drillin glass

[pfcreed]

Time for tank upgrades so me and my wife are gunna build a 90 gallon stand. That can fit a 40 gallon sump underneath and upgrade from t-5s to led. I also want to take this time to get rid of my over flow box but im honestly afraid to drill the tank. If any of you have ever drilled is it hard, and was it worth it.

[Fracture]

It worth it but I would say you should take it to someone like elegant reef to do it my bf has only done it himself once the bits are pricey an you only use them once maybe twice plus where we got ours done in Houston they replaced one that broke the first time.

[electricrcplane]

very easy to do, I've done probably 40 or so and only cracked one tank. The key is to take your time, build a well around the hole, and use the diamond bits, BRS sells them for reasonable prices. I can show you how and you'll be amazed how easy it really is.

[Fracture]

That sounds even better I think I'll keep you in mind for my next tank drill . I'm always to scared to do it

[rrasco]

Yeah, it's easy. Only tank I ever broke drilling was a 10g, and that was after I knew the risks involved with it. It was so cheap I didn't care. Glass is too thin on them, but anything from 40B up is super easy, just takes a little patience.

[koa25]

very easy to do, I've done probably 40 or so and only cracked one tank. The key is to take your time, build a well around the hole, and use the diamond bits, BRS sells them for reasonable prices. I can show you how and you'll be amazed how easy it really is.

Only one... I know that guy ha ha.

[SinisterLou]

Haha memories

[koa25]

Right? That was funny as hell. Eric was freaking out for like a week ha ha.

[electricrcplane]

Only one... I know that guy ha ha.

Yep that's the one Mike, doh...

[koa25]

I appreciated the effort. It was a cheap tank anyways ha ha. If it was like a brand new 210 or something i may have passed out ha ha.

[SinisterLou]

I dont think he would have cracked something like that. That tank broke because there was no center brace and the glass was too thin. It was bowing like crazy from the pressure. We should have put a support or something to stop it from bowing. At least we learned a lesson from that experience at the expense of your tank :bigsmile:

[koa25]

Yeah that we did. :cry_smile: poor tank. I think Reefreak has it now. Not sure if he still has it or not.

[reefreak]

I passed it on to someone else I think Louis-210 should have it he was going to fix it and make it his new display.

[rrasco]

What size was it?

[koa25]

Ha ha. That poor tank is being passed around like a 2 dollar... tank... When i move back in a couple years i feel like i might end up with the tank again and it still not be fixed lol.

[koa25]

It was a 56 gallon. 30x18x24 or something like that. Very cool footprint. I liked it. Forever pet said 60 bucks to replace the glass and seal it up.

[rrasco]

I was just curious how thick the glass was. I wouldn't have expected it to break.

[ramsey]

I've drilled several and it's easy. The key is going slow, using lots of water, using a good drill and a drill guide. I have 1/2" and 1" diamond bits and a drill guide if you need to borrow them.

[koa25]

It was pretty thin glass, an old tank, and the flimsy center brace was missing. So it had multiple things working against it.

[Louis-210]

I passed it on to someone else I think Louis-210 should have it he was going to fix it and make it his new display.


Haha I do have it, and its still not fix lol

[rrasco]

I've drilled several and it's easy. The key is going slow, using lots of water, using a good drill and a drill guide. I have 1/2" and 1" diamond bits and a drill guide if you need to borrow them.

And don't press down. Let the weight of the drill do the work. You're not really drilling anything, more like grinding out.

[txav8r]

Make sure it's not tempered glass or it will break.
Actually more like an explosion that a break. Sounds like a shotgun going off.

[Milly]

I have a 33g long that I need to get drilled. Jason has a bit for it, but were nervous to do it ourselves. We had a 20 high we practiced on...and it cracked. :(

[Brickster]

I drilled my first tank a couple of months ago under supervision of someone more experienced. It was far less drama than I expected. This was a 125, so we didn't build dams or anything like that. Just ran a garden hose slowly on the area being drilled. Let the drill do the work and grind your way through the glass. I used a cheap bit from Jason and even traded it back to him when I was finished. Next one I won't be so nervous.

[Sherita]

Make sure it's not tempered glass or it will break.
Actually more like an explosion that a break. Sounds like a shotgun going off.

^That right there^

Experience has taught me that 55g tanks must all be tempered. I've tried to drill 3, all three went out with a bang.

I've drilled lots of others tho. It's not rocket science, you just have to take your time and keep the drilling area wet. Let the weight of the drill do the work, instead of mashing it down. Patience is the key to drilling tanks without breaking them.