modifying Euroreef to recirculate

[Delphinus]

Hey Rory, I think in that "RDSB in a bucket" thread, they were referring to uniseals but just calling them "curved bulkheads".

I'm using 1" uniseals externally in my RDSB-in-a-bucket and in three months there hasn't been a leak. It could just be that some are better than others? But what I had to do is really reef the pipe into the uniseal to give pressure on the seal keeping it watertight. However, this may not be a fair comparison as it's a low-pressure situation. Then again though, a skimmer isn't exactly a pressurized vessel .. I don't see why it wouldn't work.

The one concern, I think, you may have still after that, is that if you bump the pipe you might dislodge it and then you might have a leak on your hands, since it's just a pressure-fit instead of a solid welded connection.

So anyhow ... What I'd do, is consider using bushings. They can be used like bulkheads but are less bulky. You'd have to seal the bushing with something like weldon-16. It won't be going anywhere after that and will be watertight. Something like a 1.25 slip to 1" threaded, then you thread your pump attachments to that piece, and you're done.

But if you want to try the uniseals, I think I have some extra 1" uniseals, since they were a pain to find I ordered more than I needed just in case someone in Calgary ever wanted any. The only drawback is that you'll need a bigger hole for the uniseals than you will for a bushing, so there's kind of no turning back. Well, that's not entirely true .. you can always patch in the hole using the plug you cut out, welding it in place with weld-on 16. I did this (I didn't like where I had cut my first hole), it works fine, it's just not very pretty.

[TheReefGeek]

I checked through the thread again, and cannot find the reference anymore. There was information about a hard plastic curved bulkhead, but I cannot find it anymore unfortunately.

Give the uniseals a try, let us know how they work out for you.

Read this link first, they might leak on thin material, and I am guessing your skimmer body is pretty thin.

http://www.aquaforums.com/forums/lof....php/t293.html

[Willito]

I am going to try and find the curved bulkheads. I don't trust the uniseal because if I accidentally bump into it, the seal may losen and leak. Failing to find the bulkheads I will try to find some thick rubber bushing or just end up making something like Tony mentioned.

[mark]

I've used the common type bulkhead that you get from Hydroponic stores on various sized containers, without problem.

Measured a small one I've got, it's for 1/2" tubing (barbed) with a bulkhead face of 1.25". Looking at it against my ASM G3, could see using it on the skimmer without overly distorting the chamber. A hydroponic store might even have smaller but still sufficient for a skimmer recir mod.

[TheReefGeek]

Let us know if you do find the curved bulkheads.