My Nightmare Day As A Reefer

[Craig Lambert]

Today was going to be the start of something good for my now cycled 75G tank. A Detrivoire kit from Inland Aquatics was due into my local FedEx distribution center at 8:00 AM. After picking it up, I decided to change out my filter sock on the drain line first. I noticed a leaky 1.5" bulkhead.:bouncebox I tried tightening it, but the drip would not stop, so I decided to loosen it. It moved 1/4 turn and froze. That was it....now it couldn't move in either direction. I removed the drain pipe from the bulkhead, and began to think of ways to get that sucker off, so I could replace it. I tried Channel-Lock plyers...no good:cry1: . How am I going to remove this thing????????:tears:

From 10:00 AM to 3PM I worked on this task:rollingey ...(Work....what is work??). I ended up drilling multiple holes and sawing the shaft of the bulkhead and the nut.....It finally came free. By the time I cleaned up the mess, acclimated the detrivoire critters and added them to the tank, it was 5:30PM.

I sometimes feel that this hobby is among the most difficult. There is nothing we do that doesn't have to be thoroughly planned out, modified, or jerry-rigged. God am I looking forward to going to sleep...................

 

[Woodstock]

You fixed it!! That is a happy ending!! Sweet dreams

 

[Witfull]

Ditto~

 

[addict]

Dang... sounds like quite a day!

Like Doni said, at least it had a happy ending.
Glad you got it all worked out.

 

[Witfull]

as i started to read,,i had this vision of you tightening it,,and hearing that sickening cracking of glass...i was skeered.

 

[dobejazz]

Wow Glad you were able to fix it

 

[Gina]

Good job on the repair. I also thought this was going to end up a bad read!

 

[forestal]

glad it worked out for you....i hate moments like those ...usually i will be tired, but decide, let me just fiddle with this, like when i decided to make a sump out of 2 salt buckets and a bulkhead on my anemonae tank...
2 hours later and 10 gallons on the floor, i gave up and restarted when fresher...

 

[Little Luey]

Glad it worked out.
There are things that are very frustrating about this hobby (for me is plumbing) but also very rewarding, I try not to do much plumbing and a lot of staring.

 

[Dragon Wrasse]

I know the feeling....simple task turns into, hours later and allot of cursing.

 

[Craig Lambert]

It's been 16 hours since the repair was completed and I'm happy to report that the outside of the the new bulkhead is "BONE DRY"!!!!!

 

[forestal]

 

[ScottT1980]

Your experience, while frustrating, is exactly why I love the hobby. Multiple challenges that require some inginuity and thought and more often then not, success is found. What could be better...

Take er easy
Scott T.

 

[Woodstock]

True, never a dull moment and there will always be new things to learn!!

 

[addict]

Multiple challenges that require some inginuity and thought and more often then not, success is found.

That sounds almost like 'dating'... yet without the introductions.
Though a reef tank is probably cheaper...

I also like having to engineer my way around things, which is why I love doing DIY... and keeping a reef provides plenty of opportunities for that.