OK! Enough chat...Starting a 1000g+ Reef

[jnarowe]

I am a bit confused by your post. Are the schedule 80s cheaper than 40s where you are?

Even as recently as last week one of the reefers currently building had broken 2 schedule 40 BHs because, I believe , they are not as strong as schedule 80.

 

[1SickReefer]

Correct Sch 40 is less expensive and also lighter, sch 80 are made thicker/heavier. HTH's

SCH 80 are much better and more expensive

 

[1SickReefer]

O i use 40's and see np's and I silconed them in

 

[melev]

I just hand tighten the bulkheads. I don't use silicone or sealers.

 

[asnatlas]

I don't like sched 40... I love sched 80... about twice as much but I mean, just look at the diff...

Right now I am debating on making the hole in the back of the tank a little bigger to fit the sched 80 because I really don't like that sched 40

 

[jnarowe]

I pulled all original sched 40 from tank and made the holes larger for 80s. My hole saw is about 1/16" smaller than the 80, so I file it to fit. I have virtually zero "play" in my BHs which I think will alos help with longevity. I am using some sched. 40 on auxillary equip. like my RO/DI system because I have them and don't want to waste them. The Rubbermaid ones I think will go in the trash though.

 

[hdtvguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6489165#post6489165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe

Even as recently as last week one of the reefers currently building had broken 2 schedule 40 BHs because, I believe , they are not as strong as schedule 80.

IMO people over tighten there bulkheads when installing them.Causing them to fail.

 

[jnarowe]

how do they fail from over-tightening?

 

[melev]

The nut is rather thin, and the overtightening causes them to split.

 

[jnarowe]

my nuts aren't thin. I have just been using a strap wrench but maybe I am tightening them too much? Any surface prep.? I have been sanding and cleaning with alcohol before installing the BHs.

 

[Travis]

No silicone or other sealants on my bulkheads...ever. I have 17 1.5" and 2 3" bulkheads on my tank. All but 5 are sch 80. The only ones I went sch 40 on were the ones that can easily be seen. I sacrificed, reliability for looks on those ones. The sch 80's just aren't as "sleek" looking when you can see them in the tank. One thing I really like about the sch 40 vs. sch 80 bulkhead is that the sch 80 has a gasket that is several times more thick than the gasket on the sch 40.

 

[melev]

I hand tighten the bulkheads, then twist them a 1/4 turn more one way or another.

 

[jnarowe]

Thanks for the info. guys! I will only have 4 - 1" BHs in my tank, all on the bottom and easily hidden by rock.

Marc: sounds like I may be tightening mine too much. I'll redo them. I had one make a loud "crack" noise but I found no crack in it. hmmmm.

 

[melev]

The loud crack <i>could</i> be the sound of it jumping a thread, but it could be something broke.

If you overtighten a bulkhead, it squishes the rubber washer out between the bulkhead flange and the glass/acrylic. And it leaks.

 

[jnarowe]

well, I am not making them THAT tight! Everything is just mocked up right now and will be re-seated for final installation. Thanks for your input!

 

[Lunchbucket]

i wish my tank had sch 80's. they look WAY more reliable. oh well next tank when i design it i can do that

Lunchbucket

 

[Kent E]

The cracking noise would scare me. I had a cheapy crack from over tightening, it split along the side. I have sch 80 on my 450 and still holding, tough stuff.

 

[jnarowe]

As I remember it, that was a cheapy BH but I inspected it and couldn't find anything wrong. It's being used as an emergency (redundant) overflow line from my refugium, so it will not be in regular use. When I go through and glue everything up, I'll inspect it again.

BTW, I did find 2 BHs I had tightened too much and the gasket was squeezed out a bit. Hopefully there is enough memory in the rubber that they will go back to their original shape.

 

[javajaws]

If you heard a crack on a sched 40 bulkhead it probably broke...I've broken several. They were threaded both sides and cracked when tightening a connection on the outside of the tank....very hard to see unless you shine a bright light on them and look for it. After that...no more sched 40...went to all sched 80. You can tighten them down till there's no tomorrow (the external connections...not the nut). The nut you still want a 1/4 turn or so past hand tight.

 

[jnarowe]

I did the whole light check thing but being half retarded, I think I'll check it again just to be sure. No need to take chances when I have boxes of BHs stacked up. I had to make boxes for different fittings just so I could find stuff easier! I can't believe how many valves and BHs this project is taking!