bulkhead installing question

[Shnabbles]

would it hurt anything if around the plastic peices that go flat around the glass i added a small ring of aquarium silicone?

and around every threaded peice in the whole plumbing system i want to add silicone tape right?

 

[lpkirby]

Would not hurt, you should not need it but it will be fine. All threaded pieces should have plenty of Telfon Tape around it.

Leon

 

[SDguy]

Actually, bulkheads are designed to not use silicone or teflon tape. You should use/need neither. Just make sure the gasket is seated properly on the flange side of the bulkhead. The gasket should be doing all the work.

 

[lpkirby]

Hey Peter, are you saying even the threaded end on the outside does not need Telfon Tape before screwing on a PVC Fitting??

 

[SDguy]

If the inside of the bulkhead is threaded, then sure, add teflon tape to the MPT fitting you will be screwing in. Otherwise, the bulkhead itself requires nothing.

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Here is a quick diagram of how a bulkhead should fit on the glass.

 

[lpkirby]

Nice diagram....

 

[MCary]

You can see by the diagram that if water is unable to seep past the gasket, then the threads will be dry. So teflon tape isn't necessary. Also, too much teflon tape is bad. Its supposed to seal the threads, not interfere with them.

 

[six.line]

I use silicone on the 'dry' side of the tank because I drilled sub-standard holes. (i.e. the drill bit slipped a bit and scratched the glass, as well as having the glass chip on the 'wet' side.)

The bulkhead does do its job, provided you did yours.

 

[Shnabbles]

thanks that diagram clears it up nice, i didnt know there was a gasket involved, my bulk heads are still in route