.

That didn’t sound right. PVC glue for slip joints and Teflon tape for threaded joints. I have not used silicon on any of my plumbing.