Best bulkheads

Airwalker16 said:

Very hot topic here. Uniseals work well. Bulkheads are costly. Shout-out to @fragileassassin for the idea to use Adapters with some modification by cutting the threads shorter so the nut can seat down. Adding gaskets would help immensely.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/1-1-2-in-ABS-DWV-SPG-x-SJ-Trap-Adapter-C580127HD112/100344703

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I battled uniseals for years and once you get them working if you don't move anything you can be fine but we have had some battles let me tell you. We switched to 3" bulkheads a few years back and it's been NICE. More up front cost but worth it IMHO.

N.R.G. said:

I battled uniseals for years and once you get them working if you don't move anything you can be fine but we have had some battles let me tell you. We switched to 3" bulkheads a few years back and it's been NICE. More up front cost but worth it IMHO.

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Which bulkheads did you use?

Airwalker16 said:

Which bulkheads did you use?

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I just went with Current Culture's 3" bulk heads, they can be found cheaper though I'm sure.

N.R.G. said:

I just went with Current Culture's 3" bulk heads, they can be found cheaper though I'm sure.

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What size hole is drilled for those?

Airwalker16 said:

What size hole is drilled for those?

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For the Current Culture 3" spin tight I drilled a 3 7/8's hole.

Slip connections are a must. Had way to many problems with threaded bulkheads.

TIMtoKILL said:

Slip connections are a must. Had way to many problems with threaded bulkheads.

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Gluing works well. But if you'd used Teflon, you'd have ZERO leaks with threaded connections. Shit works so well.

Airwalker16 said:

Gluing works well. But if you'd used Teflon, you'd have ZERO leaks with threaded connections. Shit works so well.

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I used Teflon tape and had a bad time. But hey that’s just my 2 cents.

TIMtoKILL said:

I used Teflon tape and had a bad time. But hey that’s just my 2 cents.

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Really? Still leaked through huh? Teflon is used everyday in plumbing and rarely leaks. I wonder if you used enough.

Airwalker16 said:

Really? Still leaked through huh? Teflon is used everyday in plumbing and rarely leaks. I wonder if you used enough.

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Part of it was that I didn’t use abs glue on the bulkhead. I didn’t see it was abs safe until it was too late.

A lot of plumbers use tape and then run a thin coat of dope over it.
I recently helped a friend glue up some 2" slip bulkheads. The slip fit was...less than impressive.
The pipe bottomed in the fitting easily and I was slightly concerned about the loose fit. They did not leak though.
FWIW I am sticking with threaded.

I got the current culture 2" bulkheads hydrobuilder has them iv had 0 leaks and I'm able disassembled the whole system if I wanted too. I love them super nice thick plastic

liquidpower said:

I got the current culture 2" bulkheads hydrobuilder has them iv had 0 leaks and I'm able disassembled the whole system if I wanted too. I love them super nice thick plastic

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They're also $14 a fuggin piece. Damn..would cost me nearly $200 to use them where I need 14.

yeah my set up was only one res and two 8 gal grow buckets. wanted the best so i could disassemble and also gave me huge confidence that there will be 0 leaks. for my peace of mind it was worth it

Honestly i haven't had any issues from the bulkheads i bought. With the flex pipe and those bulkheads seems to be a match made in heaven. I have taken my system apart 3 or 4 times before i ever got it in my tent and no leaks as of yet and yes i bump them and move them around.

Airwalker16 said:

They're also $14 a fuggin piece. Damn..would cost me nearly $200 to use them where I need 14.

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I have 26 bulkheads in my system =O

fragileassassin said:

I have 26 bulkheads in my system =O

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You didn't use current culture bulkheads though.

Airwalker16 said:

You didn't use current culture bulkheads though.

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I know lol, just imagine if I did though!

It sucks to spend the money but it is great when you never have to worry about leaks. Bulkheads are one place where cheaping out can mean disaster. That said, my 1" Lifeguard Aquatic Bulkheads from Amazon have performed extremely well on round buckets. I think they were $5-6 per.

I use current culture 3" bulkheads, I get them for 10.35 each at my local grow store. uniseals work but are kind of a pain in the ass imo. I did 2" bulkheads on my last 4 rdwc setups and they would get clogged with roots occasionally. My latest setups I am currently building are with the 3" bulkheads from current culture and working great. For me personally I would/will go with bulkheads over uniseals every time.

These are the ones I am referring to.

http://growgreenmi.com/current-culture-3-inch-spin-tight-bulkhead