Drainage / Bulkhead - what do you use ?

[chadfarmer]

I am getting ready to set up as few more tanks and I wanted to know what method everyone was using to drain their tanks and what size hole was drilled in the tank. I am wanting to use a bulkhead.

[Philsuma]

I only have a couple tanks with bulkheads - installed by....other people.

Michael will probably see this thread and post - I believe there is a good pic of putty ring, water and a drill used at an angle in his main "uber build" thread.

As to exactly what diameter and the exact product and store he gets the bulkheads..... I assume that's whatcha want.

[chadfarmer]

i have drilled a ton of tanks

i was just thanking about going with a 1/4 inch bulk head

[D3monic]

http://www.glass-holes.com/1-1-8-Diamon ... dhs118.htm

http://www.glass-holes.com/1-2-inch-Bul ... h05txt.htm

http://www.glass-holes.com/1-2-inch-Bul ... -bhs05.htm

Thats exactly what i use.

[Philsuma]

Thanks Michael.

Do you use silcone with the bulkhead-to-tank / plastic/glass merger ?

What placement do you recommend ? Front side..left...right....center ?

What do you use in the front / face....to cap off the hole when it's not "in use'

[D3monic]

Placement depends on where on the rack. Most of mine are drilled on the side, there's a gasket that comes with the bulkhead.

No silicone needed.

I don't cap them. I use a barb fitting similar to this http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/BANJO- ... _sku=3DTT8
The barb fittings can be found at any hardware store usually in the sprinkler section. I recommend taking the bulkhead with you. Depending on the stores selection they might be a semi loose fit so some thread tape might be needed to keep it from leaking a little. I then find some tubing that fits the barb and run it to a drainage bucket at the bottom of the viv. I will get pics in a second.

[D3monic]

got to drill about 1/2 - 3/4 from the bottom to avoid cracking.

Top rack



Middle rack with a T intercepting drainage from top rack



drainage bucket....pretty simple set up



also hard plumbing ...not as easy or moveable.

[Venutus1]

Being the DIY guy that I am ... I love drilling glass. Drilled many a hole for reef tanks.
But have gotten lazy in my old age.
Here is a little ditty I whipped up... and I like it.

I used undergravel filter plates (it costs only about 7.00 per tank) and cut the lift tube off at substrate level and plugged it.

Any time one feels the need to drain, just stick a 1/2 siphon hose down the lift tube and drain it out.

Now, it isn't AS nice as bulkheads that can drain constantly... but for a few tanks, it was easy.
If I were doing a rack, like the nice set ups above, or when I set up that really big tank 8) , I would dust off the diamond core bits and have at it.
Anyway, I just wanted to toss it out because it may be of some interest to those that do not want to drill, but need to drain. And it is economical.

Cheers. Todd
http://www.LightYourReptiles.com

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[Philsuma]

Very cool Todd ! Good optional false bottom with a built in access tube.

[Venutus1]

Very cool Todd ! Good optional false bottom with a built in access tube.

[*]

thanks Phil.
I hope you don't mind me adding it in here.
Just to give some of the newer hobbyists an option....
before they work their nerve up to start drilling glass!

I have been referring a few to join this forum.

[Tony]

I use a similar method with eggcrate false bottoms, just clip out a square large enough for a short pvc pip to fit through, cap the pipe, and hide it under leaf litter. When the bottom needs to be drained you can just pull the cap and run a siphon tube down.

[nrf]

A bit reluctant to post being so new to this, but..... I glued a length of airline tube to the bottom and tucked the other end into the front corner out of sight. The "buried" end I also added some filter sponge to help keep clear of debris. The thought was to use an Aqua-lifter pump to drain, but so far I have not had the need. Hopefully this does suffice, otherwise I will need to change the four 10g verts I have set up this way. :roll:

I'll update later and let you know how it works out.

[Philsuma]

Hey Richie....the newer the better ! Never a problem posting, I assure ya.

I'm actually going to buy the exact items Michael recommends above and do a little drilling meeself.

Great thread...."to drill or not to drill"....there is no wrong answer !

[nrf]

Certainly cannot blame you there- Michael's set up is sweet, no doubt. Had I seen it before I built mine... well, heck- what's one more hole right?

BTW, these are all great ideas here folks.

[D3monic]

I have one non drilled tank...its a pain in the butt, matter of fact there's water dripping out the door vent as we speak because I just don't feel like draining it manually. I did the same as many, but I used a 3" coupling with a cap on it. I planned on using airline tubing to drain it, takes FOREVER! I now use a small shopvac.

[fishguyturnedfrog]

This thread is old but I was searching for something. My first viv that I made 2-3 months ago, I threw it together and missed a lot of steps. I just acquired a 15 gallon (slight upgrade to my 10) and I'm going to use an all eggcrate false bottom. In one of the back corners, I'm going to stick a piece of 1/2'' PVC pipe that will have holes drilled into it then stick it through the egg crate and silicone it in. I'm then going to just use great stuff over it. When I need to drain, I have my tube for doing water changes on my fish tank, stick that down through the PVC do a little suck on the end and quick draining. For those of you with the front opening, I don't think it'll work for you but for those who have aquariums, in theory, right now it sounds good. I'll post some pics of my process when I get to it in the next few days.

[Juand15]

That is using an undergravel filter at is fullest. they have gone obsolete in the Fish world as they dont really do much. Only if i knew then hahaha...

[J Teezy]

i use eggcrate FB's as well but i put my bulkheads in the bottom of the glass so that there is little to no water under my FB. It holds a tad bit of water because of the lip of the bulkhead but once the water builds up over like an 1/8" it drains out into a bucket that is in my stand. Now my method does require you to drill a hole in your stand as well since the bulkhead is in the bottom of the tank but i like it like that. I use the 1/2 slip on both end bulkheads from glass-holes.com. You can also buy bulkheads and plumbing parts from savco.com

[turningdoc]

Does anyone use drainage water to recycle into misters? Plus would be reducing loss of minerals by continuously draining and reduced need for RO water. Minus would be recycling minerals may clog nozzles or dirty glass.

[Philsuma]

yeah, don't do that. I recycle my drip wall water, but it goes back thru a fish-tank pump and then out the cheapo home depot nozzles.

With a nice high-end Automatic misting system ($$$) ?.....give it nice clean R.O water to ensure no crud or buildup to the various system parts.