I would like to set up water nipples to a 55 gallon plastic barrel. I have seen many pictures of this being done. What I don't fully understand is how to attach the nipple to the barrel securely so that it will not get ripped out. The design I have seen that I like best seems to have a bulkhead fitting in the barrel. A pipe attaches to this and branches to 2 nipples. A picture I found is included below. However, my barrel does not have the flat surface to attach a bulkhead fitting. Would a bulkhead fitting directly in the rounded side of the barrel leak? My nipples are 1/2" thread... should I use 1/2" pipes and a 1/2" bulkhead fitting, or go with bigger diameter pipe and fitting with an adapter to allow my 1/2" nipples to screw in? It appears that the one in the picture may use bigger pipe with an adapter?
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?