Bulkheads vs Gasket and PVC

Hey guys, just had a few questions about bulkheads vs threaded pvc with a gasket.

Fitting + Gaskets:



3/4" Bulkhead from Marine Depot | Aquarium Supplies, Fish Tanks and LED Lights


I don't think the difference in seal-strength(or leak prevention) is that different between the two options. The only reason I ask is because you have to order bulkheads where as the pvc and gasket I can get right down the street. Our LFS closed last year and the only fish stores in my area are Petsmart, Petco, and a LFS that is meant for setup and maintenance, not sales(although they say they can order anything, they have amazing show size stylophora and other huge sps colonies) but no supplies. I would assume the bulkheads look much neater.

Also any suggestions on building an overflow would be helpful. Considering drilling 2 drain holes and 1 return for the beananimal style overflow(which I think is the one with two pvc elbows, one pointed down for a full siphon, the other pointed up as a backup.)

Thanks for the input!

 

bean has 3 drains and 1 or more returns.

BeanAnimal's Bar and Grill - Silent and Fail-Safe Overflow System

Even though you're doing a 40, I'd still recommend the bean. You could use 1" for everything. BRS has everything.

OR

You could do, Gla$$-holes.com, they have complete overflow and return kits.
Aquarium overflow box 700gph
The 700 GPH box would work great.

 

Ya I know bean has 3, but would I need 3? I was thinking one elbow face down and one elbow face up would be just as good as having two elbows face down.

The only problem I have with glass-holes 700gph overflow is I couldnt find any information on a running one(their video is really long and stupid and doesnt actually show the overflow operating) Also, I feel as if I can make the same thing for less than half the price they are asking(not including the drill bit)

I have a diy overflow in my biocube and it works great, I just want something with a smaller footprint and not as ugly in my 40b, that's why I was going to drill the back.

So you suggest drilling 4 holes? 3 for the overflow and 1 for the return? All at 1" which I believe would be a 1.5" hole size?

Thanks,
Jake

 

a bean has 3 drains. a full syphon, an open channel and an emergency.
a herbie has 2. a full syphon and an open channel

nothing wrong with a herbie.

nothing wrong with a gla$$ holes. Tons of folks on here run them and swear by them.
I recently did come across a youtube vid of someone actually showing the inside and how their proprietary baffle system works.

if you want to to a coast to coast (or mostly coast to coast) overflow and put a herbie in it, go for it. use glass not plexiglass. My idea was to use a really dark smoked glass for the front side of the overflow so its harder to see the pipes and clear for the bottom so some light can transmit down thru.

type in the different overflow types in google and click google images and you'll get pages and pages of ideas.

~FB

 

+1 This looks amazing. Great surface skim and appears to be very inexpensive and easy to diy. Also, I might just have to use your idea for the smoked front glass and clear bottom.

Still, what is your opinion on the gasket and pvc fitting vs bulkheads? I can find it the fittings at Lowes, and it's easy to instal or replace. I feel like that's the old school way to do it.

Just bothers me that bulkheads are mainly online only

 

if your LFS is mostly setup and maintenance, they probably have bulkheads kicking around for emergencies. Did you ask?

I'd still go the BRS route.
The if you plan on doing a herbie or bean, you'll need GATE valves NOT ball valves. You'll never be able to tune the system correctly with ball valves. The Lowes type places and plumbing stores don't sell the ALL plastic gate valves so if you're LFS don't have it, you back to turning to online.

Also, doing a DYI is NOT cheaper after adding up the plumbing pieces, glass, glass cutters, and supplies, trial\error than the gla$$holes kits.

 

PVC fittings do not have a sufficient sealing surface compared to the flange on a bulkhead. Also the rubber hose gaskets are very hard and barely compress compared to the rubber gasket on the bulkhead which is very soft and flexible so it almost vulcanizes to the glass and flange.

If its worth doing, its worth doing right the first time.

 

+1 Thank you!

@Fat_Bastad - No, it was my first time in there. I guess they opened a few months ago I never noticed. When I was inside I was just impressed by the size of their coral colonies. You do not see basketball size birdsnest very often in person when you live in the good ol mountains of norf kuralina. But I will definitely go back and ask, they must have them! Thank you!

 

Watch out for the dark smoke glass. I did that and it looked completely black until I turned on the lights. It is still see through with the main lights on and I can see my ugly plumbing

 

Could you spray the glass with black fusion brand paint? (Although I never trusted doing that myself)

And what size bulkheads should I order? They are really nicely priced on BRS