Bulk head troubles.

[Bird wrasse are the best]

Hello everyone,this will be my first post here. Although I've been creeping these forums for over a year I've now made an account. Bare with me. I've only been in the fish tank game for just under 2 years so I apologize if I'm ignorant about some things.

So I have a 120g tank with an overflow. Drilled tank. 2 holes. 1 for drain the other is the return. The guy who gave me the tank gave me the bulkhead and everything for it. Over 2 years ago. Now I've had everything set up and running for about a year and a half. But now I need to change my bulkheads and im switching out my sump.

My tank holes are drilled measuring 1.5 inches. Now here is where I'm confused. My drain bulkhead goes under my tank and is also 1.5 inches. Now my return goes down and is 3 quarters of an inch. I cannot find the right bulkheads for my size hole in tank and the right sizes that come down underneath. The picture i included is my return line and bulkhead.

If anyone has any input please it will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance !

 

[Snoopy 67]

How To Select and Properly Install Aquarium Bulkheads

Bulkheads allow you to transfer water from one side of an aquarium to the other and allow for traditional PVC plumbing to be connected. In most aquariums, bulkheads are used for drain and return pipes on your display tank but can be used for many other things too. Some tanks come pre-drilled for...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hello everyone,this will be my first post here. Although I've been creeping these forums for over a year I've now made an account. Bare with me. I've only been in the fish tank game for just under 2 years so I apologize if I'm ignorant about some things.

So I have a 120g tank with an overflow. Drilled tank. 2 holes. 1 for drain the other is the return. The guy who gave me the tank gave me the bulkhead and everything for it. Over 2 years ago. Now I've had everything set up and running for about a year and a half. But now I need to change my bulkheads and im switching out my sump.

My tank holes are drilled measuring 1.5 inches. Now here is where I'm confused. My drain bulkhead goes under my tank and is also 1.5 inches. Now my return goes down and is 3 quarters of an inch. I cannot find the right bulkheads for my size hole in tank and the right sizes that come down underneath. The picture i included is my return line and bulkhead.

If anyone has any input please it will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance !

If that is an older marineland or aqueon tank, both the drain and the return were drilled for 1" bulkheads. (1.65 or so hole drilled in the tank).

As for where you are changing the sump, what is the reason for needing to change the bulkheads? just to redo all of the piping? I ask, as you may be able to just use a union to join the old to the new and also give you a good place to disconnect the plumbing if needed.

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

If that is an older marineland or aqueon tank, both the drain and the return were drilled for 1" bulkheads. (1.65 or so hole drilled in the tank).

As for where you are changing the sump, what is the reason for needing to change the bulkheads? just to redo all of the piping? I ask, as you may be able to just use a union to join the old to the new and also give you a good place to disconnect the plumbing if needed.

The reason for having to change the bulk heads are because the flex tube that I used for the drain had a massive leak and has caused me all kinds of issues. The other day I had alot of water dripping from somewhere there and it caused a whole mess as I was at work all day that day doing OT. Was a disaster to come home to. Over the year I've had to silicone, silicone tape, and used epoxy to patch the little hole it seems to start seeping out of. So I really want to make sure I have everything ready basically to go because I'm going to spend a while cutting everything and will probably end up having to use a vibrating tool to cut the bulkhead off. I'm still debating on leaving the return hooked up and only doing the drain over but I'm also not sure if I should use the flex hose the sump came with or pvc the drain. I'm not 100% sure what kind of tank it is to be honest. I got it off a guy on kijiji. I actually have the picture I took for the hole in the actual tank as well ill post it here.

I've always been under the impression that my return needs to go down to 3 quarters of an inch on the bulkhead if my drain is an inch and a half correct?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

The reason for having to change the bulk heads are because the flex tube that I used for the drain had a massive leak and has caused me all kinds of issues. The other day I had alot of water dripping from somewhere there and it caused a whole mess as I was at work all day that day doing OT. Was a disaster to come home to. Over the year I've had to silicone, silicone tape, and used epoxy to patch the little hole it seems to start seeping out of. So I really want to make sure I have everything ready basically to go because I'm going to spend a while cutting everything and will probably end up having to use a vibrating tool to cut the bulkhead off. I'm still debating on leaving the return hooked up and only doing the drain over but I'm also not sure if I should use the flex hose the sump came with or pvc the drain. I'm not 100% sure what kind of tank it is to be honest. I got it off a guy on kijiji. I actually have the picture I took for the hole in the actual tank as well ill post it here.

I've always been under the impression that my return needs to go down to 3 quarters of an inch on the bulkhead if my drain is an inch and a half correct?

What you are measuring appears to be 1" bulkhead. Although (could just be camera angle) the other bulkhead for the return appears to be smaller.

Typically, a 1"single bulkhead for a drain is used for a durso style drain. The drain is 1.25 or 1.5 and then hits a reducer right at the bulkhead to knock it down to 1".

The same applies to the return in terms of reducing it. A 1" bulkhead is used and then reducers are used to take that to 3/4" if using tanks like this.

My 180 is basically 2x your drains. I have converted it to dual mains and dual emergencies and then ran the returns over the back.

But for the longest, it was 2x durso drains and 2x returns. When I replaced the bulkheads due to a tank move mess-up, I just reduced the returns to 3/4" since I did not order the ones with the hose barbs on them.

Here is what I am referring to on how a typical Aqueon or Mainland drain is and how is reduces at the bulk head.

Some tanks actually have a 1" bulkhead for the drain and a 3/4" bulkhead for the return, so you want to be sure that the 2 holes are the same size (if so, then 1" bulkheads) or if one is smaller than the other (smaller would be a 3/4" bulkhead).

