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Post Info TOPIC: Leakproofing a Bottom Bulkhead
Grizzly


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Leakproofing a Bottom Bulkhead
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Hey guys, I ended up buying some bottom feed 50gal tanks and need to know if I can permanently seal the bulkheads so they won't leak?  I will be sucking from the top so I need the perimeter and the 3/4 hole of the fitting sealed for good.  I tried searching but came up empty handed.  I attached a pic but I guess all bulkheads are pretty much the same.  I did find some 2-part epoxy for plastics at Home Depot that states it's solvent resistant so I'm not sure about SH.  Will that be a waste of time?  Any suggestions?  Thanks a lot guys.  -Clay

-- Edited by Grizzly on Friday 23rd of July 2010 01:32:04 PM

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I started with 55gal drums. I used the screw on cap location for filling, then i did as you are doing, and used the other opening for my draw. I sealed mine with silicone, it will need to be checked everyday that you run it with the sloshing factor.

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Grizzly


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Sorry, I should have been more clear.  These tanks are horizontal with with bulkheads at the bottom.  So, the SH will be trying to escape at all times.  One will be strictly for SH storage so it will need to withstand full strength.  Do you think I should just use silicone?  What about the epoxy I listed above?  Thanks 

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I do not know about that stuff, I have never used it. I used silicone and it worked fine. When I upgraded my tanks, I had a hard time getting it tore down.

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Maybe JB Weld? Not sure of how it holds up to the SH

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I don't use anything except the gasket it came with. My 125gal has 2 bottom bulkheads. Never had a leak around the seal. Now the fittings,,,,,thats another story...

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If youve got a bottom bulkhead fitting you might as well use it. You wont have to worry about pumps priming.

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Grizzly


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I'm already set up to pull from the top so I just need to seal off the bottom.  So, I guess I'll just reinstall the original seal and plug it from inside and outside with 3/4" pvc plugs smothered in man gravy.....I mean, some sort of silicone or teflon paste.  Any other ideas?  Thanks 

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How good is your luck?

I know a few guys on the bbs's out there that have had good luck with bulkheads not leaking. I tried 3 different suppliers for viton gaskets (o-rings) for the bulkhead on my 60 gallon horizontal tank and each gasket started leaking within a month to 1.5 months.

I put a pvc threaded cap into the bulkhead to block it and the cap and teflon tape held up but the gasket gave out each time, I could not find a viton gasket that would work here.

I took that tank off and got a PCO tank from Tractor Supply that holds 50 gallons that has no fittings on it, just the top opening and have had no problems since.

You might get lucky but the SH will dry, deteriorate or rot just about anything out there unless it is made to handle the SH which not too many things are.

If you have a plastic welding shop where you live then they can plastic weld it then pressure test it for leaks then that might work otherwise I would not use the tanks.

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Roof Cleaning Corpus Christi TX wrote:

How good is your luck?

I know a few guys on the bbs's out there that have had good luck with bulkheads not leaking. I tried 3 different suppliers for viton gaskets (o-rings) for the bulkhead on my 60 gallon horizontal tank and each gasket started leaking within a month to 1.5 months.

I put a pvc threaded cap into the bulkhead to block it and the cap and teflon tape held up but the gasket gave out each time, I could not find a viton gasket that would work here.

I took that tank off and got a PCO tank from Tractor Supply that holds 50 gallons that has no fittings on it, just the top opening and have had no problems since.

You might get lucky but the SH will dry, deteriorate or rot just about anything out there unless it is made to handle the SH which not too many things are.

If you have a plastic welding shop where you live then they can plastic weld it then pressure test it for leaks then that might work otherwise I would not use the tanks.


Its funny I remember you and I talking about this last year sometime. I have been pulling from the same bottom bulkhead for just over 2 years now with no problems on my chem tank. But just 2 weeks ago my WATER tank gaskets gave out!?!? WTF? Chem tank is still holding strong though. hahaha

 



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Scott, you are one of the few people I know that have had luck with the viton gaskets on tanks when using SH. Most others I know including myself have not had good luck and choose to not have fittings on the tanks to prevent leaks.

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Grizzly


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My luck would probably run out quickly if I trusted the seal alone. I'll have to look for a plastic welder in my area. I may just epoxy it all on. Undecided.

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Grizzly wrote:

My luck would probably run out quickly if I trusted the seal alone. I'll have to look for a plastic welder in my area. I may just epoxy it all on. Undecided.


Harbor freight has a plastic welder, a friend of mine tried it on something and said it worked great.....just my 02...

 



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I used the 2 part epoxy from advance auto parts. I've got a 55 gal that i drilled in the bottom with a pet**** valve. I used the home depot brand and it leaked, not to metion the 2nd time I closed the door and broke the neck.



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Grizzly


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Do you remember the brand from Advanced? I checked every epoxy at Home Depot and they all warned to not use on poly plastic or keep it submerged in water, liquid, etc. Thanks

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