I'm nervouse about drilling my tank.....

king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Ok so I got this 125 gallon last week and I want to get ready to drill it soon. I can take it to the LFS and have it done for $30. no guarantee.
OR, I can do it at home for the price of a drill bit.
Ive watched videos on how to do it, looks simple enough.
1 Lay the tank on its side.
2 Duct tape the back so the glass doesn't fall through.
3 Put a ring of plumbers putty around the drill site and fill with 4 Water so it doesn't overheat.
5 Then drill slow,careful and lightly.
I don't mind the $30 bucks to have the LFS do it...but the logistics of hauling a tank that sized means i need to find a friend with a pickup truck and an afternoon to spare. not that easy.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
Plus no guarentee... same as with you doing it yourself.
Scary but yeah slow, lightly, and tape both sides are your best bet --- but no guarentee ;)
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
oh...im having one hole drilled. near the top. not sure on the size...
but ill have a 90 elbow in the pipe so that it sits just below the surface of the water to allow it to overflow into the pipe and spill into the water below.

1.down spout ( i need help choosing a size)
2. sump system 1st chamber protien skimmer, advanced plastics newest model
3. LR/chaeto section w/small wattage light over top.
4.return pump area, pond master 1800 in sump pump.
5. smaller size return line.
6. 3 return nozzles that split into 2 directions each. I may consider revising this to 2 or just one....depending on feed back.
The sump is a 55 gallon tank and I will put over/under baffles for bubble traps. the skimmer section will be approximately 10gallons in size. the middle live rock section will be 35. the return pump area will be 10.
 
jackri

jackri

Active Member
I'm drilling 2 holes in my acrylic I just picked up with a hole saw kit --- wayyyyy different than drilling glass but I have to do some matching up with pvc or bulkhead fittings. Using 1 1/2" tubing for drain and 1" return.. dunno for sure what the hole sizes will be but I know you'll only want to drill once.
I have a small baffle box going into the built in overflow... just need to cut teeth in for baffles somehow? :)
 
salty blues

salty blues

Active Member
Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/2935880
Ok so I got this 125 gallon last week and I want to get ready to drill it soon. I can take it to the LFS and have it done for $30. no guarantee.
OR, I can do it at home for the price of a drill bit.
Ive watched videos on how to do it, looks simple enough.
1 Lay the tank on its side.
2 Duct tape the back so the glass doesn't fall through.
3 Put a ring of plumbers putty around the drill site and fill with 4 Water so it doesn't overheat.
5 Then drill slow,careful and lightly.
I don't mind the $30 bucks to have the LFS do it...but the logistics of hauling a tank that sized means i need to find a friend with a pickup truck and an afternoon to spare. not that easy.
I was nervous too before I drilled my tank. Just follow the steps you listed, especially # 5. Don't put too much pressure on the glass, let the drill do the work. Oh, and you're probably aware, but make sure the glass isn't tempered.
After I did mine I was amused at how easy it was. Have fun!
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
from my understanding the bottom is usually the tempered part. the sides usually are not. but how would I know?
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
i just posted a thread about wanting to drill my tank and got some awesome feedback. to tell if the glass you're drilling is tempered (which usually is only the bottom pane), buy a cheap pair of polarized sunglasses. hold one lens on each side of the glass and look through. if the glass is tempered, it creates a rainbow effect when you look through the lenses. i also got a link to what seems to be a great plumbing set-up. ill post it in a second, as soon as i find it.
 
nitschke65

nitschke65

Member
You might also consider calling the local glass store. The people that work there might have more experience/expertise then your lfs folks, and might be able to come to you, especially if they have other work near your home.
 
veni vidi vici

veni vidi vici

Active Member
One other tip is make sure you start the drill at least at a 45 deg angle or the bit is going to want to walk on you.After the bit starts to cut, slowly straighten the bit to a 90 Deg angle.I drilled mine in the garage and instead of making a plumbers putty dam i just clamped the garden hose to the tank so i had a steady stream of water at all times ,plus it helps remove glass debris.Remember ,dont push,let the bit do all the cutting and all should be good.

The rule of thumb is,drill no closer to the edge of the tank than the diameter of the bit.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Originally Posted by Veni Vidi Vici
http:///forum/post/2936498
One other tip is make sure you start the drill at least at a 45 deg angle or the bit is going to want to walk on you.After the bit starts to cut, slowly straighten the bit to a 90 Deg angle.I drilled mine in the garage and instead of making a plumbers putty dam i just clamped the garden hose to the tank so i had a steady stream of water at all times ,plus it helps remove glass debris.Remember ,dont push,let the bit do all the cutting and all should be good.

The rule of thumb is,drill no closer to the edge of the tank than the diameter of the bit.

so bite into the glass at an angle? then as it makes a groove....cut straight in? i don't see how that makes a perfect circumference hole, wouldn't it make it more oblong?
 
veni vidi vici

veni vidi vici

Active Member
Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/2936524
so bite into the glass at an angle? then as it makes a groove....cut straight in? i don't see how that makes a perfect circumference hole, wouldn't it make it more oblong?
No it wont.If you dont start drill at angle ...believe me the bit is going to walk right across the back of your tank leaving a nice scratch trail.You just angle it until it starts to cut ,then slowly straighten up.
 
veni vidi vici

veni vidi vici

Active Member
Originally Posted by King_Neptune
http:///forum/post/2936555
ok. also ok to drill standing up fecing the tank? or lay tank on its side and drill straight down?
You could do it either way as long as you keep the bit cool and wet,but its easier to drill it laying on its side.
 
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