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

Ok I found a picture with both of my bulkheads, I'm almost certain both holes are drilled 1.5 but I could be wrong. That picture is exactly what my overflow looks like yes. Its an old tank with thick glass. Came with the over head wood stand and bottom stand and a mega flow model 2 sump as far as I was told .

I think that's where Ive gotten confused, my tank is drilled 1.5 inch holes but I thought I needed to get 1 bulkhead that sizes down on their own to 3 quarters of an inch and then another bulkhead that stays 1.5 inch down. So basically I need to get two 1 inch bulkheads and then size down the return ? I'll be okay if my drain is 1 inch and my return is still 3quarters of an inch? I asked the guy at my LFS and explain it to him and he ordered me 2 bulkheads 1 and a half inch... part number #R172334 by lifeguard aquatics. They look massive.. way bigger than what I currently have on there.

By the way I really appriciate your patience and help with this honestly. This is not where I shine at all lol

 

[RichReef]

Try these guys. It's where I got my bulkheads for my AGA. Although it was quite some time ago.

Product Listing 92710-S at FlexPVC.com

92710-S %%name%%

flexpvc.com

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

What you are measuring appears to be 1" bulkhead. Although (could just be camera angle) the other bulkhead for the return appears to be smaller.

Typically, a 1"single bulkhead for a drain is used for a durso style drain. The drain is 1.25 or 1.5 and then hits a reducer right at the bulkhead to knock it down to 1".

The same applies to the return in terms of reducing it. A 1" bulkhead is used and then reducers are used to take that to 3/4" if using tanks like this.

My 180 is basically 2x your drains. I have converted it to dual mains and dual emergencies and then ran the returns over the back.

But for the longest, it was 2x durso drains and 2x returns. When I replaced the bulkheads due to a tank move mess-up, I just reduced the returns to 3/4" since I did not order the ones with the hose barbs on them.

Here is what I am referring to on how a typical Aqueon or Mainland drain is and how is reduces at the bulk head.

Some tanks actually have a 1" bulkhead for the drain and a 3/4" bulkhead for the return, so you want to be sure that the 2 holes are the same size (if so, then 1" bulkheads) or if one is smaller than the other (smaller would be a 3/4" bulkhead).

forgot to hit the reply button whoops ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

Try these guys. It's where I got my bulkheads for my AGA. Although it was quite some time ago.

Product Listing 92710-S at FlexPVC.com

92710-S %%name%%

flexpvc.com

OMG thats the one i have! NO WONDER I CANT FIND IT ITS DISCONTINUED LOL my drain is basically the same but its 1,5 inch all the way down. i guess they stopped making the ones i have in my tank for some reason or another. thank you for that link man. ive been going crazy LOL

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Ok I found a picture with both of my bulkheads, I'm almost certain both holes are drilled 1.5 but I could be wrong. That picture is exactly what my overflow looks like yes. Its an old tank with thick glass. Came with the over head wood stand and bottom stand and a mega flow model 2 sump as far as I was told .

I think that's where Ive gotten confused, my tank is drilled 1.5 inch holes but I thought I needed to get 1 bulkhead that sizes down on their own to 3 quarters of an inch and then another bulkhead that stays 1.5 inch down. So basically I need to get two 1 inch bulkheads and then size down the return ? I'll be okay if my drain is 1 inch and my return is still 3quarters of an inch? I asked the guy at my LFS and explain it to him and he ordered me 2 bulkheads 1 and a half inch... part number #R172334 by lifeguard aquatics. They look massive.. way bigger than what I currently have on there.

By the way I really appriciate your patience and help with this honestly. This is not where I shine at all lol

When bulkheads are reference, it is the size of the pipe they use and not the hole for the bulkhead.

If 1.5 (more than likely 1.65 in reality) then you need the 1" bulkheads, as the bulkhead itself is about 1.65. From there, you can just reduce on the return side.

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

When bulkheads are reference, it is the size of the pipe they use and not the hole for the bulkhead.

If 1.5 (more than likely 1.65 in reality) then you need the 1" bulkheads, as the bulkhead itself is about 1.65. From there, you can just reduce on the return side.

thanks a bunch man, now 1 last question, would you just pvc everything or run the sump with the given hose ?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

thanks a bunch man, now 1 last question, would you just pvc everything or run the sump with the given hose ?

I pic everything and then use unions to make everything easily removable.

But, for returns I will sometimes use black silicone tubing for ease.

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

I pic everything and then use unions to make everything easily removable.

But, for returns I will sometimes use black silicone tubing for ease.

Hey so get this! I went to my lfs that I usually don't go to and the owner was there, I asked him for the 1inch bulk heads and he was flabbergasted because none of the inch bulkheads would fit the 1.5 inch hole in the tank. He then came across this which is exactly the same bulkheads I have now. Very weird situation but happy I found this. Now I just need to figure out how im going to attach the bulkheads to the pvc?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Hey so get this! I went to my lfs that I usually don't go to and the owner was there, I asked him for the 1inch bulk heads and he was flabbergasted because none of the inch bulkheads would fit the 1.5 inch hole in the tank. He then came across this which is exactly the same bulkheads I have now. Very weird situation but happy I found this. Now I just need to figure out how im going to attach the bulkheads to the pvc?

You can just do a short piece of silicone hose between the barb on that and pvc that ends with barbs, or just do soft line. Soft line isn’t bad.

and i haven’t seen that kit in years lol.

 

[Bird wrasse are the best]

You can just do a short piece of silicone hose between the barb on that and pvc that ends with barbs, or just do soft line. Soft line isn’t bad.

and i haven’t seen that kit in years lol.

well again thank you so much for answering my questions! it was much appreciated and a big help

will make a thread once i end up piping everything together!