Pump pressure?

[John_A23]

I think thats the way mine connects up the valve that has the settings for the filter backwash etc sits ontop of the pipe from the laterals and then then lid screws on so do I wrap the tape around the pipe or ontop of the opening to close off the open end?

[Poconos]

Tape is wrapped around the top of the center pipe. Only takes a couple layers and I had to keep trimming, removing layers of tape, to get a good fit. You're increasing the diameter of the inner pipe from the laterals where it mates to the pipe in the valve assembly so the slip clearance between the pipes is reduced. You still want air to bleed out of the top of the sand chamber, but not as fast as the original design.
Al