Bulkheads

[Reefugee]

Hello All,

I posted this in another forum, but I am hoping someone here might have some leads.

I am going to replumb my system so that the sump system is located out in the garage. This means all new plumbing. The last set of bulkheads that I purchased from MarineDepot were all junk that ended up leaking on me. I need to purchase some high quality bulkheads (1" and 3/4") for my AGA 120RR. I can get some really nice 3/4" bulkheads from my local Ace, but they don't have 1" bulkheads. BTW - the actual opening of the holes are 1 3/4" and 1".

Thanks
Minh

 

[funman1]

YR always has a bunch in

 

[Reefugee]

Yeah - but what are the quality of the bulkheads? I am trying to find high quality ones. The quality difference between the bulkhead that I can get at Ace and the ones that I have seen sold at MD, DFS, BAO, and LFS are huge.

 

[funman1]

Woh, too many acronyms for me? "MD, DFS, BAO,"

I always use the ones from YR and never had a problem, if you want to you could add silicone when you install it and then it will NEVER leak.

 

[kevin95695]

Check your local ag tank and irrigation suppliers like agriform, irrigation supply, etc.

 

[Elite]

Minh,
You won't be able to find high quality stuff using the current hole size. I never have problem using the "cheap" stuff but I guess I'm lucky.

http://www.savko.com/portal/bulkhead.asp

 

[JeffReef]

Minh,

I don't know if this particular bulkhead is of high quality but I got this one from CRS for my 60g.

I paid around $10 for it last week.

-Jeff

 

[xinumaster]

Buy the the heavy duty ones. Though it take up so much space but give you peace of mind specially when used for closed loop. I got my heavy duty SCH80 bulkhead at savko dot com.

 

[Reefugee]

Something isn't making sense to me. According to AGA, the diameter of the holes are 1 3/4" and 1". I think the 1" opening is incorrect. I might have to go to a LFS with my caliper and do my own measurements. BTW - the problem I had with MD's bulkhead was that the plastic was really cheap, so the threads stripped even though I was just hand tightening them.

Minh

 

[Jim_S]

Yeah, if you're looking for some sched 80 BH's, you'll prolly need to order them.

I have a friend at fastenal that hooks it up on stuff like this. I can't prolly get you a good deal if you're willing to wait for a bit.

You can also order them from Normac here in Sac.

The problem is that the sched 80 fittings don't fit into the standard AGA holes unless you downsize.

For example, go 3/4" BH instead of a 1" and a 1/2" instead of the 3/4".

You can see the sizing requirements for scehd 80/heavy durty BH's at savko.com

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Underwaterparadise]

What do you consider high quality and what exactly was leaking? I have used BH from every where with no issues as far as leaking except foe user error (no pun intended) I always use a small bead of silicone around the gasket and have not had 1 leak since doing this!

 

[GreshamH]

A quality BH is one that the threads do not fail. On larger tanks this is a concern as the pressure is great on the BH and the glass usually takes up a lot of the thread room(and the plumbing is usually a lot heavier then a small tank). In a case like that, if the plumbing is hanging off it, there is a chance it will dethread and leak. Yup, seen it several times and repaired each one for the people it happenned to

 

[Jim_S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9946579#post9946579 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jimdogg187
I can't prolly get you a good deal if you're willing to wait for a bit.

Sorry, this doesn't make any sense.... :lol:

What I meant to say is that I CAN get you a good deal on hayward BH's, if you're willing to wait.

Jim

 

[Reefugee]

Exactly. It's the thread on these bulkheads that have failed. The material the bulkhead are made out of is cheap. I am able to ruin the thread by simply hand tightening the thread. I have 6 bulkheads from MD and all 6 have failed due to thread problems.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9947147#post9947147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
A quality BH is one that the threads do not fail. On larger tanks this is a concern as the pressure is great on the BH and the glass usually takes up a lot of the thread room(and the plumbing is usually a lot heavier then a small tank). In a case like that, if the plumbing is hanging off it, there is a chance it will dethread and leak. Yup, seen it several times and repaired each one for the people it happenned to

 

[Underwaterparadise]

Ahh I see! On large tanks I use Schedule 80 and I try to stay away from threaded when ever I can!

 

[Wee-Reef Master]

I must concur with Reefugee. I purchased a bulkhead from MD and it failed on install with simple hand tightening. It broke at the base with the thread section coming right off. In my opinion, very LOW quality.