Bulkhead Confusion

[Forty-Two]

Are all metric bulkheads designed like that?

Im not an expert nor a plumber, but as I understand it they are all designed to use the outside diameter. Therefore 40mm is the outside diameter of the the pipe/fitting/what-have-you. But otherwise, Im not sure what you mean by 'are they all designed like that'

 

[Forty-Two]

The latest in this epic quest to figure out how to plumb this thing is as follows:

Im looking at getting a reducer - something similar to this and then using glue to put it inside of the bulkhead in the area of d1 on the male side (pictured above). That would get me down to 1 inch.

 

[KStatefan]

The bulkheads i have used there is one piece that both pipes attach to and the nut just holds the bulkhead in. The aliexpress and royal exclusive ones posted the pipes attach to separate parts of the bulkhead

 

[Forty-Two]

I wish I could find the same bulkhead but threaded - that would make it easier rather than considering using glue.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Are all metric bulkheads designed like that?

No.

 

[Spieg]

The trouble with bulkheads (and unions for that matter) is the there are no real standards... each manufacturer will do their own variation. There is usually some trial and error involved in finding things that work. Try to buy somewhere where it will be easy to return if something doesn't work as expected.

BRS has some good metric to standard couplings but I don't know if international shipping is a good option. You might be able to call them and ask what brand they use and try to find that somewhere closer to home.

 

[Forty-Two]

The trouble with bulkheads (and unions for that matter) is the there are no real standards... each manufacturer will do their own variation. There is usually some trial and error involved in finding things that work. Try to buy somewhere where it will be easy to return if something doesn't work as expected.

BRS has some good metric to standard couplings but I don't know if international shipping is a good option. You might be able to call them and ask what brand they use and try to find that somewhere closer to home.

The challenge I have is I dont really want to ship the tank if I cant find something that fits appropriately, because I cant return it or have him come fix it.

Clearly in hindsight I should have planned this part out better from the start, but I didnt get much advice on this front despite asking. I had assumed it was a bit more standardized and the vendor was suggesting a hole size that made sense based on his experience.

 

[Forty-Two]

This also might work if the hole that is cut (41mm) is wide enough.

 

[Forty-Two]

ok so looking into this more - the problem Im going to have is whether I can glue something inside of that bulkhead and have it stay, and Im not convinced its going to. The reducer in the bulkhead is going to take the brunt of the beating if Im reducing from 40mm down to 1 inch.

This is becoming problematic as Im not finding any other options that will fit. It seems like everything else requires 42-43mm for a glass hole to fit.

 

[KStatefan]

Can your tank manufacture supply you with the bulkheads that the holes are cut for?

 

[Forty-Two]

Can your tank manufacture supply you with the bulkheads that the holes are cut for?

I dont think they were cut for a specific bulkhead. He suggested 41mm and I took the advice.

 

[Saltyreef]

I dont think they were cut for a specific bulkhead. He suggested 41mm and I took the advice.

Ask them to send bulkheads with the tank.

Btw did you get your tank drilled for only returns?
How are you going to get water from the tank to the sump?

 

[Forty-Two]

Ask them to send bulkheads with the tank.

Btw did you get your tank drilled for only returns?
How are you going to get water from the tank to the sump?

Ive reached out to them to tell them Im not comfortable with the idea of solvent welding in a reducer, really it needs to be a threaded bulkhead coming from the other side. We'll see what they say. They temper the glass at the back after they cut the holes so its unlikely they can cut them further without breaking the glass.

There is a custom external overflow with 3 holes drilled in it - those Im not worried about as I can use the bulkhead I listed. its a 40/40/32.

 

[Saltyreef]

Ive reached out to them to tell them Im not comfortable with the idea of solvent welding in a reducer, really it needs to be a threaded bulkhead coming from the other side. We'll see what they say. They temper the glass at the back after they cut the holes so its unlikely they can cut them further without breaking the glass.

There is a custom external overflow with 3 holes drilled in it - those Im not worried about as I can use the bulkhead I listed. its a 40/40/32.

So youll have 5 holes total...

The external overflow should be its own kit....

Ask them to ship you two 3/4" threaded bulkheads with the tank.

Are you going to be using all non us standard plumbing? Whats the ultimate end goal?

 

[Forty-Two]

Yes - they will all be metric fittings. I would prefer to stay in metric if I can.

btw I realize I am not being clear about what bulkheads Im talking about - Im specifically talking about the RETURN bulkheads - to carry to the water back to the tank. The overflow bulkheads Im sure are just fine.

At this point Im leaning towards just asking them to re-do the back glass of the tank as they havent attached it yet, and just bite the bullet on the cost (whatever that might be) and get it re-drilled to 43mm.

I got a response back from RoyalExclusiv on their bulkhead - and they showed it in their 'test bed' as a bulkhead for the overflow - not into the tank (as I suspected). Im asking for the use case of on the back of the tank. We'll see what they say.

 

[Forty-Two]

So youll have 5 holes total...

The external overflow should be its own kit....

Ask them to ship you two 3/4" threaded bulkheads with the tank.

Are you going to be using all non us standard plumbing? Whats the ultimate end goal?

You might be right that the 3/4" bulkhead will work. Its close...(its +- 1/16th of an inch)

PVC and ABS Bulkhead Fittings, aka Tank Fittingss

Choose the size and style PVC or ABS bulkhead fitting for your application. Used when passing through a surface that needs to be water tight, such as a tank wall.

www.plumbingsupply.com

 

[Saltyreef]

You might be right that the 3/4" bulkhead will work. Its close...(its +- 1/16th of an inch)

PVC and ABS Bulkhead Fittings, aka Tank Fittingss

Choose the size and style PVC or ABS bulkhead fitting for your application. Used when passing through a surface that needs to be water tight, such as a tank wall.

www.plumbingsupply.com

You have to realize, there is a 58.7mm flange on that bulkhead. As long as the hole in your tank is still smaller than the flange, and is large enough to fit the threaded part, it will work.

But you said you had 41mm holes. That one may be too large @ 41.27mm
You might be able to get away with it though if you got creative with some sand paper lol.

 

[Forty-Two]

You have to realize, there is a 58.7mm flange on that bulkhead. As long as the hole in your tank is still smaller than the flange, and is large enough to fit the threaded part, it will work.

But you said you had 41mm holes. That one may be too large @ 41.27mm
You might be able to get away with it though if you got creative with some sand paper lol.

Yes - I like your idea of asking the vendor to put in the bulkheads prior to shipping. Im going to give that a try.

Do we think 3/4" is enough water througput in the tank? Its 220 G + 50G for the sump

 

[Saltyreef]

Yes - I like your idea of asking the vendor to put in the bulkheads prior to shipping. Im going to give that a try.

Do we think 3/4" is enough water througput in the tank? Its 220 G + 50G for the sump

Good plan.

Depending on your drain rate, i would think it would work perfect.
If at all in doubt and you have more drain than your pump is putting out you can always upsize the pump or oversize it and dial it back. Its up to you how you want to do it.

 

[Spieg]

Yes - they will all be metric fittings. I would prefer to stay in metric if I can.

Do they make a metric Loc-Line? I've only seen it in NPT thread.