Drilling Tank Failure, Advice Needed!

[YoungReefer06]

So I got my day off to a great start! I have a 55g and 75g regular AGA tanks that I planned to drill so they could be used with a sump. Well I started drilling the back of the 55g, and made it about an 1/8" through when the whole back pane shattered, followed by heavy swearing by me.

Now the tank did have a warning sticker between the bottom pane of glass that stated Do Not Drill, Tempered Glass. However I could of sworn that I have read on more than one occasion that the warning was only concerning the bottom glass pane, and not the sides.

My question is, Does the 75g have the same fate if I try to drill it? I am hoping that the 55g had all tempered glass since it has thinner panes, while the 75g only the bottom is tempered. I know it is a long shot, but a guy can hope right?

It is no huge loss, as both tanks were used, and had been sitting empty for a while after years of use.

Thanks for any advice

 

[djsmallz]

I would go ahead and try it but go slow and a good flow of water at the hole site. Good luck

 

[Saltydrip]

The 75 should be drill able. "Should"

Petco is having the $1 a gallon sale if you need to replace the 55

 

[kegogut]

If it says Bottom only tempered then its OK to drill the sides,if it doesnt specify which panes are tempered then I wouldnt risk it.

For the record the petco tanks are tempered on all sides.

 

[reefwiser]

http://youtu.be/3q9Fii8Z9r4

 

[rustyjames]

I'm pretty sure all regular 55's are tempered on all sides. The 75 should be fine.

 

[Saltydrip]

^^^^ I'll second that.. If it's less than 1/4" glass there is a good chance it's tempered

 

[CanReefer]

From experience 55's are almost always tempered on all sides. Never figured out why this was the case, but it was nonetheless.

 

[uncleof6]

So I got my day off to a great start! I have a 55g and 75g regular AGA tanks that I planned to drill so they could be used with a sump. Well I started drilling the back of the 55g, and made it about an 1/8" through when the whole back pane shattered, followed by heavy swearing by me.

Now the tank did have a warning sticker between the bottom pane of glass that stated Do Not Drill, Tempered Glass. However I could of sworn that I have read on more than one occasion that the warning was only concerning the bottom glass pane, and not the sides.

My question is, Does the 75g have the same fate if I try to drill it? I am hoping that the 55g had all tempered glass since it has thinner panes, while the 75g only the bottom is tempered. I know it is a long shot, but a guy can hope right?

It is no huge loss, as both tanks were used, and had been sitting empty for a while after years of use.

Thanks for any advice

Never assume that any tank is not tempered. The only ones that would possibly have any notion of the tank not being tempered is the manufacturer. It is fairly common knowledge that most 55 gallon tanks are 100% tempered. Short of information from the manufacturer that the tank is not tempered, the only way to tell, is to disassemble the tank, and check for the tempered "mark" etched into the glass by the company that tempered the glass. There are DIY "methods" but the reliability of such testing is questionable, and the volume of information extends past the confines of the forums/internet. Your tank fell into the mass majority category and self-destructed. The glass not was very well tempered, however, as the glass should have shattered as soon as the bit touched it while in motion.

The 75 does more than likely have a tempered bottom. Don't even try to drill it. The sides, are an unknown, unless you have information from the manufacturer. Though the information may state that the sides are not tempered, that does not mean they aren't. Mass producers use glass that is on hand, to keep the production line going, rather than halting production waiting for a glass shipment. Though most folks aren't interested in doing things the right way, I still recommend you take the tank to a glass fabricator that has the proper equipment to determine if the glass is tempered.

 

[YoungReefer06]

Thanks for all the advice. Successfully drilled the 75 gallon.

 

[Jade5051]

Can you drill the bottom of 75g tanks? I know that you can drill the sides of basically all 75g tanks but I'm not sure if the bottom is sometimes tempered.

 

[Gorgok]

I would treat the bottom on 75s as always tempered. I have not seen one without it yet.

 

[Age]

I have few tanks different sizes from Aqueon (Petco, Petsmart) used for sumps and drilled.
55g does have tempered glass bottom while all sides are not tempered and could be drilled easily. 20g, 15g are same, 10g all glasses are not tempered-drilled bottoms.

 

[kegogut]

I have few tanks different sizes from Aqueon (Petco, Petsmart) used for sumps and drilled.
55g does have tempered glass bottom while all sides are not tempered and could be drilled easily. 20g, 15g are same, 10g all glasses are not tempered-drilled bottoms.

I just purchased 55G from Petco and it had a sticker on it stating "ALL PANES TEMPERED DO NOT DRILL."

 

[calbert0]

i recently shattered an old 75G because i assumed only the bottom was tempered....

 

[MidwesternTexan]

Hilarious on the mis-information on this thread alone!

Google ways to see if the glass is tempered, IF you can't contact the manufacturer.
I seem to recall polarized sun glassed are used somehow, however I'm not advocating any particular technique.

 

[kegogut]

Hilarious on the mis-information on this thread alone!

Google ways to see if the glass is tempered, IF you can't contact the manufacturer.
I seem to recall polarized sun glassed are used somehow, however I'm not advocating any particular technique.

Polarized sunglasses and your laptop or smartphone in the tank will work. Youtube has videos etc.

 

[Age]

I just purchased 55G from Petco and it had a sticker on it stating "ALL PANES TEMPERED DO NOT DRILL."

Possible. When I bought mine(~3 years ago) the sticker said about bottom only. Drilled both sides without any difficulties.

 

[Mrramsey]

Possible. When I bought mine(~3 years ago) the sticker said about bottom only. Drilled both sides without any difficulties.

I was going to drill my aqueon 55g sump at one time. I contacted them to see if it was. Their site said only the bottom however after talking with them they did state that the tanks that they make and package in boxes with pumps, filters, hoods etc (the all inclusive packages) are 100% tempered all sides. So there seems to be a mix out there.

And for the record I did NOT drill it

 

[hllywd]

http://youtu.be/3q9Fii8Z9r4

In my experience, this test or a similar test using two polarized lenses by themselves with a light source such as the sun is 100% accurate, there is nothing "magic" about the computer screen, it simply supplies a polarized lens for the back side of the glass, and a light source. The glasses are the second polarized lens for the front side of the glass to be tested. Generally what you're looking for is a pattern in the glass, stripes, blotches, a checker board pattern... almost anything that shows up as light and dark areas. Untempered glass won't show any of those features when subjected to this test.

I always like to tell people to try this test on a side, or rear window of a car since vehicle safety requirements mandate those windows in modern vehicles be tempered. It's a way for most people to have access to a know tempered glass panel to see the effect. Laminated safety glass front windshields are never tempered and therefore won't exhibit the pattern(s) tempered glass does.

IMO, it's best to do your own test before ever drilling.