Please help me solve a plumbing problem...

[Dom]

I'm currently in the process of a rebuild which will connect two tanks to one sump.

Tank A is drilled with two 3/4 inch bulkheads, one as a drain and the other as a return.

Tank B is drilled with three 1 inch bulkheads, two as a drain and one as a return.

On Tank A, I would like to make the drain 1 inch. And on tank B, I would like to make the return 3/4 inch. To sum up, return lines to both tanks will be 3/4 inch and all drains will 1 inch.

Inserting a 3/4 inch bulkhead into the glass that was drilled to accommodate a 1 inch bulkhead shouldn't be difficult. I just need to find a gasket who's center is only big enough for a 3/4 inch bulkhead, but broad enough to accommodate the larger 1 inch hole in the glass.

The bigger issue is enlarging one of the 3/4 inch holes on tank A to accommodate a 1 inch bulkhead.

So my questions are:

1. Can someone recommend or provide a link to a gasket that will allow me to install a 3/4 inch bulkhead in a 1 inch opening?

2. Is there a way that I can enlarge a hole for a 3/4 inch bulkhead to accommodate a 1 inch bulkhead?

Thanks
Dom

 

[Biglew11]

Converting the one inch to 3/4inch is easy, just use a standard 1 inch threaded bulkhead https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulkhead-abs-thread-x-thread.html and use a reducer bushing https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bres-schedule-80-reducing-bushing-thread.html

Drilling the 3/4 may be a problem. If the glass is tempered it will be impossible.

If it is not tempered its possible, but will still be tricky, best done with the tank empty.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diamond-coated-glass-drill-bits.html

 

[Dom]

Converting the one inch to 3/4inch is easy, just use a standard 1 inch threaded bulkhead https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulkhead-abs-thread-x-thread.html and use a reducer bushing https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bres-schedule-80-reducing-bushing-thread.html

Drilling the 3/4 may be a problem. If the glass is tempered it will be impossible.

If it is not tempered its possible, but will still be tricky, best done with the tank empty.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diamond-coated-glass-drill-bits.html

I have the bit to cut the hole. And it isn't tempered, so in theory, it can be done. But cutting a bigger hole from an existing one can be difficult when doing it free hand. I'll have to use a plunge router.

I'll have to order the reducer. I just received $150.00 in plumbing parts from BRS today. Wish I had known about the reducer before I placed my order.

Thank you for the feedback!

 

[Dom]

Okay... so... I was able to open the 3/4 inch hole in tank A. Here are some pictures...



This is a picture of a piece of wood with a 1 inch hole. I used it as a guide to open the 3/4 hole in the glass. Look carefully and you can see the smaller hole within the wood.

This is the actual drilling in progress, which went very well.

This is the completed drill.

 

[Biglew11]

Okay... so... I was able to open the 3/4 inch hole in tank A. Here are some pictures...



This is a picture of a piece of wood with a 1 inch hole. I used it as a guide to open the 3/4 hole in the glass. Look carefully and you can see the smaller hole within the wood.

This is the actual drilling in progress, which went very well.

This is the completed drill.

Awesome, good job.

 

[Dom]

Ok... so now tank has a 3/4" hole for the return and a 1" hole for the drain.

New problem:

How can I fit a 3/4" bulkhead in a 1" hole?

 

[Dom]

I'm spending a lot of time and effort in to trying to figure out how to use existing plumbing when I should just buy the parts I need and be done with it.

 

[Biglew11]

Ok... so now tank has a 3/4" hole for the return and a 1" hole for the drain.

New problem:

How can I fit a 3/4" bulkhead in a 1" hole?

Converting the one inch to 3/4inch is easy, just use a standard 1 inch threaded bulkhead https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulkhead-abs-thread-x-thread.html and use a reducer bushing https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bres-schedule-80-reducing-bushing-thread.html

the flange area of a 3/4 bulk head won't likely be large enough to make a good seal if you did find a washer. your best bet is to use the standard 1 bulk head with a reducer. this should allow you to reuse much of the 3/4 plumbing you already have.
do it the right way while the tanks are empty.

 

[Dom]

the flange area of a 3/4 bulk head won't likely be large enough to make a good seal if you did find a washer. your best bet is to use the standard 1 bulk head with a reducer. this should allow you to reuse much of the 3/4 plumbing you already have.
do it the right way while the tanks are empty.

Yes, Thank you.

You advised me once to use the 1 inch with reducers. I was looking for a way to reuse the 3/4.

In the end, I've wasted a lot of time trying to find a solution which will allow me to reuse a $5.00 part. Talk about penny wise...

I've ordered a new 1 inch bulkhead with reducers to install.

The last thing I wasn't is to put it together and have it leak!

Thank you again for the help.
Dom