Bulkheads (Faulty?)

[GaryR1984]

Hello, I got a bulkhead from a online retailer and it appears that the bulkhead leaks through the threading.

I'm assuming this bulkhead is just faulty and needs to be replaced.

[AJO]

Is the rubber gasket installed on the wet side?

[GaryR1984]

No, it's on the outside. Do I have it backwards and they go on the inside?

[edwing206]

You need to put teflon tape around the threads first.

[AJO]

Yes the rubber gasket goes on the wet side unless you are installing it with the treaded part of the bulkhead in the tank. I hope this makes sense.

[GaryR1984]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722536#post13722536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edwing206
You need to put teflon tape around the threads first.

I figured that would fix it, but I've never done it in the past. I just wanted to make sure, but I do have the gasket on the outside of the tank, which is the correct side right? I'm now double guessing myself. lol

[GaryR1984]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722552#post13722552 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AJO
Yes the rubber gasket goes on the wet side unless you are installing it with the treaded part of the bulkhead in the tank. I hope this makes sense.

Ok, I'll try that now then.

[superedge88]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722536#post13722536 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by edwing206
You need to put teflon tape around the threads first.

you don't put teflon tape where bulkhead nuts fasten on, only where attaching plumbing. Just to clarify.

[GaryR1984]

Ok, then the Tefon Tape fix is out of the picture then. I'm just going to roder a new bulkhead and redo it. I have a bad habit of adding purple primer to everything so once it's in place i can undo it, I was using this for my return so I added a nipple to the end.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010927.jpg

[superedge88]

yeah, not much you can do other than replace it, sorry man, just be careful when you cut it out of there, don't torque it to one side and break your glass.

[ReefEnabler]

Your bulkhead is fine. The gasket just needs to go on the other side as somebody else already pointed out :)

Of course its leaking right now, theres nothing except the threads and the nut keeping a seal, and its not meant to.

Take out the bulkhead and put the gasket against the flange INSIDE the tank.

[ReefEnabler]

Oh I see now, you might not be able to remove the bulkhead now without cutting because of the elbow...

what I did to prevent that (as suggested by psteeleb) was to buy some threaded nipples from lowes, cut them in half, and glue them into my bulkheads.

Then you always attach plumbing with a female thread adapter. Then you never have to cut any plumbing to remove bulkheads in the future :)


And you DO use teflon tape on threaded adapter connections.

You do NOT use teflon tape on the threads of the bulkhead where the nut goes. Those threads are not to keep a watertight seal, they are only to screw on the nut.

[superedge88]

-

[GaryR1984]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722749#post13722749 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
Your bulkhead is fine. The gasket just needs to go on the other side as somebody else already pointed out :)

Of course its leaking right now, theres nothing except the threads and the nut keeping a seal, and its not meant to.

Take out the bulkhead and put the gasket against the flange INSIDE the tank.

I can't, the pieces at the end do not come off as I used Purple Primer stuff to seal it on, so I have to cut it off and replace it then put the seals on the correct sides. What I need to do is find a way to put stuff on bulkheads so I don't waste them, you should see how many I've had to throw away from getting rid of a tank so on so forth. lol

[ReefEnabler]

man you guys check this thread too quick, I wasn't able to correct myself fast enough :)

[GaryR1984]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722757#post13722757 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ReefEnabler
Oh I see now, you might not be able to remove the bulkhead now without cutting because of the elbow...

what I did to prevent that (as suggested by psteeleb) was to buy some threaded nipples from lowes, cut them in half, and glue them into my bulkheads.

Then you always attach plumbing with a female thread adapter. Then you never have to cut any plumbing to remove bulkheads in the future :)


And you DO use teflon tape on threaded adapter connections.

You do NOT use teflon tape on the threads of the bulkhead where the nut goes. Those threads are not to keep a watertight seal, they are only to screw on the nut.

Do you have a picture by chance?

[ReefEnabler]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13722762#post13722762 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GaryR1984
What I need to do is find a way to put stuff on bulkheads so I don't waste them, you should see how many I've had to throw away from getting rid of a tank so on so forth. lol



To restate it incase it was missed,

just get some threaded nipple pipe from the hardware store. Its basically short sections of pipe with made threads on both ends, usually dark grey (sch80), and will work with the same size bulkhead.

