blocking off bulk head holes????
- Thread starter w_hartyjr
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Probably the best way would be to get a square cut piece of glass or acrylic, depending on what your tank is made of, like for like, a bit larger in diameter, maybe 1" or better wider than the hole on all sides and the same thickness as the bottom, and either silicone it in place for glass, or use the appropriate acrylic solvent cement if the tank is acrylic.
The easier, but probably less desirable method would be to use a sealed bulkhead fitting, with the flange/gasket side of the bulkhead on the inside of the tank, and the lock nut on the bottom side.
The above just guesses on my part.
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I have 4 holes closed up on my current setup. Two have glass patches over then, the other two, original overflow and return holes, have bulkheads in them with PCV plugs in the bulkheads, both methods seem to work fine.
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Properly installed bulkheads would be my preference.
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I used appropriately sized pvc plugs glued into place
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Another option would be to plumb it and stop with a valve. Keep it closed and if you ever want to use it just complete the plumbing and you're good to go.
Bulkheads with PVC caps. It's the safest way, and it's easily reversible if you change your mind and/or sell the tank down the road.
Bulkhead with a small length of PVC glued in, and a PVC cap glued to the PVC. If you want to undo later on, you'll need a new bulkhead but that's it.
The patch method can/will work too but I wouldn't trust it as much. I've used the bulkhead/cap method successfully numerous times.
Jenn
Bulkhead with a small length of PVC glued in, and a PVC cap glued to the PVC. If you want to undo later on, you'll need a new bulkhead but that's it.
The patch method can/will work too but I wouldn't trust it as much. I've used the bulkhead/cap method successfully numerous times.
Jenn
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Threaded male to slip female adapter and a glued in plug/pipe with cap Valves are another option, they just scare some people.
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That would be my choice as well.
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you'd have a water change valve 
So all you bulkhead fans think a bulkhead would be more durable than a siliconed glass piece, huh? I have seen a lot more failed bulkheads than failed silicone/glass interfaces in my time in the hobby.
But then again, I have not patched a tank hole with either, so can't speak from actual experience.
But then again, I have not patched a tank hole with either, so can't speak from actual experience.
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How does a qaulity, properly installed bulkhead fail? If it does start to leak you can usually just tighten it up a little or totally replace. The replacement can be done without draining the tank with the use of an oversize pipe. To repair a silicone patch job would require a total tear down if in the bottom of the tank.
Just curious how many qaulity, properly installed bulkheads have you seen fail? I don't recall as many on here as I have leaking tanks.
