drilling nightmare

[jwess]

So I started drilling my tank today. I drill three holes and no problems. I was so happy. Here's where it goes bad. I only ordered one bulkhead through marine depot. At the time I didnt knonw if I was going to drill any other holes or go over the top for my closed loop. I made a last minut decisioin and found some PVC pieces I thought I could make work. So I drill holes for them. I then decided to stop by my LFS and found a box of bulkheads. They nevery used to have them before. I was so excited and bought two. When got home I started right back at it. I soon discoverd the holes i had drilled previously were too small. I got the correct bit and thought i could just make it a little bigger. I sarted drilling and it happened. I heard a crack and I think my heart even skipped a beat. The unthinkable happened, the glass broke. I couldnt believe what had just happened. The tank is a 75. I just got it from a friend and my wife doesnt know about it. I got a good deal on but now Im out a tank and their is no way my wife will let me buy another. Plus Ive diverted some seceret funds to other things, T5 lights, so i have no extra fun money.

There is hope. I have two 55 sitting empty. The front and back pannels are the same as a 75. Maybe 1/16 thiner. So now starts another project. I plan on cutting out one of the 55 pannels and replacing the broken 75.

Does anyone have any suggestions. Or maybe someone has another broken 75 I could get a pannel from

Oh well I gues now i have nothing to loose unless i bust up my two remaining good tanks, then Im left with nothing.

Josh

 

[xroads]

What were u using to cut your holes? I know when I cut a few I got careless after the first few went so well. I just emptied my 75. You can have it for $50 if you want it. Its about 2 years old. (that or a get out of speeding ticket free card) Where did you find the bulkheads?

Good luck & let me know if I can help in any way.

Craig

 

[waverz]

xroads, did you just try and bribe a cop?

 

[glaspie69]

Sorry to hear about your tank

 

[xroads]

lol,

Me,,noooooo!

Knock on wood it has been almost 2 years since I got one, hope it will be at least 2 more.

 

[IowaKevinK]

be careful with the 55 gallon tanks some have tempered glass for front and back glass, not just the bottom. I think I heard Bullet talking about some trouble finding one that could be drilled.

HTH,

Kevin

 

[jwess]

xroads,
I found the bulkheads at the Emporium. Im not 100% satisfied with the store but every once in a while you can find a deal. I found a whole box of bulkheads and fittings in the corner where they have all their spare parts.
The two spare 55s i have are all glass. I have an all glass manual that says only the bottoms are tempered. Right now I have to try it. Thats all there is to it.

Josh

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7755448#post7755448 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IowaKevinK
be careful with the 55 gallon tanks some have tempered glass for front and back glass, not just the bottom. I think I heard Bullet talking about some trouble finding one that could be drilled.

HTH,

Kevin

Bob was trying to drill the bottom.


I started a thread looking for a 75. You are welcome to use any of the contacts there. Quite a few people are looking to off load a 75.

 

[waverz]

I have a 90 gallon i might be willing to part with, if the price is right.

Let me know.

 

[Bullet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7757260#post7757260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Atticus
Bob was trying to drill the bottom.


No...I was drilling the back. The problem was that I did not know what brand the tank was. I did find out that it was an all-glass so Mike at SOM call them because they are supposed to be ok to drill but they said that it should not have been tempered and on the day that one was made that may have been all the glass they had on hand. Also, most tanks they produce for Walmart and other reatail stores are all tempered. I think that it is a crapshoot on the 55's.

 

[jwess]

Today I took apart one of my spare freebe 55s to use the pannel to replace my broken one. Everything went well but what a pain to get all the silicone off. I already drilled my holes. Tommorow I should be able to glue it back on, cross my fingers and hope it holds water after everything cures.

Josh

 

[thugmebaby]

Bob is right......

heres the catch with the All Glass tanks.....

GREEN TAG in the bottom (the one said made by xxxx" means DO NOT DRILL AT ALL

WHITE TAG in bottom.... means only the BOTTOM is tempered and CAN NOT be drilled.

IF its a PERFECTO tank (usally noted by the excessive amounts of plastic trim at top of tank and rounded corners) DO NOT DRILL unless its a BIG TANK

Hope that helps

 

[thugmebaby]

OKAY i am going to double check when i get home (working hard at work really lol)

 

[Bekah]

If your 55's have a wood (oak or pine-stained) stand and canopy, I'd be willing to talk trade for my 90 gallon...

it's an All Glass mega-flow (pre-drilled overflow), but the sides CAN be drilled....?

- Bekah

 

[jwess]

Well afer breking the first piece and then the second replacement piece I finally got the third piece to work. Those hole bits really do not last long and i barely made it after so many trial and errors. I got the pannel on, let it sit for a while. Today I plumbed the back bulkheads and capped them off. I filled it up and, HORRAY, it holds water. Now all I have to do is build the stand in my basement to hold my sump, get my new RO unit going, and fill er up.

Josh