Bulk heads must be glued?

Gordonious

Active member
Do bulk heads at the top of tank, not drilled in the bottom, need to be glued or siliconed?

If I drill the top of two 20g tanks that are side by side and add bulk heads and a small piece of PVC do the bulk heads need to be glued/siliconed? I’m going to do something similar for two 10g in a freshwater system. I had thought about cutting a square out of the tops of them as if I was going to add a hob overflow, but I dunno…

Jon
 
if you are talking the piece of pvc that will slip into each one to connect the tanks then i would as it will leak if it is bumped etc. if you don't want it to be permanent then use a union and it can be taken apart if needed. Or use threaded bulkheads and use a threaded schedule 40 pipe. **remember the gasket on the bulkhead always goes on the flange side.
 
no need to use silicone on a bulkhead.... if the bulkhead is put on correctly it will not leak, even when bumped.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7537893#post7537893 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
no need to use silicone on a bulkhead.... if the bulkhead is put on correctly it will not leak, even when bumped.

wasn't reffering to seal the bulkheads will create withthe tank but the piece of pvc that will connect the 2 tanks together. hope that makes sense. I agree the bulkheads themselves do not need anything more than being hand tightened.
 
Thanks for your answers. Where can I get bulk heads? I bought one through foster and smith online. I've been told by 4-5 people just go to home depot they will know what your talking about. They didn't and I couldn't find them with 20 minutes of looking either. Lowes was no help either. I'm going to buy several of them so I'm hoping to save a little money.

Jon
 
yeah HD and Lowes don't carry them.

You amy aso want to look at aquatic ecosystems website. They have decent prices and all kinds of bulkheads.
 
the flange is the side that does not have the nut that screws on. whether on the "wet" side or dry side the gasket should go against the flange. Many make the mistake of thinking the gasket always goes on the "wet" side.

in that picture the flange is the top part of that bulkhead
 
That was my next question, so I can face it either way, just have to have the gasket against the flange. So in my case I'll be doing this: (blue arrow=flange, red arrow=gasket, green=nut)

<IMG SRC="http://www.gordonious.com/H2O/bulkhead.bmp">

I want to do this because I would like to get two tanks, side by side. I have room for two 20highs where my sump will be only if they are right on top of each other.

Jonathon Gordon
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7542983#post7542983 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gordonious
That was my next question, so I can face it either way, just have to have the gasket against the flange. So in my case I'll be doing this: (blue arrow=flange, red arrow=gasket, green=nut)

<IMG SRC="http://www.gordonious.com/H2O/bulkhead.bmp">

I want to do this because I would like to get two tanks, side by side. I have room for two 20highs where my sump will be only if they are right on top of each other.

Jonathon Gordon

correct
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7543134#post7543134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtrstangx
The gasket is always on the wet side.

sorry, but i have to disagree it does not matter which side as long as the gasket is on the same side as the flange. that is what creates the seal. does not matter whether it's on the inside or outside.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7543134#post7543134 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtrstangx
The gasket is always on the wet side.

When the gasket is on the same side as the nut, it can't seal. The water will just flow out through the external threads.

I like the flange to be on the inside of the tank, but i suppose you could do either way.
 
I'd put the nut on the outside too. If it needs a little tightning, it's a lot easier from outside the tank. It's also easier to install and is less intrusive to the inside of the tank.
 
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