Drilling glass

[1fishkeeper]

Im looking at drilling my 90gal tank. But I have a couple of questions first. What size do the holes need to be for a 90gal? And how many should be drilled? I have read up and watch videos about drilling glass and Im sure that I can do it. I just need to know what size would work best or what sizes have worked best for you. I just want to make sure that I dont over drill it or underdrill it. And also one more question what locations does everyone have theres for the best water flow in there tanks? Thanks for taking your time and reading my post and answering my questions.

 

[Aquarist007]

Re: Drilling glass

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12980406#post12980406 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1fishkeeper
Im looking at drilling my 90gal tank. But I have a couple of questions first. What size do the holes need to be for a 90gal? And how many should be drilled? I have read up and watch videos about drilling glass and Im sure that I can do it. I just need to know what size would work best or what sizes have worked best for you. I just want to make sure that I dont over drill it or underdrill it. And also one more question what locations does everyone have theres for the best water flow in there tanks? Thanks for taking your time and reading my post and answering my questions.

read 2frosty4u's post on tswifty's thread

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1428872

 

[2frosty4u]

It all depends on what the holes are going to be used for. Main drain, Closed loop, return inlets or a combination. If its a drain are you using a standpipe, acrylic overflow, etc. Whats the size of the pump you're going to use? With a little more information we can give you a better answer. Details Details.

 

[1fishkeeper]

I dont know all the info right now that is why Im asking what has worked for everyone else on here so I can get some ideas on it. I done my 29gal tank and its seems to be doing great. I think Im going to go with a acrylic overflow. As for pumps Im not sure what size I should go with right now this is going to be my first big SW tank. Also I was talking to the LFS and was asking them about drilling it with what size and all of that and all they said was bring it in and we will do it for you. Even though I told them I was going to drill it myself. After I told them that they quit answering my questions. I was also thinking about putting in two return lines for flow but Im not sure on that yet.

 

[2frosty4u]

If you look on the Home page of this site there is a calculator section that you can use that is based on flow rates. For example a 1" drain line can pass 700gph in a gravity situation. Many 120g tanks come with a single hole to accomadate a 1" drain line. For my tanks I drill 2 holes for drains to be safe. My last tank (75g FOWLER) I drilled 5 holes in it. Two drains @ 1.5" (overkill) Two 1" closed loop supply and a single 1" for the closed loop return which splits under the sand into 4 lines that are reduced in size to keep up the pressure.

 

[2frosty4u]

P.S. those are the pipe sizes and not the hole sizes. Every bulkhead manufacturer may require a different size hole. Pick up the bulkhead(s) first so you can use the appropriate size bit.

 

[Hornet]

I bought my bits and bulkheads from glass-holes.com. Since they sold me the bit and the bulk-head. I did not have to worry about getting the correct match-up.

I purchased a Non-RR 150H tank and have drilled 7 holes in the back glass. Two 1.5" holes for the 1500gph overflow I got from them, Four 1" returns (Two for return from sump & Two for closed loop), and one 2" hole to feed my closed-loop pump.

Since my tank is not tempered I'm also going to be drilling two more 1" closed loop returns in the front of the bottom glass.

Hope some of my rambling helps you out.

 

[1fishkeeper]

Thanks for the your answers. I was thinking about 2 holes that are 1 1/2in for my drain and then 2 holes for my 1in returns. I was wanting to go with the two drain holes so I can split them for my sump and fuge. And then the two returns one on each side of the tank for water movement. I will try out my skills on paint shop and see if I cant draw something up so everyone can bounce there ideas off of it. Later today but Im always open for sugestions and ideas.

 

[1fishkeeper]

I was just on glass-holes.com website and seen the combo that they have with the bulkheads, drill bit, and overflow. It was the 1500gph with the two over bulkheads for the drain. I think that one would work out great does anyone have any bad things to say about that or has everyone had good experance with that one? Then all I have to do is figure out the returns.

 

[1fishkeeper]

Here is a quick drawing on how I was thinking about doing it.

 

[billdogg]

Glass-holes ROCKS! i just got the dart complete set from them (bit, bulkheads, overflow box and Dart pump) the customer service is great - ordered and had the stuff in like 3 days. all my emails with dumb questions got answered quickly by Scott.

Your plan sounds good - big drains is always a good idea!

350gph as a gravity drain is ok for 1" PVC

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12986091#post12986091 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 1fishkeeper
Here is a quick drawing on how I was thinking about doing it.

what you showed looks just great. I went to the glass-holes web site and checked out their package deals. If I lived in the States I would surely grab one of those deals for my next tank drilling project. You're better to go a little oversize on your drains to prevent clogging so you will be just fine with twin 1.50" drains. It also allows for upgrades to pumps if you so choose in the future. For the return holes I like to use Loc-Line attached to the bulkheads to aim the flow just where I want it to go. good luck, happy drilling.

 

[Hornet]

Although Loc-line only has 3/4" fittings is still drilled for 1" bulkheads. I'll just reduce the 1" with a fitting down to 3/4" so I can have some loc-line fittings.

 

[2frosty4u]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989962#post12989962 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hornet
Although Loc-line only has 3/4" fittings is still drilled for 1" bulkheads. I'll just reduce the 1" with a fitting down to 3/4" so I can have some loc-line fittings.

Depending on how may gph the pump has and what size the discharge is, I have in the past used a 1" Tee connected to the bulkhead and reduced 2 sides to 3/4" and used 2 sets of loc-line off the 1 Tee. Bulkhead location plays a big part if this would work for you.

 

[Hornet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12989989#post12989989 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2frosty4u
Depending on how may gph the pump has and what size the discharge is, I have in the past used a 1" Tee connected to the bulkhead and reduced 2 sides to 3/4" and used 2 sets of loc-line off the 1 Tee. Bulkhead location plays a big part if this would work for you.

How does BH location play into it? I just finished drilling the back glass of my tank this weekend but I'm interested in your comments on my set-up.

I will be using a Dart pump, OM-4-way, and there will be another 2 1" holes in the front of the bottom glass of the tank.

 

[1fishkeeper]

Im looking at getting the 1500gph overflow kit it has 2 of the 1 1/2" bulkheads with it. They also carry a 3/4" return kit with the loklines so I belive if my math is right with two of them that should be good. But I will check and see and if I have to I will put in a powerhead if need be if I have some dead spots.

 

[1fishkeeper]

I was sitting around last night playing on my computer and looking at my tanks so I thought that I would give it a try to draw up my own sump. Let me know what you think of it. I know its the design of alot of others out there but will the size work for my 90gal that Im starting to build. Any input on it would be great I take the good and the bad but if its bad please let me know why so I can try and fix it.

 

[1fishkeeper]

Oh I forgot to put on there what is what. But of course anyone that has been doing this for more that a week will know what things are. But for the lucky few here it is. On the right hand side is a fuge I was thinking that I would run one of my drain lines down to it. The middle will be my return pump and heaters. And on the left will be my skimmer with my other return line going to it. I will set up the flow so that the fuge dont get mass amounts of water flowing through it so I will have a ball valve set up before it goes in it so I can turn it down.

 

[Hornet]

Your drawings look good to me. Have you considered the footprint of the skimmer your going to use?

 

[1fishkeeper]

I have looked at a few of them and they were anywhere between 8"X8" to 10"X10" if I end up going with the bigger one I will have to do some mods to my plan and move over the bubble traps over by a inch or two.