Confession to make - killed a bulkhead

saintperez · 09/27/2008, 08:15 PM

Ok so I got a Mag12 from asch803 today. Great shape by the way.

I decided to make it an external pump feeding my sealife Impact Skimmer . My wet dry already had a 3/4" bulkhead on the side that was plugged up. So after two trips to Home Depot for getting the right fittings, Ball valve etc.. It happened! I don't know what I was thinking but I put the bulkhead on a vice and was trying to drive the 3/4" PVC all the way through the bulkhead so I could but an elbow on the end of the pipe underneath the bioballs. Then Crack! Damn thing cracked straight down the middle.

Now I have the Mag12 hanging on the inside of the tank pushing water along the top of my 180 tank hoping the two little guys and a new snowflake I got today will last till about 10 am. tomorrow morning when I can go and get a new bulkhead.

One question though, do I need to worry about PVC cement once I have the pipe halfway in the bulkhead?

acrocrazy · 09/27/2008, 08:40 PM

you should always glue pressurized fittings what i would recommend is using a single union ball valve from the sump the pump, union side facing the pump so you can take off the pump and not have to worry about water rushing through or draining your sump (wet dry filter) good luck!!!

gookster · 09/27/2008, 11:49 PM

always glue your joints. theres so much pressure they will come off sooner or later and then you'll have water everywhere

avel · 09/28/2008, 02:57 AM

The bulkheads I used had a raised area in the middle. Check yours. You might need a pipe on each end, the raised area blocks the pipe from going all the way through.

saintperez · 09/28/2008, 06:41 AM

Thanks Avel, the one I had didn't but I will check the one I get this morning.

saintperez · 09/28/2008, 11:52 AM

Well just an update. GOt he bulkhad this morning at Big Als ran home plugged it all up and got the water flowing again. Was looking for my new baby snowflake eel that I picked up yesterday and no where to be found. SO I tok out the Mag12 I had haning in the tank and guess what I found....
May she rest in Peace.

avel · 10/11/2008, 03:17 AM

Damn, sucks about the eel.

AZDesertRat · 10/11/2008, 11:08 AM

I use only threaded bulkheads, never have to destroy or cut one apart to replumb and they never leak with just a bit of teflon putty stick on them.

indydog1 · 10/11/2008, 11:35 AM

i agree about using threaded bulkheads. reuseable if necessary.

09/27/2008, 08:15 PM	#1
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	Confession to make - killed a bulkhead Ok so I got a Mag12 from asch803 today. Great shape by the way. I decided to make it an external pump feeding my sealife Impact Skimmer . My wet dry already had a 3/4" bulkhead on the side that was plugged up. So after two trips to Home Depot for getting the right fittings, Ball valve etc.. It happened! I don't know what I was thinking but I put the bulkhead on a vice and was trying to drive the 3/4" PVC all the way through the bulkhead so I could but an elbow on the end of the pipe underneath the bioballs. Then Crack! Damn thing cracked straight down the middle. Now I have the Mag12 hanging on the inside of the tank pushing water along the top of my 180 tank hoping the two little guys and a new snowflake I got today will last till about 10 am. tomorrow morning when I can go and get a new bulkhead. One question though, do I need to worry about PVC cement once I have the pipe halfway in the bulkhead?

10/11/2008, 11:35 AM	#9
indydog1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: round lake, il Posts: 1,590	i agree about using threaded bulkheads. reuseable if necessary. __________________ Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself Current Tank Info: 210 gal

09/27/2008, 08:40 PM	#2
acrocrazy Registered Member. Join Date: May 2005 Location: Huntington Station Posts: 246	you should always glue pressurized fittings what i would recommend is using a single union ball valve from the sump the pump, union side facing the pump so you can take off the pump and not have to worry about water rushing through or draining your sump (wet dry filter) good luck!!!

09/27/2008, 11:49 PM	#3
gookster Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: DC Posts: 67	always glue your joints. theres so much pressure they will come off sooner or later and then you'll have water everywhere

09/28/2008, 02:57 AM	#4
avel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Washougal, Washington Posts: 58	The bulkheads I used had a raised area in the middle. Check yours. You might need a pipe on each end, the raised area blocks the pipe from going all the way through.

09/28/2008, 06:41 AM	#5
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	Thanks Avel, the one I had didn't but I will check the one I get this morning.

09/28/2008, 11:52 AM	#6
saintperez Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boca Raton, FL. Posts: 1,062	Well just an update. GOt he bulkhad this morning at Big Als ran home plugged it all up and got the water flowing again. Was looking for my new baby snowflake eel that I picked up yesterday and no where to be found. SO I tok out the Mag12 I had haning in the tank and guess what I found.... May she rest in Peace.

10/11/2008, 03:17 AM	#7
avel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Washougal, Washington Posts: 58	Damn, sucks about the eel.

10/11/2008, 11:08 AM	#8
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	I use only threaded bulkheads, never have to destroy or cut one apart to replumb and they never leak with just a bit of teflon putty stick on them.