Every day I bring you an item on Amazon that I personally use or has been purchased by many members of the audience and I have researched enough to recommend.

Today’s TSP Amazon Item of the day is Lifegard Aquatics Threaded Bulkheads.  In my estimation they are one of the best deals on bulkheads in the market and they are very reliable.  You can get them in sizes…

• 1/2″ 
• 3/4″
• 1″
• 1.5″

You should also check out the versions that are “slip” on both sides which eliminate the need for a threaded adapter all together.

Those you can also get in the following sizes.  These are my new go to form factor on these. In fact I never buy the threaded options any longer unless the double slips are out of stock and I need them due to a time crunch.

• 1/2″
• 3/4″
• 1″

Until now I have recommend Banjo Bulkheads and I still do, they are far more heavy duty but they also cost more than twice as much on equivalent sizes.  The Lifegard Aquatics product is very high quality, just not as heavy duty as the Banjo version, so assess your project and total cost and do you really gain sufficiently to pay the premium for the application.

Here is my standard, if it is an outdoor four season application I go with Banjo, if it is an indoor application or an outdoor application that is shut down in winter (as many aquatic systems are) I go with Lifegard.  Consider in a large system with say 10 bulkheads, you are talking over 50 dollars in savings just on the bulkheads.  That is why I wanted to bring these to your attention.

I actually learned about them in an aquarium group I am part of and everyone loves them, zero reported failures with them.  So I gave them a shot on my Hydro Systems this year and they have worked flawlessly.  So give them a shot and have a look at the video in the PS for more info on them.

Remember you can always find all of our reviews at TspAz.com

P.S. – You might be thinking those one inch ones are less then the 3/4ths, you may also be thinking the 1.5 inch ones are stupid cheap at that size.  Well you are correct and I have always said no one ever says, “gee I wish my return lines were smaller”.

Yet over kill is a thing and cost of pipe and fittings is a thing.  You may find for instance that a savings by going from 3/4 to 1 inch is totally consumed and becomes far more expensive due to the cost differential between 3/4th and 1 inch Schedule 40 pipes and fittings.  In fact, it is inevitable in a system of any size.

The take away?  These bulkheads are the best value of quality and cost I can find.  Use the size right for your application.  The cost between sizes should be far less a factor in your choice then the volume of water you need to deal with.

P.S.S. – For more on these and why I love them see the video below.  And for one thing that can go wrong with them I would never have considered and how to prevent it, tune into Episode 2708 of my podcast.

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