Another Bulkhead Question

[dow]

Has anybody made their own bulkheads by using a male and a female connector and gasket material, and just putting the threaded male end through the glass and screwing the female end on it?

[tgray]

Yes I have used male and female pvc fittings on thin stuff (1/4" and less) and the fittings were only for 3/4" and 1" pipe. I'm sure others may have used larger fitings.
Tim

[dow]

I was thinking using 1-1/4" fittings, since they are way cheaper than a bulkhead that would accomidate pvc of this size. and then to use a slip-joint street-ell on the inside of the overflow and a T with a cap and air hole on the outside. Also this would allow me to cut a smaller hole (about 1-1/2 instead of 2-3/8"). Has anybody on the list done this? If so, how did it work out, and what did you use for gasket material?

Thanks!

[dow]

Anybody?

[NaCl_H2O]

I have done it with smaller pieces (3/4 I think) and I just used a generous amount of silicone - no gasket. Check and make sure the fittings will tighten up against the glass/acrylic first. his isn't something I used long term - it was a temporary setup, so I don't know how they would hold up, but I would imagine just fine. Just not as clean looking as a bulkhead, and don't fit flush on the inside of the tank.

[dow]

Just not as clean looking as a bulkhead, and don't fit flush on the inside of the tank.

Hmm. I hadn't thought that much about that. I had planned on trimming the couplings down some to make everything shorter, but that still wouldn't make it as compact as with a bulkhead... Still, I think I'll look into it a little bit more.

Thanks!

Anybody else have any experience with this?

[dow]

BTW, I found this thread on reefcentral that addresses the issue of not being able to tighten the couplings down enough to seal. He recommends using the grey electrical fittings instead of the white ones.

Click Here (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=528611)

[alexwolf]

i am ordering bulkheads soon, i can get you one for around $7 i think if its 1 1/4

[dow]

Might work. When are you ordering? I'm guessing that would require a 2-3/8" hole. Correct?

[alexwolf]

uh lol i have no clue!

[dow]

PM

[GaryP]

Somebody talked about doing something like this recently on a DIY Nano. Check back to around Xmas.

[dow]

Hey Gary, how've you been? I'm going with twin drains: 1-1/2" bulkheads made from PVC male and female threaded by slip connectors. Ordered a 2" bit that should be here next week sometime. I'll probably go with large o-rings inside and out with teflon on the threads and maybe silicone on the inside edges of the holes when it all goes together. They will be inside a 36" Calfo-style overflow.