Bulkhead leaking around chip in glass (Help needed)

[Dj City]

Depends on how handy you are. Easy enough to make a wrench out of a piece of wood. 180 is only 24” tall, recruit a friend with longer arms LOL. Far easier than futzing around with making gaskets that probably won’t work anyhow.


Depends on the bulkhead. If it’s slip or thread on both ends then no different. Otherwise you’d just have to solvent weld into the down facing flange and add a threaded adapter into the up facing tail. I’ve installed bulkheads ‘backwards’ dozens of times. It really is simple.

I'm going to look into this (backwards bulkhead)
My 180g is 5ft x 24 x 30 deep and eurobraced. Not easy to get into overflow and impossible to reach the bottom with my hand.

The bulkhead is threaded on the outside and slip inside.

 

[Dj City]

Silicone sealant is an option too .... but then you have to wait 48 hours at least for it to properly cure.

What's your take on silicone sealant? How / where would you apply?

 

[Caseyoidae]

Against some opinions I usually put a very light 1/8? turn on my bulkheads with a wrench. Just to be sure I have a good seal. They’re never easy to reach or tighten by hand. Maybe someone else can chime in who does this ?

 

[pecan2phat]

I've always done 1/4 turn with a wrench after hand tightening and have never had a problem but these were schedule 80 bulkheads.
The Lifeguard bulkheads will crack if you do this!

 

[ca1ore]

I'm going to look into this (backwards bulkhead)
My 180g is 5ft x 24 x 30 deep and eurobraced. Not easy to get into overflow and impossible to reach the bottom with my hand.

The bulkhead is threaded on the outside and slip inside.

ah, yes, 30” tall is a bit more problematic .... unless you’re neighbor is Kareem Abdul Jabber. Just make a wrench.

 

[ca1ore]

What's your take on silicone sealant? How / where would you apply?

yeah, I have used silicone before, it just requires adequate curing time. 24 hours is not sufficient in my view. I apply a bead directly to the flange, push the gasket into the applied bead and then add a second bead to the gasket. Since your going to need to fully fill the chip, I would apply that second bead liberally. You will get quite a bit of squeeze out thus the extra cure time.

 

[Dj City]

Cure time is good for me. It's a new build. I'm nowhere ready for water yet so I can let it cure for a week if need be.

I thought the gasket should be flush with the glass?

How would it work to get or make a thicker, larger gasket for the inside and silicone the outside around the thread at the base of the bulkhead underneath the tank?

 

[JMetaxas]

Silicone both sides of the bulkhead Let dry. Bet it works fine.

 

[Dj City]

Silicone both sides of the bulkhead Let dry. Bet it works fine.

I would like to have the gasket flush with the glass and then silicone around that but I can't reach the bottom of the overflow.
To silicone inside the overflow I would have to apply silicone to the bulkhead then lower it into the overflow and tighten it up.

I can only install the bulkheads using the pvc plumbing. Is the only way I can get down there from inside.

 

[Gogoggansgo]

Wonder if the windshield repair filler would work?

i just went through the same dang thing on the top of my tank of my edge i had a small leak “like a few drops” , i used some gorilla glue, the **** that turns into a foam, because it was an oh **** moment and I’m surprised to say it worked great

 

[Dj City]

I broke a tooth on the overflow. Lucky for me it fell into the tank and not into the overflow.
Weldon #4 will take care of that for me.

 

[Dj City]

This is what I'm working with.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Silicone the outside was a good suggestion. Also flipping the gasket or having one on each side. But silicone is my favorite option. Also you need to go two turns beyond hand tight to know for sure how it’s going to act.

 

[Dj City]

The more I think about it, the more I think I should run a thick bead of silicone on the bottom of the gasket itself.

This would put silicone to inside glass to fill in the chip, make the gasket permanently installed but make the bulkhead itself removable.

Your thoughts?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

The more I think about it, the more I think I should run a thick bead of silicone on the bottom of the gasket itself.

This would put silicone to inside glass to fill in the chip, make the gasket permanently installed but make the bulkhead itself removable.

Your thoughts?

If you have time to let the silicone cure, I would go that route. I have a 220 that had the same issue and I just ran a bead of silicone around the gasket, where it contacts the glass. The silicone is now the gasket, so to speak. Works just fine and no leaks.
Also, this tank made a move where all the plumbing came out and I did the same thing again. I did forget about the silicone after setting it on the stand at the new place, but it was easy to get the old silicone off. Razor blade and 2 fingers holding it through the bulkhead hole. Then Acetone on a small rag to clean the glass.

 

[Dj City]

Here it is.
If this does not work...
Nothing will.

Now I wait at least 3 days for the silicone to cure.

 

[Katrina71]

Fingers crossed!

 

[steallife904]

that will work! i just hope you never have to remove it!

 

[Dj City]

that will work! i just hope you never have to remove it!

I will have to remove it one day.
My hope is that the gasket will stay but the bulkhead is removable. If needed in the future, a new gasket should be able to seat and seal on top of the existing gasket.

 

[mfinn]

I will have to remove it one day.
My hope is that the gasket will stay but the bulkhead is removable. If needed in the future, a new gasket should be able to seat and seal on top of the existing gasket.

It will come out just fine.
Silicone isn't permanent.