Drilling Glass Tank

healerhand

healerhand

Member
Hello Gang,
I got a used 155 gal tank from my LFS for FREE. I want to take the tank to a local glass shop and drill 2-4 holes for my inlet and outlet pipes. The tank is 72" long x 24" tall x 21" deep.
Questions:
1. How big the hole should i request to be drill?
2. Where should they drill the tank. i.e. side wall or bottom of the tank?
3. How many holes should they drill?
thank you for your inputs...
david
 
healerhand

healerhand

Member
The answer is depends. I am reading a catalog and the follows might answer your questions.
Standard Threaded Bulkhead:
1" bulkhead needs 1 5/8 to 1 3/4" holes
1/2" bulkhead needs 1 1/6 to 1 1/8" holes
Slip bulkhead
1/2" needs 1 1/8" holes
1" needs 1 3/4" holes
i hope this will help
david
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member
Your best bet would be to wait till you get these bulkheads and measure them.Also take them with you when you get the tank drilled so the guy doing the drilling can also measure. Make sure you have IN WRITING that if the tank cracks,chips,or breaks that it will be replaced.Even a very small crack or chip WILL LEAK. I would reccomend using an overflow box instead of drilling. Drilling a used glass tank is just too riskey.
 
porkypuffer

porkypuffer

Member
I'D HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR.SALTY. IF THE BOTTOM BREAKS YOU COULD REPLACE THE BOTTOM WITH PLIXIGLASS BUT IT'LL MAKE THAT FREE TANK NOT SO FREE. I ONCE CALLED AROUND TO GET I PRICE ON DRILLING A TANK AND NO-ONE WOULD WARRENTY AGAINST IT BREAKING AND I'D HAVE TO PAY REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME.
 
mr . salty

mr . salty

Active Member

Originally posted by healerhand:
Mr. Salty,
How do i know the tank is made of tempered glass? any know???
david
If you hit it with a hammer it will greak into a million little pieces,not large shards of glass. That's the only way I know.But most tanks are made of tempered/safty glass.This is what makes them so hard to drill without breaking.
 
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