Sump bulkhead plumbing

[Farmerjones]

Hi, has anyone used bulkheads to attach pipes on rear of sump to make access and aesthetics of sump better?

 

[Backfromthedead]

Yep. I rigged a 200g DT/150g sump with a very simple drain and return scheme, drains drilled on one end and returns on the other. The concept was great and i intend to replicate it in upcoming builds since it made the plumbing very sturdy and access to the sump easy.





Ive also done this with the stand, mounted the drains from the back of the stand and ran pumps out the sides in the case of this 210g DT/100g sump.

 

[jjohnwm]

I like using bulkhead entries into sumps just to make it easier to close the tops up completely and reduce evaporation and heat loss as much as possible. I like the easier access to the interior of the sump as well. I must admit that the idea of "sump aesthetics" has never occurred to me; I barely consider tank aesthetics...

 

[brent245]

For ease of maintenance it would seem better to not use bulkheads unless it's just a overflow for a drip system. I designed mine so I could pull the 75g tank out in no time if a issue ever arose. Still building.

 

[jjohnwm]

For ease of maintenance it would seem better to not use bulkheads unless it's just a overflow for a drip system. I designed mine so I could pull the 75g tank out in no time if a issue ever arose. Still building.View attachment 1514439

Meh; tomato, mosquito...

If a sump services several tanks and has several water inlets coming into it from them...it's much easier and cleaner to enter the sump through bulkheads in the side or back than to have all those firehoses blasting water in from above. I want my sump fully covered to control evaporation. Each inlet bringing water in through the top complicates that.

Similarly, if a sump incorporates a refugium area, covering it is even more important, so water entry through the bulkhead simplifies this.

Either way, evaporation is minimized, but simply lifting off a cover provides complete access for normal maintenance. I think the last time I actually pulled a sump out of position for "abnormal" maintenance was about 2015, so access for that is not high on my list of priorities. But attaching the incoming pipe to the bulkhead by means of a threaded union would solve that problem if I felt it existed.

Congrats on ensuring a decent amount of space above your sump for access. A fair number of aquarists neglect that, and spend years cursing their cramped, awkward setups. Yours isn't ideal...no sump actually placed underneath a tank really is...but it looks very workable.