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ewaldsreef 
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 Topic: Help with leak
Posted: October 16 2003 at 7:11pm |
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I am setting up an auto top off. I have my ro unit in the basment running to my sump with a kent marine float. The leak is at the threads were the quick conect meet the kent marine float valve. I have tried teflon tape. In fact some much that it is hard to tread the adaptor peice on . The leak is very minor however it is causing the auto shut off vavle to turn on and off constantly. My other thought is to use aqiarium silocone on the treads but if I do that and it does leak. I am screwed because I am sure it will make a permant bond. Please offer any advise. I dont care if it bonds permant just that is seals. Thanks
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: October 16 2003 at 10:36pm |
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Could be a scratch on the tubing. Cut off a section back to where it is smooth all the way around.
I not sure that silicone will permanantly bond to that plastic and thus it will allow leaks because it may not bond at all!
Otherwise get a new fitting, or a new valve if the fitting is not separate.
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ewaldsreef
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Posted: October 16 2003 at 11:06pm |
The fitting has been replaced once due to overtighening ( I dont know who did that  ) I am looking for something to seal the threads. It should be so simple but it just wont seal and I dont want to ruin anything. Pvc glue,teflon paste, a welder anything 
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 12:52am |
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Okay, here is another thought. Put it all together snugly, ensure its dry and then goop silicone all over the fitting and against the tank and around an inch of the tubing. This should encase the entire thing in a glob of silicone!
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KeoDog
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 5:58am |
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Are you using a solenoid valve to shut off the water supply to the RO unit or are you just trying to stop the water flow out of it without controling the input? IMO the first is a much better and safer way to prevent flooding.
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Kevin Kunz (Sandy, UT)
300g reef
"A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." Ayn Rand
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Kirklan
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 6:39am |
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Bruce-your a mechanic right? Well I believe there is a gooey thread compound used to put threaded fittings together for diesel engines. Once it's setup it is air and water tight (better than teflon). I beleive it is made by Loctite.
Edited by Kirklan
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SE Idaho
67G Rimless Reef
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jfinch
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 6:59am |
IME, you should not use teflon tape on plastic fittings (or if you do, just use one wrap). The tape can cause the fitting to crack when you least expect it.
Use silicone. Take the fitting apart, fill the treads with silicone and screw it back together. The silicone is a better lubricant then the teflon tape. You should be able to really snug it up tight. Now let the silicone dry for a day and you should be good. BTW, the siliconed fitting will easily come apart later on if needs be. Good luck.
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Carl
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 8:43am |
If you need the ability to remove and reuse the fittings in the future, silicone may not be the answer. I prefer pipe dope. It provides a very good seal and it's messy. Messy is fun.
With the teflon tape (don't take offense) are you wrapping with or against the threads? Also, are you overlapping? If the fitting was overtightened, it could have a very small crack in it that will only leak under significant pressure.
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In Syracuse
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Kirklan
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 10:15am |
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The pipe dope Carl is refering to is basically a liquid gasket. Put it on the threads when wet, assemble fittings and when it dries it's a nice rubber gasket. Same thing as I refered to above.
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SE Idaho
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Flaz
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Posted: October 17 2003 at 1:10pm |
I've had good luck with Teflon Pipe Joint Compound (if the threads aren’t too messed up). It works much like Teflon tape but it prevents the capillary effect you get with threads and saltwater (it should also make a good seal for your freshwater top-off).
One other thing you might want to check if you haven't already. The Kent float valve uses a nylon compression fitting just like most RO connectors. The threads on the fitting really arn't meant to be water-tight. It should be your nylon tubing that gets pressed into the fitting to make the seal. Make sure you poke the tubing into the fitting as far as you can and then screw on the outer nut. Good luck!
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ewaldsreef
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Posted: October 18 2003 at 8:18pm |
Thank you all for the advise. I hope know one is offended if I didnt take there advise but I tried some silcone because I already had it lying around. It worked with great sucess!
But there must be a leak somewere else  I will make a new post for this problem
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Contact me for professional aquarium maintenance and localy grown coral frags. [URL=http://www.aquatitranquility.com][/URL]
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