Bulkheads leaking again on my 180g!!!

[raynist]

I drained the water below the bulkhead fittings and put a heater in the tank so it should be good for a couple of days. I have a heater in my sump too, but no flow. I turned of the skimmer since it would not be skimming the tank.

The holes that are drilled in my tank appear to be 1.75 inch holes so it looks like none of the one inch bulkheads from mcmasters would fit.

 

[raynist]

I can get a piece of scrap 1/2 inch acrylic for pretty cheap, should I go that route?

 

[BeanAnimal]

If you do, you will need to use TWO gaskets. One on each side of the new washer. You would be better off trying to use PVC bulkheads and a PVC washer. That way you can glue them together. If you have end up woth ABS bulkheads, then use an ABS washer. Polypropylene... well you will need two gaskets.

Get the bulkheads first and we will go from there. Elmers usually has 1" PVC bulkheads in stock... so does Under the Sea.

An easy way to get a flat piece of PVC without having to order it would be to buy a "Closet Flange" that has an integral test cap, or any other piece of PVC or ABS that has a FLAT section that can be cut out of it. Most of the 3" or 4" PVC caps are rounded at the ends, so they will not work. The closet flanges, and some of the PVC downspout stuff has flat sections. The closet flanges are likely a little bit thicker.

Bean

 

[raynist]

Jason from under the sea made me some acrylic flanges and I bought the bulkheads from him. $34 for 4 bulkheads and the flanges, I was very happy!

--Ray

 

[BeanAnimal]

Let us know how it works!

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8484361#post8484361 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
Let us know how it works!

Jason and the other guy that he works with suggested using the bulkhead gasket to seal against the washer they made and then using silicone between the washer and the glass.

What do you think about that?

I haven't done anything yet.

--Ray

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would not recomend the silicone.... for a lot of reasons. You want a compressable gasket there, not a thin film of silicone

Yes, use the supplied gasket between the washer and flange... but you will need to fashion a new gasket for the washer to glass junction. Should be very easy with a razor knife.

Simple mash the rubber down with the acrylic disc and use a very sharp razor blade to cut around it. For the inside hole, you can finde something that works in similar fashion (as a pattern to trace around. Just remember to push down hard so the rubber does not move under your pattern.

Bean

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8485282#post8485282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
I would not recomend the silicone.... for a lot of reasons. You want a compressable gasket there, not a thin film of silicone

Yes, use the supplied gasket between the washer and flange... but you will need to fashion a new gasket for the washer to glass junction. Should be very easy with a razor knife.

Simple mash the rubber down with the acrylic disc and use a very sharp razor blade to cut around it. For the inside hole, you can finde something that works in similar fashion (as a pattern to trace around. Just remember to push down hard so the rubber does not move under your pattern.

Bean

I will have to get some rubber tomorrow then. Is there a good place locally to buy it?

 

[BeanAnimal]

Any of the hardware stores should have EPDM shower pan liner... or POND liner. If you can't come up with anything let me know. I have some softer stuff... but it may work.

 

[carpenterwrasse]

I got some extra pond liner if you want some drop me a line

 

[raynist]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8491224#post8491224 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carpenterwrasse
I got some extra pond liner if you want some drop me a line

Thanks, my father had some so I will give it a try.

--Ray