Water change bulkhead question

Dag95833 · Apr 30, 2025

I am redoing my water station. I found a thread on here and like how the bulkhead was put on the top of the saltwater side for the circulation. I didn’t consider the angle the pipe would come out at. The thread I found which I will include the pic has the pipe perfectly straight. I’m sure I am missing something but how can I do this?

My pic has the white pipe and how angled it is. Other pic is from this site.

TX_REEF · May 1, 2025

Why do you need it to be fully straight? A slight angle won't restrict flow against gravity in any meaningful way.

In the top pic, I'd guess the maker used silicone or something similar to secure it "straight up".

3 options you can do instead to ensure you are securely connecting to a properly sealed bulkhead:

Measure/approximate the angle of the bulkhead vs. the desired 90 degrees and purchase an angled fitting to transition to vertical pvc, something like this:https://amzn.to/3ScUw5w
Use a short length of flex tubing as a bridge between bulkhead and incoming PVC (easiest option)
- Non-toxic, BPA free, reinforced flex tubing with stainless clamps: https://amzn.to/4iDHOaD
Really no reason for this unless you're inexplicably obsessed with hard plumbing only (if so, I get it, if not, just do option 1). However, you can heat the PVC which will attach to the bulkhead and bend it into a gentle curve, cool it in cold water to harden, and then fit that gentle curve to your straight vertical and go from there. A heat gun is the simplest way to do this: https://amzn.to/42DPYvd
- Heat guns are also useful for various other DIY projects such as speeding up paint drying, some minor auto body repairs, etc... so the gun isn't a waste of $ if you're avid DIY
- Here's a video demonstrating PVC bending, you shouldn't need the internal support with such a slight bend:

Dag95833 · May 1, 2025

Really good points and appreciate the detailed response. I do have some flex line and a heat gun. Will probably just go that route. I just couldn’t understand if that’s a bulkhead at an angle how he got the pipe completely straight. For me it was for more of a visual thing compared to function. I did message the guy that posted that setup but not sure he is still active.