installing a bulkhead

[sil3ncio]

Just got a bulkhead in the mail, it came with a rubber washer, where should it go? on the outside or inside of the tank??

 

[bad coffee]

the wet side of the bulkhead. inside the tank. Make sure when you tighten the nut down the gasket doesn't curl up on you.

B

 

[sil3ncio]

thanks for the quick response....

 

[sil3ncio]

also, should i use silicone? i know that teflon should be use with threaded ones...right?

 

[masterswimmer]

No teflon is necessary on a bulkhead. Slide the rubber gasket onto the bulkhead. Then slide the bulkhead into the hole from the inside of the tank. When you screw the 'nut' onto the bulkhead from the outside of the tank, it will squeeze the gasket to prevent leaks.

Oh, no silicone either.

Done..............

swimmer

 

[bad coffee]

i silicone them. I put just a bit of silicone on my fingers and coat the gasket. I do it as a safety, but it's not needed.

the only Teflon tape you'll need is on the threaded pieces that screw into a threaded bulkhead. Just like any other threaded pipe fitting.

B

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Be sure the ribs of the Gasket are facing the glass and the flat side is facing the bulkhead flange. This will help create "gates" to prevent water from leaking out.

 

[sil3ncio]

i don't get the last one....(H20)

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

On most SCH80 bulkheads the gasket included has two sides. One side is smooth and the other has ridges or ribs.

The ribs help create a water tight seal around the glass. The smooth side should face the plastic of the bulkhead so that pressure is evenly distributed across the gasket.

If your does not have ribs one side, it really does not matter! Just make sure it is on the wet side as Brett suggested.

Another good tip is make sure all surfaces that meet the glass should be clean of all debris so that all the surfaces mate up correctly.

 

[ECFENCING]

I talked to Mitch at Inter-American Aquarium and he suggested as bad coffee did to place silicone on the gasket. Mitch suggested both sides of the gasket as a precautionary method.

 

[Eznet2u]

I would not use the silicone, as it CAN lubricate the gasket causing it to squeeze out. JMO

 

[masterswimmer]

If anyone finds a need to use silicone when installing a bulkhead they are not installing the bulkhead correctly. There is no need for silicone.

swimmer

 

[sil3ncio]

no silicone it is!