Drilling Glass

[chaderic26]

Does anyone know about drilling tanks. Particularly how to tell if the glass is tempered?

 

[gws76]

I drilled my tank with a dremel tool.

Tempered: If you're drilling and you get almost all the way through and the glass explodes, then it's tempered. The only other way I've heard is to buy some expensive tool that measures how much pressure is on the glass. (Don't know the name of the tool)

 

[chaderic26]

I read something about using polarized glasses to tell but I'm not sure.
I just want to make sure before I drill it . That way if it is tempered I can try to sell it to someone that needs it rather than destroying it.

 

[Krbekk]

Yes there is a tool that reads the surface compression. You can read about it here. I think we should get COMAS to buy one for the club.

http://www.edtm.com/Spec_SG2700.htm

 

[TimV]

Sometimes you can guess based on manufacturer and size of tank.

T

 

[gws76]

Chaderic26, What brand of tank do you have and what are the demensions? You are wanting to drill the back, right?

 

[chaderic26]

It's a 125. Is there anywhere you can look on the tank to see what brand it is. I bought the tank used, probably two years ago and I didn't think the ask the guy. I'm estimating it probably 6 feet long and one and half feet deep.

 

[chaderic26]

I'm wanting to drill the back for a lengthwise overflow and possibly a closed loop intake.

 

[OkR33Fer]

Isn't tempered glass used primarily for the bottom piece?

 

[gws76]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12993243#post12993243 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Tony_D
Isn't tempered glass used primarily for the bottom piece?

I believe you're right on that Tony. I've heard that too.

 

[cek1313]

Tony - pretty sure you are correct - on most larger tanks - the sides are usually plate glass and easily drilled.

 

[chaderic26]

Sweet, I guess I'll get to work.

 

[eddybabyhd]

Tempered is only used on the bottom cause its too expensive for the sides

 

[chaderic26]

Yea, I've been looking on glass holes . com and it's looking pretty good. At least on my pocket book. About 300 bucks and a little work and I basically be getting a reef ready aquarium done just the way I want. It's gonna be my new project. I'm gonna start working on the overflow soon then the closed loop. I'll have to con some friends in to helping me move it. It's heavy as hell. I'm gonna sand down the stand and re stain it black too.

 

[chaderic26]

Strike that It'll probably be cheaper than that. That was for the mega overflow. I don't need that kind of flow through the fuge.

 

[TimV]

It also makes terrible glass to view through due to imperfections introduced during tempering.

However, with a 125, it is entirely probable that the bottom isn't tempered either.

T

 

[chaderic26]

I think I'll not test my luck. A wider overflow up top takes less real estate and takes more concentrated filth from the top. IMHO. Hopefully it will work out.

 

[TheMcs]

Usually the only tanks with tempered sides are the 2.5g, 5g, and sometimes 10g. The manufacturers used to provide specs that included tempered panels, but from what I'm told they no longer offer that. Guess they'd rather sell a reef ready than provide info on drilling your own. Back when I used to refer to those guides, I can't recall a tank over 10g, with the exception of maybe perfecto's 37 column, that had tempered sides. Even the 2.5-10g weren't always tempered.

 

[jnsnams]

i also have a 110gal tank and wondering about it...iam getting the sump friday or sat and will start getting everything else i need to ....but iam not sure what i need?lol