Plywood tank bulkhead with out using a bulkhead?

[James1]

I am wanting to have PVC pipes go through the side if the tank at the bottom to drain the bottom of the tank (actually the sump) .
It is very important to me to have the pipe right on the bottom. If I use a conventional bulkhead the the pipe would be off the bottom.
Can one epoxy or fibreglass or just silicone a PVC pipe through the tank?

James

 

[Pharaoh]

Depending on what the sump is made of, you could seal it without using a bulkhead, although it would be semi-permanent or even totally permanent. If you are looking to be able to remove debris from the tank, you could put a "U" on the pipe after it comes through. It would suck the debris from the bootom when you opened up the drain.

 

[James1]

The sides will be plywood. I am wanting to drain the sump to the last drop and all the solids. This is actually my settling chamber.
I don't mind if the pipe becomes a permanent fixture.
How would I seal it? Just with silicone? Remember there will be a valve on the outside and this could cause pressure on the seal.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

James

 

[Dr Joe]

If you have access under the tank how about a shower drain as they are flush mount.

Or use a shop vac .

Dr Joe

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[James1]

Thanks for the reply.
I would have a problem of height. I would have to chop out the concrete floor to get the pipe in. Also the shower traps that I looked at had to be recessed to be flush. This would make the bottom very thin.
My main problem is that I left insufficient height below my first row of tanks so my filter/sump can only be about a foot high.

 

[Dr Joe]

Post some pix, maybe we can still come up with something.

Dr Joe

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[Wheat]

I've done this. I put 4 - 1 1/2" pvc pipes in the bottom of a plywood sump to connect it to 2 other sumps. I used some sandpaper to rough up the pvc and glued it to the tank using epoxy. I painted the inside of the hole for the pipe with the epoxy paint the tank was painted with. After the glue dried I put a bead of silicone on the inside and outside.

 

[James1]

I was thinking also about epoxy, but was wondering if it would be necessary to thicken the tank with a couple more pieces of plywood so that when you turn the ball valve, you do not put to much pressure/leverage on the seal.
I would then pour the epoxy into this hole around the pipe and let it set.

 

[Wheat]

More support couldn't hurt but mine was in 3/4" ply and was very solid. I brushed a generous coat of epoxy on the pipe and inside the hole. Also, if you can find one, use a gate valve instead of a ball valve. They don't take so much leverage to turn and you can control the flow better.

 

[wow_it_esploded]

The only thing with gate valves is that they are known to weep with age.