catching a mantis

niloc16 · #1 10-31-2006, 11:28 PM

smellsfishy was right, i was tinkering with the tank as usual and by fluke the noise happened when i was right there and it was daytime, it is a vortex created by the vortech pump. thanks for all your guys input and thanks to smellsfishy, you just won a new car. not quite, but you get the point, thanks. i think i finally stopped the last 2 tiny leaks i had, they were on the intake and output of the dart pump where the fittings screw in. i've fought with these for 2 weeks now. today i just pulled the pump right out, snugged the fittings more, cleaned all the silicone off and jammed marine epoxy deep in the gap and threads, so far no leaks.

smellsfishy · #2 11-01-2006, 01:03 AM

wooohooo a new car. it's not the hotwheels kind is it, i want a ferrari .lol haha

i had the same problem with all 3 of my sequence pump i came to the conclusion to snug them up like normal then leave them for a couple of days (catch the water though) then after the poly shell/housing settles in and stops stretching give it a 1/4 turn tighter. solved my leaks every time. after i got them sealed i invested in unions so i didn't have to take them off again, makes it easier to tighten then to.
oh yeah, it sounds backwards but make sure you don't use to much silicon tape, 3 turns on 1" then add 1 turn every 1/2" increase in diameter got that formula from a plumber who installed/repaired spas and pools, just a guilde line though, wouldn't want to be to technical/annal.
glad you found the click/false mantis problem.

niloc16 · #3 11-01-2006, 01:09 AM

i've never heard that formula before on using teflon tape. i'll definitely remember that.

smellsfishy · #4 11-01-2006, 01:19 AM

yeah i though it was kindof kooky (one of those YEah RIght things)but i haven't had any problem, unless i didn't follow it. I guess it has something to do with the allowable tolerences of the threads when manufacturing, larger the pipe the larger the tolerance i guess the tape will pushback and bind if you use to much. so i'm told it sort of makes sense when you think about it.

niloc16 · #5 11-01-2006, 01:36 AM

makes sense.

goby1 · #6 11-01-2006, 01:45 PM

Lucky you. The mantis in my tank used to come to feed in a crack in the rock that I had full view of and I know for sure it's a mantis. Has the weird detached slit eyes on its head. I don't notice any tapping though. I haven't seen it for a while and until my shrimp went missing it was out of sight, out of mind ...