To drill or not to drill?

gcgrad

gcgrad

Member
I recently picked up a 30 gallon tank off craigslist. I plan to use it as a sump and would like to drill it. However I do not know who the manufacturer is so I can't make sure that its not tempered glass. Should I just take the chance and drill it anyway or would this be ill-advised? Thanks
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
what are the tank's dimensions? Sometimes you can deduce a manufacturer that way.....
For what it's worth, All-Glass/Aqueon isn't tempered for their standard 30 or their breeder 30. Marineland's website is down as I type this, so I can't get in there.
 
E

eric b 125

Guest
i would say to drill it. however, after having drilled my own tank, and talking to the guys at glass-holes, the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to drill because of the thinness of the glass. i think a 30 gallon would be okay though.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric B 125 http:///forum/thread/383047/to-drill-or-not-to-drill#post_3353085
i would say to drill it. however, after having drilled my own tank, and talking to the guys at glass-holes, the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to drill because of the thinness of the glass. i think a 30 gallon would be okay though.
You have to remember when drilling thinner glass that you need to have full support behind the holesaw. When I drilled my smaller tank I made sure that I had plywood underneath the glass, a piece that will go between the plastic moldings on the tank and have full contact with the glass, IMO. Also I always try to drill from the inside of the tank.
 
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eric b 125

Guest
i never thought to drill from the inside out. thats a good idea.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric B 125 http:///forum/thread/383047/to-drill-or-not-to-drill#post_3353122
i never thought to drill from the inside out. thats a good idea.
Seems like when ever I drill a tank the start of the hole is always smoother. Lay your tank on its side with a piece of ply wood that is the same dimension of the tank between the plastic trim. That way when the holesaw comes thru it doesn't chip as much. Good luck, I did a thread at one point https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/381388/newbie-drilling-a-tank
 
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eric b 125

Guest
i drilled my 125: page three of my build thread...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/369906/eric-b-s-125-re-build-journal
 
gcgrad

gcgrad

Member
Thanks for the tips, well the 30 gallon is going to be a sump which I will not drill. However I want to drill a 55 gallon (30 1/4" x 12 1/2" x 18 3/4") which my sis bought from walmart around 7-8 years ago. She doesn't know who the manufacturer was and I haven't actually obtained it from her so I can't check to see if it says anything.
 
beaslbob

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by gcgrad http:///forum/thread/383047/to-drill-or-not-to-drill#post_3353192
Thanks for the tips, well the 30 gallon is going to be a sump which I will not drill. However I want to drill a 55 gallon (30 1/4" x 12 1/2" x 18 3/4") which my sis bought from walmart around 7-8 years ago. She doesn't know who the manufacturer was and I haven't actually obtained it from her so I can't check to see if it says anything.
IMHO I would do everything possible to avoid drilling a tank.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric B 125 http:///forum/thread/383047/to-drill-or-not-to-drill#post_3353085
i would say to drill it. however, after having drilled my own tank, and talking to the guys at glass-holes, the smaller the tank the more difficult it is to drill because of the thinness of the glass. i think a 30 gallon would be okay though.
LMAO, please tell me their company name is not Glassholes.
LOL
 
novahobbies

novahobbies

Well-Known Member
Shawn, why not?
I've never used them, but I thought the glass-holes was well respected in terms of a reliable method for creating overflows. Personally, I'd rather have an internal overflow than a HOB overflow any day....less chance of flooding problems, yes?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Nothing personal against the glassholes kit, but all the money for what? A couple cheap bits, a dremel or rotozip, bulkheads, and a marker your in business. Probably since I've drilled tons of tanks this way it's easier to me and cheaper!!!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Here's some shots of when I drilled mine. I used Shawns method with the rotary bits. It was very simple to do... https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/378342/125-tank-drill
The bits cost me $10
I made my own overflows (2 of them) materials cost me $35
So it cost me less than half of what the glass holes kits cost other than the time it took to make the overflows. It's almost impossible to cut the teeth for the overflows without a router table though. At least if you want nice strait and even looking teeth.
I've often recommended to glass holes kits just for the fact that most people don't always have the tools to make their own overflows and in all honesty their kits aren't too terribly expensive. I was going to use them before I decided to DIY it.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
If you check out melevs site on his acrylic work section..,, he does show a very good way to cut overflow teeth without a router table, but as Corey pointed out very cost effective way to drill a tank.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/383047/to-drill-or-not-to-drill#post_3354465
If you check out melevs site on his acrylic work section..,, he does show a very good way to cut overflow teeth without a router table, but as Corey pointed out very cost effective way to drill a tank.
I don't know how I missed it, i haven't been over on his site in a while. I know I tried cutting them free hand before with the router and it didn't work to well. The material melts and then cools really fast and always wants to grab the bit and jerk the router and then it looks like a drunk guy did the work. I have yet to try it on cell cast material though...is it easier to work with than the extrude?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Cell cast machines easier. I have a jig made up to do it like on Melevs site, but typically try to use the router table, but if your careless it can get away from you. Still wanting to buy that nice Freud fence for my router table.
 
gcgrad

gcgrad

Member
Ok Shawn, how would you drill the hole, do the overflow, do the plumbing to the sump and for the return. I know you advise using spa flex tubing. Can you hook this up to a valve easily. Also can you give me a list of supplies for the diy drilling and overflow box. The only thing I really have that I know I need is a drill.lol
 
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