Joining 2 Acrylic Sumps via Bulkhead

Olbensen

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Goal is to merge two 30g sumps together using a pair of three inch bulkheads. I’d love to have the tanks sandwiched together like I have illustrated in my drawing. Is this possible? In researching I’ve only really seen a bulkhead in each tank with a connecting PVC pipe. I assume I’d have to add an additional gasket to the nut side.

If this is not doable, you got any other suggestions?
 
I’d buy a couple extra gaskets.. if you put one on the bulkhead, between the sumps and the nut side it should be fine in my opinion… idk if the one in between the sumps is necessary but it would add a extra leak protection benefit.
 
IMG_5087.jpeg
Goal is to merge two 30g sumps together using a pair of three inch bulkheads. I’d love to have the tanks sandwiched together like I have illustrated in my drawing. Is this possible? In researching I’ve only really seen a bulkhead in each tank with a connecting PVC pipe. I assume I’d have to add an additional gasket to the nut side.

If this is not doable, you got any other suggestions?
Gaskets on the inside wont stop any seeping through the threads of the bulkheads. Placing a single gasket sandwiched between the two sumps should be all that is needed. The seeping through threads wont be an issue since it can only go from sump to sump and not sump to floor. :)
 
I did this in the 90's and you need 2 bulkheads, one on each tank conected by a short tube. 2" bulkhead is more than enough.
You should be able to keep it less than 3" apart.
 
Last edited:

WHAT KIND OF SUBSTRATE ARE YOU RUNNING ON YOUR TANK?

  • Bare bottom

    Votes: 6 20.7%
  • A shallow bed of fine sand

    Votes: 8 27.6%
  • A shallow bed of coarser sand

    Votes: 6 20.7%
  • A deep sand bed

    Votes: 3 10.3%
  • Mixed substrate or varying sand depth

    Votes: 6 20.7%
  • Some other substrate (posted in the comments)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • I don’t have a reef tank yet

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