PSA check your bulkheads

[dan55]

This is a PSA that you may want to check your bulkheads periodically. I hand tightened (2) 3/4" sch80 return bulkheads when I set the tank up 2 years ago. Yesterday I noticed a large amount of salt creep around the bottom rim of my tank. Immediately I assumed the worst that the silicone seam was failing, but after following the trail of salt creep to the bulkhead located 2" below the water line I realized where the leak was originating. The bulkhead had become extrmely loose over the 2 year period and finally began leaking. I was forutunate to have noticed this before a significant amount of water had leaked. I checked the other return bulkhead and it was loose too.

Many of you probably tightened your bulkheads with channel locks, so this may not be as prevaalent, but for those that hand tightened to ensure that the bulkhead didnt crack, they could loosen over a large enough timespan. I am curious if others have had this experience before and were your bulkheads hand tightened or did you use tools to help tighten more?

 

[blaxsun]

I hand tightened mine to avoid cracking the glass, but I also noticed that they had become loose a few months back (whether this was something that just developed over time or whether I didn't tighten them enough in the first place I couldn't say).