Appreciation post: My ugly sump finally stopped leaking

I was skeptical when my buddy said to use a PVC primer and cement combo for a bulkhead fix instead of the fancy marine epoxy. Slapped it on last Saturday after draining half the tank, and 5 days later not a single drip. Anyone else stay hesitant to use basic hardware store stuff on their saltwater setup?

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julia_burns91mo ago

Hardware store basics have gotten me out of more jams than any specialty product. There's something about the overpriced aquarium sealants that makes you think they're magic, when really it's just marketing and a different label. The PVC cement trick is a good reminder that sometimes the simple solution is the right one, same way a basic wrench beats a fancy socket set for certain jobs. People get caught up thinking they need the expensive stuff when a little common sense and the right cheap tool does the job.

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simonl861mo ago

Take that idea and run with it to plumbing supplies. The same basic brass fittings and copper pipe you find at any hardware store are exactly what professional plumbers use in million dollar houses, just with different branding. You're basically paying extra for the same piece of metal when you buy the "aquarium grade" version from the pet store.

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