Jacked up bulkheads

[snarkattack]

Hey all, first post, long time lurker. I bought a beautiful used 80g acrylic, plumbed with a sump.

Ive set up hob overflows, and returns, canisters, ect, but im a little perplexed at how to solve my situations.

A) The prior owner used crylic sealant and fused the bulkhead to.the tank, now its broken, unusable. Its in the overflow, Next to the larger downpipe to the sump. Can i get it out without a dremel, or how cqn i seal it without messing up the tank.

B) is it common to run the return in pvc thru the overflow and out one of those flexible head things?

Thanks!

 

[cjm5283]

A. If is sealed to the tank, I don't know what other options you really have to get it out. I would cut as close as you can to the glass and try and break the old bulkhead apart.

B. Yes that is the common/preferred method for bringing your return back into the tank.

 

[jjvanb]

Does the broken bulkhead have internal threads that are usable? If so you could install a threaded plug and not use the bulkhead, and route your return line over the back over your aquarium.
But in the long run you will probably wish that you took the time to cut out the broken one and install another, since the return coming from the overflow will undoubtedly have a better aesthetic.

If the break in the bulkhead is of a type that it is not easily sealed/plugged, you are probably going to have to cut it out in the end anyway to avoid leaks.

 

[Matthias7]

If it were me I would attempt to cut it if I could get to it without cutting the acrylic

 

[fishpureluck]

How about a hole saw that is about the size of the bulk head?

 

[m0nkie]

pictures would be helpful

 

[snarkattack]

Ill shoot some pix after work, appreciate the reponses, id like to salvage the hole.

The bulkhead has 0 salvagable threading, its utterly trashed.

To be fair, i paid 50 bucks for it, its an aquaview 80 acrylic, internal corner overflow, hood, 4x48 t5ho, sump, odyssea 2700l/hr, and some misc plumbing, so if i have to put some money in, im happy to

 

[Bent]

Pics would help some, but in my minds eye here's what I would do.

Take an angle grinder and cut off both ends as flush to the tank as you can without hitting the tank walls.

Get a bigger hole saw and cut a new hole. Maybe 1.5" if the existing bulkheads are 1".

 

[uncleof6]

Hey all, first post, long time lurker. I bought a beautiful used 80g acrylic, plumbed with a sump.

Ive set up hob overflows, and returns, canisters, ect, but im a little perplexed at how to solve my situations.

A) The prior owner used crylic sealant and fused the bulkhead to.the tank, now its broken, unusable. Its in the overflow, Next to the larger downpipe to the sump. Can i get it out without a dremel, or how cqn i seal it without messing up the tank.

B) is it common to run the return in pvc thru the overflow and out one of those flexible head things?

Thanks!

The solvent welded bulkhead is not going to come out, without damaging the tank. Doesn't really matter what you do, the tank gets damaged. Since it is broken there is no way to know if it is going to leak, till it is water tested. If it leaks, there really is no repair for the leak either.

About the only thing you can do is take as much as you can out, short of breaking/cracking the tank, and punch a larger hole, as others suggested. Which won't be easy, as there will be no pilot hole for a guide.

It is common to run pvc through the overflow, certainly, but the better way is up over the back, and forget the loc-line—which is just a useless restriction in the return line.

A pricey lesson in buying other peoples problems...

 

[snarkattack]

Thats the bulkhead, its a 1.25 hole. Ive got a plethora of diamond tip masonry style hole saws, all the way to 6" lol. Ive got no problems overdrilling the previous hole, i can set up a template from the opposite side to keep the hole straight.

I was figuring id have to overdrill to 2" to get those small cracks out, then i can bulkhead and plug. I was more curious as to possible alternatives. Worst case, the gear with it is worth the fifty i paid, so no big problem.

 

[Bent]

Fixed.