• Folks, if you've recently upgraded or renewed your annual club membership but it's still not active, please reach out to the BOD or a moderator. The PayPal system has a slight bug which it doesn't allow it to activate the account on it's own.

Need help in Bulkhead selection

Hi everyone,
I need to buy 4 bulkheads (don't know diameter yet. I need to measure it tonight) for my 180 gallon tank. 2 return and 2 overflow. I see that bulkhead come with slip x thread, slipxslip. what should i get ?
Olivier
 
There are basically two different strengths of bulkheads; the black ones are light duty and need an 1 3/4" hole for a 1" dia. pipe. The other is a grey (sch. 80) heavy duty bulkhead made by Hayward. They need a 1 7/8" hole for a 1" dia. pipe. You need to measure the holes you have to see which ones you can use.
As for the threaded vs. slip it depends on how often you're going to change your setup. Personally I use the threaded Hayward sch 80 bulkheads because at $28 each I want to be able to reuse them as long as possible. If you put a bead of silicone around the first few threads and then screw them in they won't leak. Make sure to wait at least 24 hours before getting them wet though.
 
slipxslip - in my opinion.

Olivier said:
Hi everyone,
I need to buy 4 bulkheads (don't know diameter yet. I need to measure it tonight) for my 180 gallon tank. 2 return and 2 overflow. I see that bulkhead come with slip x thread, slipxslip. what should i get ?
Olivier
 
i picked up bulkheads for my AGA 120 from AqOb - also slipxslip.

Here's a pic of some of the bulkheads underneath my tank:

IMG_4517.jpg


here's an answer on the sizes from panmanmatt:
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=7547.msg71906#msg71906

You will probably need 1" drain bulkheads and 3/4" return.
 
Personally I use the threaded Hayward sch 80 bulkheads because at $28 each I want to be able to reuse them as long as possible.
I agree thread x thread you can easily change or reuse somewhere else.

If you put a bead of silicone around the first few threads and then screw them in they won't leak.
Being a pipefitter I prefer Teflon tape. It is easier to use and less mess. Pull out a dry roll of tape or a wet caulk.

You can always cement a slip x thread adaptor in a slip x slip fitting. Then you basically have a threaded fitting that you can still make changes to more easily later.
 
I never had any luck with teflon tape on plastic fittings they always leaked after a while. The silicone dries to a rubbery consistency after 24 hours and can peeled off like rubber cement to reuse the fitting. It is a little messy until you get the hang of it (a little goes a long way). But the smell is always bad, I can never get used to it.
 
Phil,
Do you use teffelon tape or how do you seal the area at the join between PVC pipe to the bulkhead?
is it a thread or slip at that point ?

Hawkeye said:
i picked up bulkheads for my AGA 120 from AqOb - also slipxslip.

Here's a pic of some of the bulkheads underneath my tank:

IMG_4517.jpg


here's an answer on the sizes from panmanmatt:
http://www.njreefers.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=26&topic=7547.msg71906#msg71906

You will probably need 1" drain bulkheads and 3/4" return.
 
slip x slip.

pvc cement on the bulkhead to pvc.

I don't know if that is "Supposed" to be the way you do things but I did it. The downside is that if you have a problem with the bulkhead - you will need to cut the pvc. If you are around the metuchen area- you are welcome to drop by and take a look.
 
Of course I found out that you can buy replacement sockets after I bought all my unions and true union valves as threaded. Slip is less expensive up front of course.

I always glue slip fittings like you're supposed to.
 
Teflon tape is only used on threaded joints. You should wrap it around facing the threads in a clockwise motion about 6 to 8 times around. If you don't apply it properly it may not seal correctly. Very simple if you know how to apply it.
 
Not to hi-jack but I'll be needing a 1/2" bulkhead for an AIO tank that I plan to put a small elbow in the AIO section w/ a hose barb for the pump & than a connection on the other side for some loc-line, I believe I want a threaded / threaded correct & want to use teflon tape along the threads, or since it's in tank it shouldn't matter w/ the tape?
 
Top