Drilling a 10 Gal

[morris2]

I am planning on drilling a 10 gal with three holes, one overflow and two returns.

I am concerned about the thin glass on the 10 gal. Is there a way to reinforce the glass to protect it from breaking from the stress of the plumbing?

 

[Brandon555]

I saw some one else just put a piece of wood underneath in and drill into a ball of playdogh. Don't know how well it will work with thin glass though.

 

[morris2]

I am not so worried about the glass breaking while drilling. I am worried about it breaking after it is set up from the stress of the plumbing attached to the bulkheads.

Should I be concerned?

 

[InvaderJim]

What kind of tank is it first of all?

 

[morris2]

I have no idea, I bought it several years ago from a lfs. I have a couple of them lying around and figured I would set up a nano with a sump.

 

[InvaderJim]

If it's tempered it will break as soon as you try to drill it.

 

[morris2]

I am not going to drill the bottom. Would a ten gal be made of tempered glass?

 

[InvaderJim]

Depending on who makes it yes.

 

[morris2]

Lets go with the assumption that it is non tempered glass, nothing special. Should I be concerned about the glass breaking due to stress? If so, can I reinforce the glass to protect it?

I don't have to drill the returns but would like to for ease of setup. less holes would make the glass stonger. Or am I making a mountian out of a mole hill?

 

[MrMexReefer]

if its your standard AGA 10 gallon, i think that 3 holes in the back might break. I have seen some pics of larger tanks breaking after 3 holes. You might want to try searching the forums... wish i could be more help Morris.

 

[RandalB]

Not to try to change your mind, but you could probably get an acrylic 15 Gallon from your local petsmart for $5-10. They usually have 'em sitting out back and the aquatic MGR will sell 'em cheap. I got about 10 for $50.00 and you can drill 'em all you want....

RandalB

 

[sharrison]

There is a recent tread showing someone drilling a 10 gallon with some hole saws that he got off ebay. Look at the posts in the last week, it should be there.

Happy reefing

 

[sharrison]

Maybe it wasnt recent. I look at too many post to say for sure.

 

[oddiseus]

Drilling a ten will be no prob, most large tank manufacturers only temper the bottom of 55 and up. I drilled some cheesy glass from lowes, and the pressure from the bulkhead and the plumbing pressing on it just a lil bit cracked it in about 3-5 days. so I would say three holes on a ten is a def. no. I made my own fuge from scraps of 1/4" that a local glass store just gave me. You might want to call a few, they throw so much glass away, and would not mind giving it to you, then just take it to lowes or home depot and have them cut it for free. you could potentially build the whole thing for just the cost of the silicone, just as I did.

good luck,

btw if you have a few 10's around why not try it, mock it up and test it.

-Odd

 

[morris2]

I think I will stick with one hole for the overflow.