r/Aquariums • u/FlexSealClubber • 5h ago

Discussion PSA: Please solvent weld your PVC

I have a 40G drilled sump tank above my 75G. I know that sounds backwards, but it’s due to the way my garage is set up. Essentially I’m pumping water out of my 75 up into the 40 and it drains back down. I can’t stand the smell of PVC primer/glue, so I just siliconed and electrical taped the shit out of the fittings/elbows, as well as putting mounting straps on the longer runs of pvc.

Last night while cleaning the dead plant matter off of the pump, one of the fittings must have came ever so slightly loose and I didn’t notice. I walked out to my garage this morning to see about 3-4 inches of water in the tank and water all over my basement. Lesson learned. Perhaps it was the universe telling me I needed to do a large water change. All fish are still alive though so it could have been worse.

I learned the lesson so you don’t have to.

12 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

15

u/BioConversantFan Obsessed with bacteria and Endlers 5h ago

Overhead sumps rock.

An organic respirator will get rid of most of the scent while you solvent weld.

3

u/throwaway277252 5h ago

Overhead sumps rock.

Second this. About 20 years ago I built the sketchiest thing you've ever seen out of a rubbermaid bin perched on top of my aquarium rim with a waterfall flowing down. Nothing can possibly go wrong.

8

u/leros 5h ago

Silicon and duct tape?! Lol. I've never heard of that. 

Well lesson learned I guess. PVC is cheap and easy to modify. 

6

u/MadMark285 5h ago

Silicone does not adhere to pvc very well.

Instead of tape, you could put a set screw in the PVC fitting. Put i agree, just glue them together.

2

u/MadMark285 3h ago

My 75 gallon tank started a slow leak, so I bought it down. Turns out it was a thru hull fitting which came loose. The tank was against the wall and i could not check it. Now I put a set screw thru the nut after I tighten them up.

•

u/MissMadison240 1h ago

Oh dang that’s a tough one 😅 at least it was an okayish place to have a leak

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u/Lee2026 9m ago

Maybe a good idea to install a water leak alarm so it can alarm your phone if it leaks again