Cracked It!

[Grace's Dad]

Why is it always the last one. I drilled two perfect holes in my 75. On the third one the drill must have bit slightly because I have a tiny (less than 1/4" crack. I was going to transfer all my algae covered LR over to this tank too. Looks like I'll be storing it in rubbermaid w/ powerheads. In a few weeks I may need a donor/babysitter for some frogspawn, LT anemone, large toadstool, some shrooms, and gsp.


Hey Farmer, where do you get the frogs?

 

[Grace's Dad]

 

[rams_1_again]

Bummer, sorry to see that. It's all Murphy's fault and his freak'n law.

 

[Grace's Dad]

Crack is really almost 1/2"-3/4" under that bulkhead.

I think Jeff (Gath2) jynxed me. He inquired on my progress the other day and commented on not hearing about any horror stories.

Good thing is I won't be paying electric or trying to keep up with two tanks.

 

[DrBDC]

Get a jumbo bulkhead that will need that much bigger hole and go at it again.

 

[trottman]

or get the stuff that they put into windshields when they get cracked... wont that work?

 

[Nanook]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7439336#post7439336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DrBDC
Get a jumbo bulkhead that will need that much bigger hole and go at it again.

This is a really good idea!

 

[Grace's Dad]

It is an excellent idea. Researching it now. It looks like a 2" bulkhead w/ 3.25" hole would do it. Anybody know the bit size in mm for a 3.25" hole?

-Trottie I don't think that windshield stuff would help with holding the amount pressure the water would put on the a tank- The wife asked the same thing.

 

[DrBDC]

I've never done it myself but were you moving a little faster by the third hole and it could have been heat? Were you using a hose cooling or a water resevoir from a circle mound of putty? I would think the constant water from a running hose would be the best. I've cracked my share of coffee pots from a fast temp change rinsing them out too fast after being on the burner.

 

[Grace's Dad]

I used the plumber putty dam. The water and bit never got hot on any of the holes. When I drill for the 2" bulkhead I will use the hose for two reasons. Obvious-the water won't stay in a dam anymore. And with the dam the water turns chalky colored and you can't really see your progress. In hindsight I guess I could have drained it to check but the holes were so easy to do.
I was a little nervous and I read the drilling thread about ten times but after I got my groove started (hold the drill at an angle) it was simple.

I have two 45mm hole saws for 1" bulkheads and two 60mm hole saws for 1.5" bulkheads if anyone wants to try.

 

[bigmayreefer]

I have a bit for 2 inch pvc bulkheads- but it was a shade small at 70 mm- i should have gotten the next size up, but i was able to slowly grind the hole bigger using the outer edge of the bit. You can borrow it if it will help- or see if a 72-75mm holesaw is available.

 

[gath2]

I totally missed this thread yesterday.

Sorry to hear that and yes you can blame it on me, it was my drill It could have been worse....should I just shut up now?

 

[Grace's Dad]

Can only blame the driller, not the drill.

 

[Im Lon 2]

I chipped one of mine and use glass sealant on the chip because it was leaking so bad, and it hasn't leaked since.

 

[ol'saltybastage]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7439913#post7439913 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grace's Dad
Obvious-the water won't stay in a dam anymore. And with the dam the water turns chalky colored and you can't really see your progress. In hindsight I guess I could have drained it to check but the holes were so easy to do.

when i do it i not only make the dam on top but slap a slab of the stuff bigger then the hole i'm drilling on the bottom so the bit goes thru the glass but not the putty. keeps the water in place and doesnt drain thru the hole i've made.

 

[StupidsReef]

I might like to take you up on the 1" bulkhead hole saw, I'd like to drill my 29g that I'm setting up for seahorses

 

[maxis24]

I did something similar on my new Oceanic 33G.. I have the larger bit (60mm) for the new hole, just need to make sure I have enough time to do it correctly. I was told to try drilling my hole from the inside first this time.

Good luck, fingers crossed.

 

[maxis24]

UPDATE

I just re-drilled the hole from the pic above:

If I could fix mine, I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will work.

 

[Grace's Dad]

That's great! I am a little more confident it will work now.

Did you drill from the inside? How does that help?

 

[maxis24]

Yes, I drilled from the inside this time. I drilled from the outside on the previous holes.

I ended up taking a 12x12" acrylic sheet and placed a ring of plumbers putty around it and attached it to the outside of the glass. This way I could hold water around the already drilled hole and it also took some of the stress from the drill off of the crack. It seemed to help a lot by drilling from the inside, but I took four breaks to let my arms re-gain some strength.