newbie bulkhead help please !! (pic)

marigold · 06/02/2006, 04:41 PM

Hi! This is the bulkhead that came with my tank. I'm embarassed to ask, but does the pipe side go inside the tank as part of a standpipe, or is it supposed to be outside the tank as part of the drain plumbing? Also, the gasket goes on the inside right? And I've seen mixed advice as far as siliconing the gasket....so should I?

Thanks for the help!!

Amy

emperora · 06/02/2006, 04:50 PM

taking an educated guess ,now remember this is just a guess, it look as though the threaded part would go inside the tank or on the bottom of a overflow and the "white part" would be where you would connect a hose (flexible tubing).that would be my guess .the best thing to do would be to contact the manufactuer. good luck!

marigold · 06/02/2006, 06:46 PM

Thanks! Anyone have more than an educated guess? Please?!

Does the nut go inside or outside the tank????????

Thanks! Amy

AIMFish · 06/02/2006, 06:55 PM

The nut goes on the inside. Put the o-ring on the bulkhead and slide the bulkhead through the hole from the inside out. I don't use silicone, that's what the o-ring is for. Hopefully that elbow isn't connected?

It's small in this pic but you can see how the threads are on the bottom of the tank.

AZDesertRat · 06/02/2006, 07:14 PM

The 90 degree elbow and pipe goes inside. You always install a bulkhead so the flange or molded in raised portion goes inside with the gasket, this is the sealing surface The screw on nut always goes outside. Do not use any sealant or lubricant as it can cause the gasket to want to squish out. Do not overtighten.

marigold · 06/02/2006, 07:19 PM

OK, I'm swallowing all pride....I am an idiot......

How does the nut go on the inside AND the bulkhead slides through the hole from the inside? If the threads are on the bottom of the tank in the picture, then the nut goes on the outside, right?

The elbow is connected, the tank is drilled in the back and the elbow could be used as either part of the standpipe or part of the drain plumbing, either would work - I'm just unsure of whether or not it's important for the nut to be in or out......out sure would be easier to tighten!

Thanks! Amy

marigold · 06/02/2006, 07:20 PM

Thanks, my last reply was made at the same time as AZDesertRat, just wasn't clear about the reply before that......

Thanks!! Amy

AZDesertRat · 06/02/2006, 07:21 PM

The bulkhead does slide through from the inside but the nut goes on the outside ALWAYS.

20 20 · 06/02/2006, 07:35 PM

Nut goes on the outside, gasket on the inside (the 'wet' side).

xtrstangx · 06/02/2006, 07:43 PM

The gasket is ALWAYS on the wet side.

You want it to be in this order:

Pipe - Flange - Gasket - Glass - Nut - remaing threads

BeanAnimal · 06/02/2006, 08:49 PM

Guys... I hate to disagree....

IT does not matter what the "WET SIDE" is. The gasket MUST go on the FLANGE side of the bulkhead. It's that simple. The seal against the flange is what makes a bulkhead water tight. It does not matter if the flange is on the dry side or the wet side.

Putting the gasket on the NUT side will allow water to seep through the threads and bypass the seal.

That said, lets imagine that the tank is PLYWOOD with epoxy on one side and unfinished plywood on the other. In this case the FLANGE and GASKET would need to be on the epoxy side. If it were on the other side (the plywood side), water would be in contact with the thickness of the plywood and contact the unfinished side that is in contact with the gasket....

I hope that makes sense

AIMFish · 06/03/2006, 08:17 AM

I just reread my post. Sorry for the confusion in the first sentence, the nut should go on the outside. It was right in my head, my fingers just typed the wrong word!!

BeanAnimal · 06/03/2006, 08:25 AM

Also... you NEVER need silicone, that is what the gasket is for!

06/02/2006, 04:41 PM	#1
marigold Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5	newbie bulkhead help please !! (pic) Hi! This is the bulkhead that came with my tank. I'm embarassed to ask, but does the pipe side go inside the tank as part of a standpipe, or is it supposed to be outside the tank as part of the drain plumbing? Also, the gasket goes on the inside right? And I've seen mixed advice as far as siliconing the gasket....so should I? Thanks for the help!! Amy

06/02/2006, 04:50 PM	#2
emperora Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: sw pa Posts: 82	taking an educated guess ,now remember this is just a guess, it look as though the threaded part would go inside the tank or on the bottom of a overflow and the "white part" would be where you would connect a hose (flexible tubing).that would be my guess .the best thing to do would be to contact the manufactuer. good luck! __________________ who lives in a pineapple under the sea Current Tank Info: 125 fish only

06/02/2006, 06:46 PM	#3
marigold Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5	Thanks! Anyone have more than an educated guess? Please?! Does the nut go inside or outside the tank???????? Thanks! Amy

06/02/2006, 06:55 PM	#4
AIMFish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Marion,IN Posts: 1,129	The nut goes on the inside. Put the o-ring on the bulkhead and slide the bulkhead through the hole from the inside out. I don't use silicone, that's what the o-ring is for. Hopefully that elbow isn't connected? It's small in this pic but you can see how the threads are on the bottom of the tank.

06/02/2006, 07:14 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The 90 degree elbow and pipe goes inside. You always install a bulkhead so the flange or molded in raised portion goes inside with the gasket, this is the sealing surface The screw on nut always goes outside. Do not use any sealant or lubricant as it can cause the gasket to want to squish out. Do not overtighten.

06/02/2006, 07:19 PM	#6
marigold Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5	OK, I'm swallowing all pride....I am an idiot...... How does the nut go on the inside AND the bulkhead slides through the hole from the inside? If the threads are on the bottom of the tank in the picture, then the nut goes on the outside, right? The elbow is connected, the tank is drilled in the back and the elbow could be used as either part of the standpipe or part of the drain plumbing, either would work - I'm just unsure of whether or not it's important for the nut to be in or out......out sure would be easier to tighten! Thanks! Amy

06/02/2006, 07:20 PM	#7
marigold Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5	Thanks, my last reply was made at the same time as AZDesertRat, just wasn't clear about the reply before that...... Thanks!! Amy

06/02/2006, 07:21 PM	#8
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The bulkhead does slide through from the inside but the nut goes on the outside ALWAYS.

06/02/2006, 07:35 PM	#9
20 20 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Stewartstown, PA Posts: 1,246	Nut goes on the outside, gasket on the inside (the 'wet' side).

06/02/2006, 07:43 PM	#10
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	The gasket is ALWAYS on the wet side. You want it to be in this order: Pipe - Flange - Gasket - Glass - Nut - remaing threads

06/02/2006, 08:49 PM	#11
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Guys... I hate to disagree.... IT does not matter what the "WET SIDE" is. The gasket MUST go on the FLANGE side of the bulkhead. It's that simple. The seal against the flange is what makes a bulkhead water tight. It does not matter if the flange is on the dry side or the wet side. Putting the gasket on the NUT side will allow water to seep through the threads and bypass the seal. That said, lets imagine that the tank is PLYWOOD with epoxy on one side and unfinished plywood on the other. In this case the FLANGE and GASKET would need to be on the epoxy side. If it were on the other side (the plywood side), water would be in contact with the thickness of the plywood and contact the unfinished side that is in contact with the gasket.... I hope that makes sense

06/03/2006, 08:17 AM	#12
AIMFish Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Marion,IN Posts: 1,129	I just reread my post. Sorry for the confusion in the first sentence, the nut should go on the outside. It was right in my head, my fingers just typed the wrong word!!

06/03/2006, 08:25 AM	#13
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	Also... you NEVER need silicone, that is what the gasket is for!