Glass drilling question

ryan_p · #1 08-22-2003, 02:21 AM

I have a new tank that has a sticker on the bottom saying "tempered glass - DO NOT DRILL" Is it really a no no to drill it? Or is that just a manufacturers friendly advice?

kari · #2 08-22-2003, 02:48 AM

I would say take the friendly advise. Standard bits will not work for you. I'm curious, where did you find a tempered glass tank with the friendly sticker? If its only the bottom that is tempered, its not a big problem.

StirCrazy · #3 08-22-2003, 02:59 AM

you cannot drill tempered glass no mater what kind of bit you have. the tempering process puts glass under different internal streases and also hardens it. atempts to drill tempered glass always end in the glass shattering.

find out if it is just the bottom or the whole tank that is tempered. if it is just the bottom you can have a side drilled.

Steve

ryan_p · #4 08-22-2003, 04:06 AM

Quote:

if it is just the bottom you can have a side drilled.

It is just the bottom that is tempered. So how would I incorporate a overflow drilled into the side. I haven't seen this done. Is it as effective and does it look ok? Can you direct me to pics or post one with a side overflow?

Thanks

ryan_p · #5 08-22-2003, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kari

I'm curious, where did you find a tempered glass tank with the friendly sticker?

It is an All-Glass aquarium. It just came with a friendly note.

Troy F · #6 08-22-2003, 04:11 AM

Ryan, Marc had the back drilled in his 155gal and I really liked the way it looked. You'd have to ask him on how much flow and such it would handle but he never really did anything small and there was a Jacuzzi pump returning water from the sump.

StirCrazy · #7 08-22-2003, 04:26 AM

mine is drilled on the end. basicly you put a bulkhead in with a durso and silicone a overflow box to the inside. I will try get some pics of what I am talking about but it might be a week or two. I never used the internal overflow box on mine so I am installing it when I move the tank.

Steve

Aquattro · #8 08-22-2003, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troy F

Marc had the back drilled in his 155gal and I really liked the way it looked.

Adam has this tank now and it's empty. Maybe he can take a pic and post it.

Adam??

ryan_p · #9 08-22-2003, 04:39 AM

Ok. So people do do this. I am debating if I want to drill my tank before I start. It's only a 46 G so I don't really want to lose real estate, but then again, do I want to rely on a hang on overflow when I get enough money to get a sump setup. I really like the research end of this hobby and the complexity of the various setups, but I had no idea it would be this involved when I decided to take it up. Decisions, decisions, decisions....
it's never ending!!

Buccaneer · #10 08-22-2003, 04:52 AM

I built a overflow on my tank 12" wide ( 300G so YMMV as to what size you do ) and about 5 or 6 inches deep on a 45 degree angle with a bulkhead right behind it ... works great and skims the surface real good

Here is a rough drawing of it ...

http://www.canreef.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=80

Cheers