Pizzapro83
Well-Known Member
I drilled my own over flow today. I hooked it all up and the bulk head leaked. If I put silcone around it will it hold? And also is there any certain kind? Its for the outside of tank
Leaky bulkhead
- Thread starter Pizzapro83
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stud_man50
New Member
Aquarium safe Silicone will work, you can go to the LFS and buy a little or go to Home Depot just make sure it doesnt have any additives for anti-mildew etc. I would add a bead to the inside and outside tighten and let sit for 24hrs. Or just the outside would probably work if its already on the stand, as long as everything is dry.
OP
OP
Pizzapro83
Well-Known Member
Will it say no additives?
Yellowtang
Well-Known Member
Check the fitting for flashing material from manufacturing and remove it so the surfaces are smooth. I use a razor blade or sharp exacto knife. Place rubber gasket on the inside of tank, or an oring. Nothing put on the outside where the nut is has ever worked for me. Hand tighten only. That should fix your problem.
JR,
JR,
GE Caulk: Weatherize Your Home, Save Money and Energy
I used that on my tank before and had no problems. it does say you cant use on aquariums, but everyone i know has used it. You want to get GE Silicone II. Home Depot and Lowes both carry it and from what I know GE has only 2 types of Silicone. You just want something that is 100% Silicone without anything else such as fungicides, latex, etc.
I used that on my tank before and had no problems. it does say you cant use on aquariums, but everyone i know has used it. You want to get GE Silicone II. Home Depot and Lowes both carry it and from what I know GE has only 2 types of Silicone. You just want something that is 100% Silicone without anything else such as fungicides, latex, etc.
revhtree
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Did you put the gasket on the right side?
Also Walmart around here carries the Aquarium Silicone in the fish department.
Also Walmart around here carries the Aquarium Silicone in the fish department.
OP
OP
Pizzapro83
Well-Known Member
Gaskets on the right side. I may have over tighten. I am going to redo it. Thanks for the help
Bulkhead tips:
Alwasy install bulkheads clean and dry, no silicones, teflons or thread lubricants. Silicones and lubricants cause the gasket to scoot out or not seal properly. Have you ever removed an old automobile windshield or other gsaketed glass? The rubber vulcanizes to the glass with time and creates a perfrct seal without any help.
Before installing the bulkhead take a few minutes using a jewelers file, nail file or pocket knife and clean any excess flashing off both the male and female threads and from the flat gasket mating surfaces. This is a comon source of leaks.
Always install the gasket on the flange side of the bulkhead, never on the nut side, regardless if its inside or outside the tank. Installing the gasket next to the nut will lead to leaks. Hand tighten only with maybe 1/4 to 1/2 turn additional, no more. When using threaded bulkheads, again clean the excess flashing from the threads and valleys and use a small amount of teflon tape or better yet the stick or crayon type of thread lubricant designed specifically for PVC treads. These can be found at Lowes, HD, Ace and all hardware stores under names like Laco, Permatex and others.
I use this one and have since the 1980's with great success.
LA-CO: Product Detail - PLASTO-JOINT STIK® - Plastic Thread Sealant
It stays pliable forever and does not tear or roll out of the threads like teflon tape. My swimming pool plumbing up to 2" was all installed with this in 1983, outside in Phoenix AZ and its still pliable to this day!
Never support any pumps or piping from a bulkhead, always use supports so wieght is not on a bulkhead and gasket causing diffrenetial stresses on the mating surfaces. Never screw anything to the external threads of a bulkhead, these are not standard tapered pipe threads and will leak. They are there to screw the nut on is all and are not normally even a standard diameter like 1" etc.
Hope you get some use out of this.
Alwasy install bulkheads clean and dry, no silicones, teflons or thread lubricants. Silicones and lubricants cause the gasket to scoot out or not seal properly. Have you ever removed an old automobile windshield or other gsaketed glass? The rubber vulcanizes to the glass with time and creates a perfrct seal without any help.
Before installing the bulkhead take a few minutes using a jewelers file, nail file or pocket knife and clean any excess flashing off both the male and female threads and from the flat gasket mating surfaces. This is a comon source of leaks.
Always install the gasket on the flange side of the bulkhead, never on the nut side, regardless if its inside or outside the tank. Installing the gasket next to the nut will lead to leaks. Hand tighten only with maybe 1/4 to 1/2 turn additional, no more. When using threaded bulkheads, again clean the excess flashing from the threads and valleys and use a small amount of teflon tape or better yet the stick or crayon type of thread lubricant designed specifically for PVC treads. These can be found at Lowes, HD, Ace and all hardware stores under names like Laco, Permatex and others.
I use this one and have since the 1980's with great success.
LA-CO: Product Detail - PLASTO-JOINT STIK® - Plastic Thread Sealant
It stays pliable forever and does not tear or roll out of the threads like teflon tape. My swimming pool plumbing up to 2" was all installed with this in 1983, outside in Phoenix AZ and its still pliable to this day!
Never support any pumps or piping from a bulkhead, always use supports so wieght is not on a bulkhead and gasket causing diffrenetial stresses on the mating surfaces. Never screw anything to the external threads of a bulkhead, these are not standard tapered pipe threads and will leak. They are there to screw the nut on is all and are not normally even a standard diameter like 1" etc.
Hope you get some use out of this.
+1 with aquarium safe silicone 
Hefton
Community Member
AZDesertRat is exactly right.
I had a couple of the schedule 80 Hayward bulkheads leak. I tried using a small amount of silicone, and with any amount of pressure the gasket would slip out of position. I ended up cleaning the glass and gaskets with alcohol. Hand tight and about a quarter turn with a wrench, and they held perfectly. The cleaning with alcohol actually holds the gasket in place while the bulkhead was being tightened. The gasket and the slight pressure from the bulkhead should be enough to keep a water tight seal.
Bulkheads were designed to be use without any additional means of sealing.
Other than using something like silicone, which as previously stated, will act like a lubricant and over tightening, the biggest mistake I have seen is allowing the bulkhead itself turn while tightening. This can sometimes distort the gasket, preventing it from sealing properly. Hold the bulkhead firmly and only twist the nut to tighten.
Other than using something like silicone, which as previously stated, will act like a lubricant and over tightening, the biggest mistake I have seen is allowing the bulkhead itself turn while tightening. This can sometimes distort the gasket, preventing it from sealing properly. Hold the bulkhead firmly and only twist the nut to tighten.
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Hey AZDesertRat I hope you don't mind but I took your post and made a sticky out of it.
Thanks.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f30/installing-bulkhead-tips-34973.html#post378287
Thanks.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/f30/installing-bulkhead-tips-34973.html#post378287
OP
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Pizzapro83
Well-Known Member
I have a feed tube and drilled a hole for the bulk head. It was tought to get it in. I still leaks. Do I need to take it out and drill a hole so it goes in easy?
I am not sure what you mean by a feed tube? You say it went in tough so it must already have a hole, how would another hole help? I guess your description has me confused.
LegoZ81
Well-Known Member
The bulkhead so slip into place easily. I would correct the situation that is preventing this and follow the recommendations above and clean the surface with first a razor blade (if there is coralline etc) and then rubbing alcohol on a paper towel. If the tank is already setup use vodka it won't work quite as well but for sure won't nuke your tank.
