RDWC setup
- Thread starter TIMtoKILL
- Start date
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
I have threaded "bulkheads" too. Most of them are threaded with a big nut to tighten them down on the inside. I would unscrew your bulkheads and clean all the silicone off then move the washers to the inside behind the nut. Put a small 1/8" or so bead around the inside edge of the outside of the bulkhead to form like a washer, a lot of it will ooze out when you tighten. The gap we talked about before is concerning still. You want the whole outside edge of the bulkhead to be flat against the outside of your box. When its tightened all the way, you shouldnt be able to stick anything between the box and the lip of the bulkhead.
As far as it leaking between the bulkhead and your drain pipe, you'll probably have to cement these connections.
Silicone doesnt stick to plastic well, its better used like an extra washer than trying to fill holes. This is why you leak under pump pressure, its just pushing the silicone out of the way because it doesnt stick to the boxes or pvc well.
As far as it leaking between the bulkhead and your drain pipe, you'll probably have to cement these connections.
Silicone doesnt stick to plastic well, its better used like an extra washer than trying to fill holes. This is why you leak under pump pressure, its just pushing the silicone out of the way because it doesnt stick to the boxes or pvc well.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
You shouldnt need anything around the washer, the nut smashing it up against the side of your box is supposed to be enough of a seal, but if you feel inclined to do a little extra you could just coat the washer in silicone too.
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
Okay. I pretty much trashed these bulkheads trying to get them to not leak I’m probably going to have to get at 3 new bulkheads and rebuild my intake. I’ll rebuild it to be one inch so it will save me some cash. Thanks for the help man it means a lot. Did you weld the pvc to your bulkhead?
Papasmurf99
Well-Known Member
1 inch will block with roots mate. Rdwc looks like a pain in the ass ill stick with my lazy hempy buckets
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
don’t let my failures discourage you man. I’m just learning the rdwc game.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Yes, I used ABS for all of my drains so I cemented everything with ABS cement. I don't plan on taking it apart though.
Here's my setup
https://www.rollitup.org/t/how-would-you-set-this-kinda-rdwc-up.972189/page-3
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
So after reading some stuff online I realize that there is a slight angle to one of the pipes that’s leaking and it may be causing some of my problems. I may try and go the uniseal route.
After looking at my build I kind of think that the pipes that connect my intake are kind of redundant. Wouldn’t that pressure be better served going straight through my waterfalls?
After looking at my build I kind of think that the pipes that connect my intake are kind of redundant. Wouldn’t that pressure be better served going straight through my waterfalls?
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
I would just use the smaller pipe for waterfalls and let all the bigger stuff be your drain. You could potentially cut it right after your line up and find a way to plug the 2 ends you just made. That'll just leave the sides of the boxes connected straight through. This will be good if you get root plug on one of your outlets anyway, gives it somewhere else to drain to until you find it.
That would be the easiest way to change it without doing all of it over. You have enough room in the pipes coming out the side that you could possibly cut the big T out of the middle and join the boxes with a couple connectors and a few more inches of pipe.
The issue I see is those reducer plugs create water pressure on your bulkheads being on the inside, youd have to slow the water flow before the bulkheads to take that pressure off.
That would be the easiest way to change it without doing all of it over. You have enough room in the pipes coming out the side that you could possibly cut the big T out of the middle and join the boxes with a couple connectors and a few more inches of pipe.
The issue I see is those reducer plugs create water pressure on your bulkheads being on the inside, youd have to slow the water flow before the bulkheads to take that pressure off.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
You can cement threaded pvc the same as slip. Clean everything up. Remove all the silicon and everything from the threads. Screw the adapter 1/2 to 3/4 the way in, then cement the remaining threads. Screw it in as fast as you can, as it'll bond quickly. You should be all set. No silicon, or anything else needed.
If all else fails, go with the slip bulkheads.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Follow the proven setups, instead of trying to build something original. There are reasons why they work, and probably why you're having difficulties with your design. Unless you have experience with pumps, pipes, valves, etc...you're kind of just guessing as to whether something will work or not. You'll notice there are a lot of layouts very similar, or exactly like, my setup. It's because it works really well and has been proven over time with experienced growers.
We could try and figure out why you're having troubles with your setup, or we can simply say that it's not set up the way it should be, which is how he majority of DWCs are designed.
Just trying to help you from wasting time, effort, and money trying to fix something that will probably end up failing at some point. Follow the "KISS" rule.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
Not easily, anyways. I've taken lots of cemented parts apart using a heat gun and patience. Once the cement is heated up enough, it reactivates and the parts can be pulled apart. But, the pvc will warp, so you have to reshape it back to the original shape while it's cooling.
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
The only part that I have created was the waterfalls to the buckets themselves. What’s giving me problems is the bulkheads I bought. At least the threads. I’m going to try and salvage these at only 2 of my bulkheads are actually giving me problems I’ll be back to give an update hopefully later today
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
This is why I try to leave enough pipe between joints that I can cut and change things out one way or another with a couple new fittings. Ive never tried to heat joints apart, but I cant imagine it would be easy with the amount of cement I use lmao.
The waterfalls arent the issue, the pressure youre creating on your bulkheads with your pump in that setup is.
JSB99
Well-Known Member
I truly wish you luck. Many of us had our fair share of leaks, and it absolutely sucks! Myself, and I'm sure many others here, are routing for ya
JSB99
Well-Known Member
I hear ya! I always try to plan for stuff like that, but unprepared for situations always seem to rear their ugly heads LOL! I had made a couple dumb mistakes, and design changes, on the pump manifold. So if I messed up any one part, the whole manifold was wrecked. With all the valves and unions involved, starting over became costly. There were a couple things that I rewelded that I ended up replacing when I got more money, but just because of esthetics, not because of any leaks. I've rewelded some things more than once, and I've never had a peak. But, it took some practice, and it's a pain in the ass.
TIMtoKILL
Active Member
I’m going to try and save these bulkheads but if this doesn’t work I may try uniseals. they seem to be built for flexible plastic and stuff Of that nature. At least that’s what I could find, Have you had any experience with them?I truly wish you luck. Many of us had our fair share of leaks, and it absolutely sucks! Myself, and I'm sure many others here, are routing for ya
I know leaks are the nature of the beast and I’m sure that I will get it right eventually just taking a little bit long than usual. Thanks for all your guys help by the way it’s really been a great resource to have.