covering bulkhead hole?

[marshall.read]

i have a 20L drilled on the bottom for a 2" bulkhead. if i remove the bulkhead and silicone a piece of glass on both the bottom and the top of the hole will this hold the weight of the tank when filled?

[aquasport24]

You can use a pvc plug from HD or Lowes to plug the bulkhead and you can always use the hole again later on .

[LoneStar]

Yes. Just use a thick enough piece of glass for the patch and make sure it extends past the bulkhead hole far enough. Make sure the silicone is cured and then leak test for a few days.

[marshall.read]

thanks for the advice lonestar, if you could please define 'thick enough' and 'far enough', i'd really appreciate it. as my software engineering professor once told me 'in god we trust, all others bring data'

[LoneStar]

I wouldn't go any thinner than the thickness of the bottom pane of glass. As for the over all size, go twice the size of the hole in all directions.

[marshall.read]

thanks a lot

[Bill S]

Dittos. You should be fine.

[aggman]

You can use a pvc plug from HD or Lowes to plug the bulkhead and you can always use the hole again later on .

imho, i think this is the better idea. only because i have had to repair one of those patchwork jobs and it was a p.i.t.a. to get off. a plug would do the job and allow you to use the hole later or provide a better option to a potential buyer should you ever decide to sell it.

again, this is just my opinion.

~alex

[brewercm]

I had a tank at one point that had a smaller bulkhead on the bottom like that and I ended up putting a strainer on it where it sat a little above my sand level but hidden by some rock. Then put a small adapter on the bottom to bring it down to 1/2 with a ball valve and nipple attachment. When I did water changes I just hooked up a hose to the nipple, opened up the ball valve and ran the hose out the door.
Made water changes very easy, and just a thought.

[azcummins]

+1 on the PVC plug for the existing bulkhead. My sump had a hole in the bottom for an external pump and plugging the bulkhead is how I solved the problem.

To be 100% sure, I went ahead and put a PVC plug in both sides.