how to seal up unwanted 1 1/4" diameter hole

Daddyrawg · 08/02/2020, 11:11 PM

Just picked up an Acrylic tank and it has a hole the size of 1 1/4" diameter.

How do I close it up? someone mentioned a 1/2" bulkhead with some sort of plug? anyone know what the plug is called or where I can find it so that it will
fit in a bulkhead?

laverda · 08/02/2020, 11:29 PM

A bulkhed with a plug is one way to do it. The OD of bulkheads vary by manufacturer. The type of plug will depend on if your using a slip or threaded bulkhead. Either way the plugs are standard parts available at all most any hardware store. This is best if you might want to use the hole latter.
You can also seal it by bonding another peice of acrylic over the hole. This is the best permanent solution as it will never leak if done properly. I have plenty of scrap acrylic and the proper bonding agent. You can get them at a plactic supply store or many sign stores.

Daddyrawg · 08/02/2020, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laverda

A bulkhed with a plug is one way to do it. The OD of bulkheads vary by manufacturer. The type of plug will depend on if your using a slip or threaded bulkhead. Either way the plugs are standard parts available at all most any hardware store. This is best if you might want to use the hole latter.
You can also seal it by bonding another peice of acrylic over the hole. This is the best permanent solution as it will never leak if done properly. I have plenty of scrap acrylic and the proper bonding agent. You can get them at a plactic supply store or many sign stores.

What do the plugs look like?

windlasher · 08/02/2020, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddyrawg

Just picked up an Acrylic tank and it has a hole the size of 1 1/4" diameter.

How do I close it up? someone mentioned a 1/2" bulkhead with some sort of plug? anyone know what the plug is called or where I can find it so that it will
fit in a bulkhead?

Where is the hold? Bottom or side?

Daddyrawg · 08/02/2020, 11:42 PM

Side

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windlasher · 08/03/2020, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddyrawg

Side

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OK, A couple of ideas.

A Bulkhead would work, but it would be ugly. I am not sure there are any 1/4 bulkheads which means that you would have to drill it out to 1/2' making it ugly and big which leave you with option two.

Easier: Tape off the hole on both sides. This is to catch drips. Cut a circle out of Acrylic a little larger than the hole that is there and glue it in place using acrylic glue like WELD-ON. This glue bonds the acrylic pieces together. Still ugly, but less ugly than a bulkhead. For the paranoid, you could do both sides.

If it were thicker, you could actually plug it using an acrylic dowel but I dont imagine a 35g is more than 1/4 inch. In that case you could buy a slightly larger dowel and using a drill and fine sandpaper very slowly bring the new dowel down to where it just barely fits into the hole and secure with weld on.
I did this with a 400 gal tank but that was 1" thick acrylic.

Others may have other ideas.

windlasher · 08/03/2020, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daddyrawg

Just picked up an Acrylic tank and it has a hole the size of 1 1/4" diameter.

How do I close it up? someone mentioned a 1/2" bulkhead with some sort of plug? anyone know what the plug is called or where I can find it so that it will
fit in a bulkhead?

As an aside, use the hols as part of the circulation/return system.

laverda · 08/03/2020, 12:21 AM

see https://www.homedepot.com/s/1%252F2%...520plug?NCNI-5 The first 2 are threaded the third is a glue in slip fitting.

laverda · 08/03/2020, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by windlasher

OK, A couple of ideas.

A Bulkhead would work, but it would be ugly. I am not sure there are any 1/4 bulkheads which means that you would have to drill it out to 1/2' making it ugly and big which leave you with option two.

Easier: Tape off the hole on both sides. This is to catch drips. Cut a circle out of Acrylic a little larger than the hole that is there and glue it in place using acrylic glue like WELD-ON. This glue bonds the acrylic pieces together. Still ugly, but less ugly than a bulkhead. For the paranoid, you could do both sides.

If it were thicker, you could actually plug it using an acrylic dowel but I dont imagine a 35g is more than 1/4 inch. In that case you could buy a slightly larger dowel and using a drill and fine sandpaper very slowly bring the new dowel down to where it just barely fits into the hole and secure with weld on.
I did this with a 400 gal tank but that was 1" thick acrylic.

Others may have other ideas.

I believe the hole is 1.25" not 1/4". I may be wrong.

Daddyrawg · 08/03/2020, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laverda

I believe the hole is 1.25" not 1/4". I may be wrong.

you are correct h0le is 1 1/4"

Daddyrawg · 08/03/2020, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laverda

see https://www.homedepot.com/s/1%252F2%...520plug?NCNI-5 The first 2 are threaded the third is a glue in slip fitting.

Thank you!!! so these would go on the other side of the bulkheads and close me up? do i need any kind of sealant or teflon tape?

Sk8r · 08/03/2020, 07:23 AM

If you use a bulkhead connector, there is simple screw-on cap that matches its 'inside the tank' threading. Install the bulkhead connector, screw the cap on nicely with plumber's tape. Done. You can probably do it from both directions with a second cap.

The Weld-on patch is also secure. About as secure as your corner seams. If your hole is a weird size, this is your best answer.

Note: your fish store may have those bulkhead connectors and caps. Lowes had no idea what I was talking about. At least mine didn't.

windlasher · 08/03/2020, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laverda

I believe the hole is 1.25" not 1/4". I may be wrong.

Yeah, I missed that. I'd go with the seal solution. Bulkheads are ugly.

laverda · 08/04/2020, 12:50 AM

Plastic Tapered threads should be sealed with Teflon paste not tape. I have a 1/2” bulkhead and plug if your near Anaheim.

08/02/2020, 11:11 PM	#1
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	how to seal up unwanted 1 1/4" diameter hole Just picked up an Acrylic tank and it has a hole the size of 1 1/4" diameter. How do I close it up? someone mentioned a 1/2" bulkhead with some sort of plug? anyone know what the plug is called or where I can find it so that it will fit in a bulkhead?

08/02/2020, 11:29 PM	#2
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	A bulkhed with a plug is one way to do it. The OD of bulkheads vary by manufacturer. The type of plug will depend on if your using a slip or threaded bulkhead. Either way the plugs are standard parts available at all most any hardware store. This is best if you might want to use the hole latter. You can also seal it by bonding another peice of acrylic over the hole. This is the best permanent solution as it will never leak if done properly. I have plenty of scrap acrylic and the proper bonding agent. You can get them at a plactic supply store or many sign stores. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

08/03/2020, 12:21 AM	#8
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	see https://www.homedepot.com/s/1%252F2%...520plug?NCNI-5 The first 2 are threaded the third is a glue in slip fitting. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

08/03/2020, 07:23 AM	#12
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	If you use a bulkhead connector, there is simple screw-on cap that matches its 'inside the tank' threading. Install the bulkhead connector, screw the cap on nicely with plumber's tape. Done. You can probably do it from both directions with a second cap. The Weld-on patch is also secure. About as secure as your corner seams. If your hole is a weird size, this is your best answer. Note: your fish store may have those bulkhead connectors and caps. Lowes had no idea what I was talking about. At least mine didn't. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/04/2020, 12:50 AM	#14
laverda Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 6,902	Plastic Tapered threads should be sealed with Teflon paste not tape. I have a 1/2” bulkhead and plug if your near Anaheim. __________________ 240G mixed reef, 29G SPS/LPS clam tank, 50G mixed reef Current Tank Info: 300g mixed reef, 50g cube

08/02/2020, 11:42 PM	#5
Daddyrawg Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 814	Side Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk