Bulkheads

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jim barry

jim barry

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jun 21, 2006
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U.K
Hi all

How do you fit your bulkheads? Do you use silicone?
I have asked this question before but the search function is not working on this site anymore.

I have bulkheads that come with one rubber seal and one plastic/nylon seal (both are removable)
Do i use them both?
From what i remember i removed the nylon one and used the rubber one on the inside of the tank. I think i used silicone sealant on both sides of the glass.

Any comments guys?

Thanks
 
Only time I have used silicone on a bulk head is when it leaks. Happened once and the bulkhead was from the early 90s. I just use the gasket it comes with on the inside of the tank and call it good.
 
PVC bulkheads don't need any silicone, grease, dope, nothing. They are made to be just put in the hole, with the gasket on the side of the glass that the water is on, and tightened just a touch over hand tight. Google "pvc bulkhead installation", and look at a couple videos and instructions on installing bulkheads. They pretty much all say that.
 
Yes but like I said I got 2 gaskets one is rubber and the others plastic
Which do I use water side if I don't use silicone . I guess the rubber one?


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The rubber gasket "vulcanizes" to the glass over time if it is compressed slightly. So, over time it actually seals better and better. Like the gasket on a car windshield. The bulkheads I installed recently only had one black rubber gasket that is on the wet side of the glass. So, put the plastic gasket on the dry side, and the soft rubber gasket on the wet side. Don't grease the soft rubber gasket. If you have a bur on the hard plastic surface that touches the gasket, smooth that out with a knife or razor. That bur could cause a leak.
 
I usually lube the gasket with silicone lube. It eliminates any leaks. You have to watch to make sure you don't over compress the gasket since it is slippery. Glass Holes says to do this with their kits and I have ever since I read that and have never had another leak. I keep spare gaskets for all sizes of bulkheads on hand. They wear out with time if you take them apart more than a few times. Get silicone grease from the electrical department of your hardware store or food grade from Amazon in a giant tube.
 
Always put them on dry. The silicone can cause the gasket to move while its not fully cured. The rubber sticks to the dry glass and the friction of the two being sandwiched creates a water tight seal.

Always put your gasket on the flange side. Not the nut side. Water can travel through the threads. The external threads are not water tight and not meant to take tape or thread dope.

Ive even installed them "backwards" with the gasket and flange on the exterior of the glass and the nut and threads inside the tank with no issues.


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Food for thought in case you're not already aware...I the bulkheads (at least the ones I use) are ABS. So if/when you connect to PVC, make sure you use ABS / PVS transition cement, vs. just the PVC cement (with primer too of course). I've not actually done otherwise, but I don't want to find out the hard way either.
 
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