push connect bulkheads

jacksonpt · 10/20/2017, 01:03 PM

I use these in the tops of both my dosing containers and my ATO reservoir. My ATO uses an aqualifter pump, and the bulkhead allows enough air in that the pump ends up "slurping" water up through the airline tubing.

Any suggestions on how to seal things more effectively without gluing everything together? As it is, the pump runs about 4x as much/long as it needs to.

homer1475 · 10/20/2017, 01:11 PM

Replace the fitting?

I use the same fittings in my dosing containers and my ATO container. I have no air entering the lines.

laverda · 10/20/2017, 01:18 PM

Make sure your tubing is fully seated in the bulkhead. Also what tubing are you using? They are not designed for air line tubing.

homer1475 · 10/20/2017, 01:19 PM

As the poster above me mentioned, dop not use soft sided tubing. I use RO/DI tubing for my dosing containers and my ATO container.

mcgyvr · 10/20/2017, 03:21 PM

yep.. they shouldn't leak at all..
In fact I just used some at work on a pressurized bottle (10PSI) and no leaks at all..

shiftline · 10/20/2017, 04:11 PM

Just push hard. Should click in

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Vinny Kreyling · 10/20/2017, 04:41 PM

Be sure to cut the end as square as possible too.

jacksonpt · 10/20/2017, 06:02 PM

Just to clarify... They do or do not work with soft airline tubing?

laverda · 10/20/2017, 06:04 PM

They do work, but not well.

Kardjunkie · 10/20/2017, 06:22 PM

I used pex push connectors for my reactor loop and it leaked like crazy. I was using the wrong tubing, make sure it is the correct tubing for the fitting. After using the correct tubing everything is great with pressurized reactors.

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Gorgok · 10/20/2017, 10:04 PM

They have orings to seal the external wall of the tube to the inside of the fitting. This requires fairly stiff tubing, so soft stuff may or may not seal, depending on the tube. I wouldn't use it with anything not rigid, as even a little oval in the tube will cause a leak.

jacksonpt · 10/21/2017, 07:00 AM

Thanks everyone. Replaced a few of the lines with left-over RO/DI tubing meant to be use with push connect fittings, and the seal was immediately better. I'll be making a trip to Lowes today to get some more tubing and a few 90s to keep the tubing runs reasonably neat and clean.

MurphyLong · 10/23/2017, 01:06 PM

I have a gravity-fed ATO that developed a constant drip that drove me nuts. I covered the whole thing in PVC glue before realizing the problem was where I cut the tubing with scissors, it crimped the line and it had eventually cracked.

der_wille_zur_macht · 10/23/2017, 06:54 PM

Make sure the ends are cut dead square and even with no burrs. Make sure there's no torque or pressure off to one side or any other stress. And yes, it needs rigid tubing.

These fittings are convenient, except when they don't work, which IME is pretty often.

10/20/2017, 01:03 PM	#1
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	push connect bulkheads I use these in the tops of both my dosing containers and my ATO reservoir. My ATO uses an aqualifter pump, and the bulkhead allows enough air in that the pump ends up "slurping" water up through the airline tubing. Any suggestions on how to seal things more effectively without gluing everything together? As it is, the pump runs about 4x as much/long as it needs to. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

10/20/2017, 01:11 PM	#2
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	Replace the fitting? I use the same fittings in my dosing containers and my ATO container. I have no air entering the lines. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/20/2017, 01:18 PM	#3
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	Make sure your tubing is fully seated in the bulkhead. Also what tubing are you using? They are not designed for air line tubing. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

10/20/2017, 01:19 PM	#4
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	As the poster above me mentioned, dop not use soft sided tubing. I use RO/DI tubing for my dosing containers and my ATO container. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

10/20/2017, 03:21 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	yep.. they shouldn't leak at all.. In fact I just used some at work on a pressurized bottle (10PSI) and no leaks at all.. __________________ Who me?

10/20/2017, 04:11 PM	#6
shiftline Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Canada Posts: 537	Just push hard. Should click in Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ ReefDudes - Making Reefing Easy! Current Tank Info: Fuson 30L

10/20/2017, 04:41 PM	#7
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Be sure to cut the end as square as possible too. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

10/20/2017, 06:02 PM	#8
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	Just to clarify... They do or do not work with soft airline tubing? __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

10/20/2017, 06:04 PM	#9
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	They do work, but not well. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

10/20/2017, 06:22 PM	#10
Kardjunkie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 128	I used pex push connectors for my reactor loop and it leaked like crazy. I was using the wrong tubing, make sure it is the correct tubing for the fitting. After using the correct tubing everything is great with pressurized reactors. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ "Never memorize something that you can look up." - Albert Einstein ...and he didn't even have google! Current Tank Info: BioCube 29 with InTank Media Basket - Building 75 gallon bow front

10/20/2017, 10:04 PM	#11
Gorgok Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Cypress, Texas Posts: 1,904	They have orings to seal the external wall of the tube to the inside of the fitting. This requires fairly stiff tubing, so soft stuff may or may not seal, depending on the tube. I wouldn't use it with anything not rigid, as even a little oval in the tube will cause a leak.

10/21/2017, 07:00 AM	#12
jacksonpt Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Vestal, NY Posts: 3,679	Thanks everyone. Replaced a few of the lines with left-over RO/DI tubing meant to be use with push connect fittings, and the seal was immediately better. I'll be making a trip to Lowes today to get some more tubing and a few 90s to keep the tubing runs reasonably neat and clean. __________________ Jackson - All advice I give is based on my first hand experience. YMMV. Current Tank Info: 38g (mostly LPS) with a 20g sump/fuge and all the other standard goodies

10/23/2017, 01:06 PM	#13
MurphyLong HMFIC Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 331	I have a gravity-fed ATO that developed a constant drip that drove me nuts. I covered the whole thing in PVC glue before realizing the problem was where I cut the tubing with scissors, it crimped the line and it had eventually cracked.

10/23/2017, 06:54 PM	#14
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Make sure the ends are cut dead square and even with no burrs. Make sure there's no torque or pressure off to one side or any other stress. And yes, it needs rigid tubing. These fittings are convenient, except when they don't work, which IME is pretty often. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)