Bulkheads - Does anybody need any???

[Tim Marvin]

Ryan Hurco sells the best bulkheads. If you are putting a bulkhead in the bottom of your tank go with them. If it is going some other place that can be easily replaced when it starts leaking get the cheap ones. This is probably one part you should spend the extra $10 on. If you don't, you'll be kicking yourself really hard if you do have to replace it. Been there. Guys, you can skimp on pumps, lights, and most things if you want but when it comes to well sealed tanks, filters, refugiums, and plumping parts, buy the best or you'll wish you had when it starts leaking.

[Tim Marvin]

Oh, I'm not saying they are. What kind are they? Do they have a web site? I have used a lot of those thin black ones and have had a couple problems, but not much. I have been using the Ryan Hurco ones lately and they are really thick and VERY strong. I am just saying if it is in a hard to get place or you have to drain the tank to replace them get the best you can find. Any cost savings on these items will be out the window when you are under the tank at 2 am cussing because you don't have a replacement part and it is leaking.

[Tim Marvin]

Yep those are the cheapies. Chapion sells the same ones. I've used them, they are OK. Let me see if I can find the ryan hurco address.

[Tim Marvin]

http://www.ryanherco.com/

Yes these are a little bigger, but I have used a 2 foot pipe wrench on these trying to break one and couldn't.

[TexasState]

Savko.com all the way baby!!!! They have the think schedule 80, or the lightweight one. Of course, if you already drill a hole, you might not have a choice btwn the two. Different bulkhead need different sized drill holes.
When you install the bulkhead, put a thin amount of 100 Percent aquarium save silicone on the rubber gasket. Let it cure, and the silicone will give you some extra protection. When you move your piping around, those extra protection come to play. Once the gasket has been compromised/contaminated, it might continue to leak.

As for putting on the gasket, you can put the rubber gasket inside the tank, or outside the tank.

------------
If your tank leak, remember to call me up if you plan on giving stuff away. :twisted: :twisted:

[Tim Marvin]

Right on Vpham! These are the type you want! Ryan Herco makes the same type. They cost a little more but WELL worth every penny!

[TexasState]

.nm

[Tim Marvin]

I saved that hyper link. Those bulkheads look the same so I may try them out because Ryan Herco 1 1/2 inch are like $16 each. If Savko has the same quality it would save me about $9 each. COOOOOOL thank Vinh

[Chris]

Savko is good quality stuff. That's where I got a few of my plumbing parts. :grin:

[Tim Marvin]

They look really nice! I've had those black one cross thread and also leak. Never had a problem from Ryan Herco So I'll have to try Savko. I looked at the wetdryfilter site and those are the same ones I have had problems with. They filters seemed a little high priced too for home made type filters. We can build those as a club for alot cheaper! I notice he had one custom made one he seemed pretty proud of that had two huge RIO pumps in it. Were does the water go? It didn't look like much room left for water...,, Oh well I guess you don't need a heater either... :roll:

[Tim Marvin]

Your probably right. I just don't like the thin glass. I think filters and sumps need to be big, strong, and good looking. We put to much stuff in and out of them to worry about glass breaking or leaking.

[TexasState]

I really cranked down on the bulkhead with a good sized wrench to tighten it up, seems to be solid.

You should not tighten down bulk head with a wrench. You only need it to be hand tight. If you over tighten, it will strip the thread, or kink/ruin the rubber gasket. If you must use a wrench to feel good, don't go to far.
------
Instead of the silicone, you can also use cooking oil. Use cooking oil to coat the rubber gasket, then hand tight the bulkhead. My muscular friend had a hard time trying to remove the bulk head two months later.
------
If you read the manual for Oceanic tank, they only recommend that you hand tighten it.

[Tim Marvin]

Right, all you need to do is get the rubber to just barely compress. This way you will also have room to tighten more later if it starts to leak a little , but unlikely. I only used that 2 foot pipewrech to see if I could break one. I would never use one to put it in with. I like the silicon better than oil.

[Tim Marvin]

While they are still new you can loosen them a little if you want. They can be tightened with a wrench. I usually hand tighten then about 1/2 turn with a wrench, just enough to smash the gasket a little. Don't make the gasket bulge out though. A tiny bulge is OK.

[DeletedAccount]

I know yours are better quality than mine (the ones that come w/ Oceanic), but mine have always been leaking b****es. Hand tight by a strong man with mine still left them wobbley and leaking. We had to add silicone and wrench them! But, they have been taken off and put back on quite a few times, so loosening them shouldn't hurt. I don't believe in hand tightening, it is always leaky with us.

[Tim Marvin]

Try the ones from Savko. I bet your problems will be over.