Drilling running system
 

So I have been contemplating drilling and installing an overflow box and sump into my running 72 gallon bow front reef system. I know there are some risks, but there is also a lot of reward. So Im just curious to hear other peoples experiences or ideas on this. Has anybody else done/attempted this? Has anybody had bad experiences from this? Any addition info would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

Risky and you have to drain enough water to keep the box out of water for 24hrs

Draining the water low enough for 24 hours wouldn't be an issue at all, as my rock and coral are only about 3/4 of the way up. Im more just worried about the actually drilling process itself. My friend says he can do it and he's done it before. But Id just like to know what I'm getting myself into before i decide to go ahead with it.

Your biggest risk is that the panel cracks and spills your entire tank on the floor in a matter of seconds.

Thats kinda what I was wondering lol. Thats a pretty damn big risk. I wasn't sure if the tank wud just crack or dump everything at once or what. Thanks I appreciate that.

Shoulda done it before you set it up :p

Totally agree. Hind sight is always 20/20 lol

Get a few rubbermaids, but all the stuff in and drill it "emptier", everything will be fine for 24hrs. You can then restock once everything is clear.

Ive done a couple holes drilling down towards the ground. I think itd be alittle tougher to hold the drill even and square while drilling horizontally. Drilling "downward" your able to let the weight of the drill do most of the cutting. Adding uneven or unsquare pressure horizontally could cause the holesaw to bind. Not to mention keeping water flowing to lubricate and wash away grit would be a pain as well. I wouldnt risk it either unless it was empty or close too.

Thanks guys, Ill probably look into some other options for now.