cuttin hole in Formica
- Thread starter poknsnok
- Start date
A router would probably make the smoothest holes- if you have one. If not tape over the area with masking tape and drill a hole with drill and use a jig saw. Make sure your top is pretty much sealed and one hole for the fan and one hole same size for the exit or it wont work very good. If its too open it wont work and your tank may get hot. Mine is a 125 with 3 MH bulbs and 4 VHO bulbs that run from 7 am to 9 pm, 2 powerheads, 2 1350 GPH Rio in sump return pumps, and 1 950 GPH Magdrive in sump skimmer pump, and the temp maxes out at 80 and thats with a heater to keep it at 80. If it wasnt for the fan and exit hole it would be sealed.
Oh I forgot, you have to insulate it too or it will hold in heat-heat sink to the top. I use foil covered foam- celotex I think its called. 3/4 " foam and covered with foil. Put the foil side to the inside of tank to reflect light and the top will never hold any heat, it all goes out. Otherwise the top will soak up heat like crazy and you will have a hot tank. Plus it reflects back light. Glue it in with liquid nails and tape seams with aluminum duct tape- the real shiny metal type. Do the whole inside. This all is sold at Home Depot. Steve.
poknsnok
New member
my tank is already hot. would be 90 without the chiller
I have a 1/3 chiller on mine with my 2x250 and a 400 watt, the cabinet is pretty much sealed however the back is somewhat open for wires. Im putting in 2 fans. one in and one out. If I could get mine like you have yours id do a backflip. I dont want to be sloppy with these holes this thing is in my living room. I dont have a router. i do have a dremel with a router type blade attachment. think that would work the same?
I have a 1/3 chiller on mine with my 2x250 and a 400 watt, the cabinet is pretty much sealed however the back is somewhat open for wires. Im putting in 2 fans. one in and one out. If I could get mine like you have yours id do a backflip. I dont want to be sloppy with these holes this thing is in my living room. I dont have a router. i do have a dremel with a router type blade attachment. think that would work the same?
budhorse775
New member
If you use a jig saw pick up some reverse cut blades. They will keep you from chipping the formica
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDU...earchResults.jsp&MID=9876&N=2984+3966&pos=n24
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDU...earchResults.jsp&MID=9876&N=2984+3966&pos=n24
budhorse775
New member
These are the blades
BLU-MOL
No. 4516408, 3-1/8 In. Long, 10 Teeth Per Inch, 2 Pk Reverse-Tooth Jigsaw Blade
Model 4516408
you can look it up by this model #. When I linked the page it only sent me to the tool section
BLU-MOL
No. 4516408, 3-1/8 In. Long, 10 Teeth Per Inch, 2 Pk Reverse-Tooth Jigsaw Blade
Model 4516408
you can look it up by this model #. When I linked the page it only sent me to the tool section
You really only need one for incoming air-pushing air in. If you put one pushing it out, it will rust up. If you have air coming in and a hole nearly the same size it should all go out. But if you want to do it that way, I am sure it will work just fine. Put one hole on one end, and the other on the other end. I did mine on the back panel. I use the 6" Radio shack 120 volt fan. And I am sure you could cut a smooth hole with a Dremel, its just a lot smaller and weaker, so go slow.
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