What bulkhead for 55 gallon drum?

seagirl · 01/12/2009, 03:29 PM

I want to connect a couple plastic drums(see pic) together, can i use a regular bulkhead to do this, or will i have problems b/c the side of the drum isn't flat? Anyone try this?

aquaman67 · 01/12/2009, 03:47 PM

Something like this will work.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pro...duct%5Fid=5784

seagirl · 01/12/2009, 03:54 PM

Thansk aquaman67! I wanted to put some in my brute cans too and these should be perfect for both applicatons. I appreciate the help.

stylolvr · 01/12/2009, 05:01 PM

I am not sure how thick the walls of those drums are, but you should be able to pick up a couple bulkheads at your LFS and tighten them good to flatten the side out a bit if it isn't too thick. Those rubber gaskets are wonderful - they work very well!

Jefe12234 · 01/12/2009, 06:09 PM

I used a regular bulkhead from the LFS on my 32g Brute and it holds water just fine. The sidewall is flexible enough that it just flattens out around the bulkhead.

seagirl · 01/12/2009, 09:57 PM

thanks for the tips, i'll try out a couple of cheap ones i have around here before i buy the more expensive ones. i thought the normal bulkheads might work on the brute, but the plastic drum isn't very flexible, so i wasn't sure if the normal ones would do it.

raddogz · 01/14/2009, 03:15 PM

Why not use uni-seals to connect them?

sjm817 · 01/14/2009, 03:18 PM

I use Uni-seals in 44G Brutes and they have worked very well.

billdogg · 01/14/2009, 03:32 PM

What i did with mine was turn them upside down - you can then use the plugs already installed in the (now) bottom - 1"pve to an old little giant pump = hands free water transfer! Mine have been set up this way for about 20 years now without any problem whatsoever. I just cut the bottom(now the top partway through, made hinges from pieces of milk jugs and nylon nut & bolts, and wadda ya know - hinged tops!

seagirl · 01/14/2009, 04:09 PM

I didn't think of uni-seals, thats a good idea.

Billdogg- got any pics

sjm817 · 01/14/2009, 04:38 PM

Uni-Seals are one of those things that work way better than you think they would. I was shocked when I first tried them that they didn't even leak a drop.

seagirl · 01/14/2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
Uni-Seals are one of those things that work way better than you think they would. I was shocked when I first tried them that they didn't even leak a drop.

what's a good source for the uni-seals?

sjm817 · 01/14/2009, 04:49 PM

Premium Aquatics has them
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...Code=Bulkheads

seagirl · 01/14/2009, 04:52 PM

thanks

01/12/2009, 03:29 PM	#1
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	What bulkhead for 55 gallon drum? I want to connect a couple plastic drums(see pic) together, can i use a regular bulkhead to do this, or will i have problems b/c the side of the drum isn't flat? Anyone try this?

01/12/2009, 05:01 PM	#4
stylolvr Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Longwood, FL Posts: 734	I am not sure how thick the walls of those drums are, but you should be able to pick up a couple bulkheads at your LFS and tighten them good to flatten the side out a bit if it isn't too thick. Those rubber gaskets are wonderful - they work very well! __________________ Some call it a hobby, others an obsession. I just call it good, clean fun! Current Tank Info: Acquiring equipment for a Waterbox 20 Cube mixed reef

01/12/2009, 06:09 PM	#5
Jefe12234 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: MN Posts: 885	I used a regular bulkhead from the LFS on my 32g Brute and it holds water just fine. The sidewall is flexible enough that it just flattens out around the bulkhead. __________________ Serenity now!!!

01/14/2009, 03:15 PM	#7
raddogz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,167	Why not use uni-seals to connect them? __________________ Eileen If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style. - Quentin Crisp Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

01/14/2009, 03:18 PM	#8
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I use Uni-seals in 44G Brutes and they have worked very well. __________________ - Scott

01/12/2009, 03:47 PM	#2
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	Something like this will work. http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pro...duct%5Fid=5784

01/12/2009, 03:54 PM	#3
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	Thansk aquaman67! I wanted to put some in my brute cans too and these should be perfect for both applicatons. I appreciate the help.

01/12/2009, 09:57 PM	#6
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	thanks for the tips, i'll try out a couple of cheap ones i have around here before i buy the more expensive ones. i thought the normal bulkheads might work on the brute, but the plastic drum isn't very flexible, so i wasn't sure if the normal ones would do it.

01/14/2009, 03:32 PM	#9
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	What i did with mine was turn them upside down - you can then use the plugs already installed in the (now) bottom - 1"pve to an old little giant pump = hands free water transfer! Mine have been set up this way for about 20 years now without any problem whatsoever. I just cut the bottom(now the top partway through, made hinges from pieces of milk jugs and nylon nut & bolts, and wadda ya know - hinged tops! __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

01/14/2009, 04:09 PM	#10
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	I didn't think of uni-seals, thats a good idea. Billdogg- got any pics

01/14/2009, 04:38 PM	#11
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Uni-Seals are one of those things that work way better than you think they would. I was shocked when I first tried them that they didn't even leak a drop. __________________ - Scott

01/14/2009, 04:49 PM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Premium Aquatics has them http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...Code=Bulkheads __________________ - Scott

01/14/2009, 04:52 PM	#14
seagirl Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,130	thanks