Cut the nipple in half, and glue half of it into the bulkhead. And then just use a female adapter to connect the plumbing.


Or you could just use threaded bulkheads.... available at savko.com and a number of other places.

[GaryR1984]

haha I try, I'm pretty ****ed at myself for getting this backwards, i've done it in the past and I was hoping to have this tank up and running a few days ago, but better safe then sorry.

[ReefEnabler]

This is a nipple:

http://www.plumbingproducts.com/images/pvcnippleslarge.jpg

get a 5" or longer one so that you have some extra room to cut the right length and so you can get 2 "slip X male thread" adapters out of it. obviously you just cut it in half before using it.


will probably be in plumbing, but usually off next to irrigation supplies.

[GaryR1984]

haha didn't miss it, like you said we are responding to quick :)

[superedge88]

threaded bulkheads are your friends.

[GaryR1984]

ah ok, i think i understand now. of course i call nipples something else. :) hence my confusion.

[GaryR1984]

http://savko.com/PartList.asp?pgid=2&ptid=6

I could get the 4th one down right, then i can thread in a plug, and thread in my return loc line?

[ReefEnabler]

hehe I have no idea why they are called nipples.... but rest assured that most stores will have them labeled as nipples. I'm sure you might get some funny expressions if you just ask a random employee where you can get some nipples :lol:


I agree superedge... when I am planning ahead and taking it slow I order threaded bulkheads.... but then I realize I need a few more bulkheads and pick some slip bulkheads up at the LFS and then just make the best of it :D

[ReefEnabler]

Yup exactly Gary.

I used threaded bulkheads exactly like that in all my overflows. That way I can unscrew the durso standpipes or returns if I ever want to drain the overflows, or modify the standpipe height etcs (which I already have plans to lower the durso a few inches soon... since my airhole right now is above the rim of the tank right now, so I lose the emergency-siphon that occurs when the airhole is blocked by water).

[GaryR1984]

Ok, just to make sure I'm 100% right, so I don't waste some cash.

I can use the 4th down bulk head as pointed out above, and just screw these two items in, and I'm safe forever!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010939.jpg

Then, for now on, I buy thread bulkheads always! No more ordering bulkheads from glass holes!

[ReefEnabler]

yup, as long as all the threads are for the same size plumbing and the bulkhead will fit inside the existing hole you have (make sure to see what hole size is listed on savko and then double check yours just incase), then I can't forsee any problems

[GaryR1984]

Thanks. :) You guys have been a life saver!

[GaryR1984]

What's the other sites? This Savko one's checkout is not working, plus they want to charge 9 dollars to ship something that cost 3 dollars to ship. =/

[ReefEnabler]

i think marine depot has them. just google aquarium supply + bulkhead and i'm sure you can find plenty.

[AZDesertRat]

The gasket always goes on the flange side of the bulkhead regardless if its inside or outside, never on the nut side. Never use sealants or lubricants on the sealing surfaces, no vaseline, tape, silicone or dope, always bone dry. Always use a jewelers file, nail file, xacto or pocket knife and clean any excess flashing or plastic out of the threads and from both the flange and nuts sealing surfaces to ensure a good flat seal. Hand tighten only with maybe another 1/4 to 1/2 turn, no more. Never support any piping or pumps with the bulkhead, this causes unequal stresses on the gasket leading to leaks. Teflon tape or better yet the crayon stick type thread sealants work great on the internal threads for piping but serve no purpose on the bulkhead locking threads.
I prefer thread by thread bulkheads, they are more forgiving and do not have to be cut apart to make adjustments or fix screw ups! Not that I have ever done that before........

[GaryR1984]

Thanks for the help, just to show everyone what I did since Premium Aquatics lie on their website in regards to shipping so since I won't get the bulkhead till Monday and I'm ADD i decided to make my own.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010942.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010943.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010944.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010945.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g11/GaryR1984/P1010946.jpg

[ReefEnabler]

good deal!

so now you will have an extra one :)

[GaryR1984]

yup :)