I been trying to figure this out. I'm gonna drill the 46 for one inch bulkeads. According to what I've read I need to drill a 1-3/4 whole for this with a 45mm saw. Is that correct? I mean 3/4 over the size of the bulkhead seems large. I just need someone to tell me if this is right. 45mm to install a 1 inch sch 40 bulkhead? Also, what size bulkheads would you use on a 20 gallon tank (my sons)? I know several of you guys are avid hole drillers.....please set me straight.
yes a 1 inch bulkhead needs a 1 3/4 hole. The 1 inch refers to the diameter of the inside of the bulkhead so a 1 inch pipe will fit into it. By the time you account for the thickness of the bulkhead there isn't much space left. I suspect a 1/2 or 3/4 bulkhead is appropriate for a tank that size.  Depends more on what size hole saw you have available and how much water flow you really want.
i would have to disagree... i got 2 1inch drains on a 29 gallon tank and still wish i would have went bigger. check the area and see if u can sneak 1.5 drains cost of the bulkheads are not much different but flow wise its aLOT. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BulkheadFloRateArt.htm
I'm with ljinks, 1" is the minimum I think I would want to go with. We have 2 1" on Tanners 40 and it works great but I wouldnt want to go smaller.
I'm going with the 1" on both the 46 and the 20 gallon we are about to start for my son. I'm going calfo on the 46 but haven't decided on Colton's tank yet. I think I may just do an overlow box in the center back of his tank with a single 1" drain. I feel that should be sufficient for his 20 gal.
Thats awesome, Im sure he will love it. We finally got Tanners tank up and going. He is ready to get stuff moved over to it. We are just waiting for it to finish its cycle.
