180 Gallon Build

then i would say the unions were bad, the o-ring should keep the water from coming out and the threads on the union are there to tighten the 2 parts of the union together and squeeze the o-ring. So far I have NEVER had a union leak on me unless the o-ring had been missing.

 

Did you use any o-ring lube? Dry o-ring's don't seal as well. Putting some silicon o-ring lube will help the seal immensely. If you don't have that Vaseline or even vegetable oil will work also and it's all safe to use in a reef.
This is best, less than $5 @ F&S and what I use on any o-ring's on my reef equipment.  It helps keep the seals soft and allows skimmer parts to go together much eaiser.

 

Silicon will not adhere to PVC, you need to use PVC cement. Super glue would work better than silicon but I"m not telling you to use that The connections need to be dry before you re-glue as well.

 

Yep smart post sucks, FedEx ground takes 1 day from them to IA but smart post generally takes a week+. Any packages that are light or small go smart post, it works like this - FedEx picks up the package from F&S then tenders it to USPS in Kansas City from there it flows with your regular mail until it reaches you.  It's cheaper for them, you and FedEx since they don't have to make a residential stop and the post office already does everyday. ( But then that's probably why the post office is bankrupt, the service they provide cost more than they charge). Only the government can do it year after year and still stay in business

 

If you don't want to take the plumbing apart your best bet is to slather some more cement in/on the joint and hope that it "wickers" into the gap filling it.  The correct way would be to redo the joint though.

 

Nope sorry

 

It's still cheaper for F&S because the shipment is calculated by each individual packages weight. FedEx does not credit the fact that they are already going to be making a delivery there, the number of packages is irrelevant in the calculation. Whether their shipping 10 boxes or 2 it is still billed by each packages individual weight. Not the shipments total weight.

 

Removing the leaking joint is the correct way to fix the join. Putting more Cement on the joint may stop the leak, but it could not bond correctly and leak again later. To be sure I would re do the Joint. I also notice a section of pipe that looked like it could be re done after looking back a pictures. Its just to the left of the shot off in one of the pictures. It looks like it got put in at an angle or something. I had to redo my setup twice, but that's the brakes.
Thanks for sharing your build it great.
KP

 

For the most of the country smart post doesn’t take much longer but because of our geological location to F&S and the FedEx sort/USPS dispatch facility in KS it doesn't make much sense to us....but that's just how it works, I hate it as well I wish that they had a FedEx ground option for shipping during checkout. I have called them when placing a order and requested FedEx ground not smart post and they did do it for me  Just a tip for any of you ordering from them