Drilling an eshopps r-300 sump

[120reefermadnes]

Wondering if anyone had any expieriance drilling a hole in an eshopp r-300 for an external pump.

Should I use a regular hole saw from home depot?

Will the sump crack, is this safe to do?

 

[needmore-reef]

If it's acrylic it will be easy to drill. Yes a hole saw from home depot is fine just go slow and be patient, you may have to stop a few times and let the holesaw cool a bit. I would take the bulk head to the store with you to pick out the best fit.

I have never had a hole saw grab hard enough to crack the acrylic but if it grabs, you should stop and remove the holesaw out of the groove and start the drill and work your way back into it. Using a drill with a selectable clutch is a nice safety feature, set it low.

I also use blue painters tape to mark the hole location.

I also stop half way through and start drilling from the other side. This gives you a nice clean hole all the way through.

 

[120reefermadnes]

If it's acrylic it will be easy to drill. Yes a hole saw from home depot is fine just go slow and be patient, you may have to stop a few times and let the holesaw cool a bit. I would take the bulk head to the store with you to pick out the best fit.

I have never had a hole saw grab hard enough to crack the acrylic but if it grabs, you should stop and remove the holesaw out of the groove and start the drill and work your way back into it. Using a drill with a selectable clutch is a nice safety feature, set it low.

I also use blue painters tape to mark the hole location.

I also stop half way through and start drilling from the other side. This gives you a nice clean hole all the way through.

Thanks, sounds like a plan!

 

[shonc182]

Just drilled one of their sumps w/ no problem for a new chiller set up. Used a standard hole saw (from Home Depot). It is very easy. Incidentally, I also cut one of the bulkheads out in the past w/ a Dremel so I could relocate it. Suffice to say, the warranty is not intact, but I have heavily modified with little difficulty.

 

[degibson84]

I have been debating on try to drill out the bulkhead bracket for 1.5 inch bulkheads instead of the 1 inch

 

[120reefermadnes]

Cool good to know guys I appritiate the help

 

[azjohnny]

acrylic can be a little iffy when trying to get the hole started, the holesaw will really grab onto he acrylic and have a tendency to walk. I like to lay a thin piece of cheap wood over the acrylic to get the revolutions up and once the holesaw gets through the wood the hole saw will have a easier time with the acrylic

 

[clearaquariums]

yep did it on that same model should be simple just take it slow

 

[degibson84]

what about drilling the return pump side to put another sump inline with it for added water volume for my backsiphon room?