drilling tank

[guillotine]

i just picked up two 55gallon tanks with a double metal stand from sailoracu2 i plan on using both tanks for fish and would like to set up a 40gal breeder or something similar as my sump off to the side i would like to drill all the tanks so i dont have to mess with any overflows and siphons just trying to keep it simple and let gravity do the work
first off can the back to a 55gal tank be drilled and
second off does anyone have any experience with this that would be willing to help me or let me barrow the glass whole saw

thanks

 

[chuggy]

be careful some 55s are tempered on the sides i blew one up drilling it you must check the manufacturers specs they will tell you if there tempered or not.

 

[guillotine]

alright thanks chuggy i will have to see if i can find that would that be on the tank with a sticker cause i know there is a sticker on the bottom of the glass that says "do not drill tempered glass"

 

[SaltwaterAdict]

Hey, good luck with that hoag. Hopefully it's not tempered glass. If it is...it could get real messy :uzi: lol..I'm pretty sure the person you bought it from could answer the question. These 55s are for the bangaii's, right? How's the one you just recently picked up?

 

[Mr Coffee]

there was a write up to see if a tank was tempered using a laptop LCD it was pretty cool see if you can search for it here on RC

 

[hllywd]

It's pretty simple using two polarized camera filters or sunglass lenses. Tinted lenses make it more difficult. Just put one filter/lens on each side of the glass you want to test rotate them till the light shining through dims, and move them simultaneously across the glass surface. If the glass is tempered you'll see a light and dark pattern in the glass. I like to do the test outside with a clear sky as the light source. Try the method on the side window of your car since we know that is tempered glass, the front windshield is NOT!

Sometimes you can see a pattern when you're wearing polarized sunglasses simply by looking at the glass. IMO it's an unreliable method. I have not tried the LED screen method, but it makes sense it would work since it's essentially the method I suggest.

Personally I wouldn't rely on the manufacturer knowing if your tank is tempered or not, it's much too easy to physically check it yourself. I doubt the manufacturer will warrant the tank if they by some odd (or not so odd) chance give the wrong info.

I'm in Findlay, otherwise I'd be willing to help. Acceptable diamond hole saws are available at www.richontools.com for a very small amount of money and they're what I use. You'll need a 45mm saw for a 1" sch40 bulkhead. Plan ahead if you order from Richon since shipping is usually about 2 weeks from HK.

Hope that all makes sense!
Tim

 

[guillotine]

thanks a bunch im going to look into both of them

 

[hllywd]

be careful some 55s are tempered on the sides i blew one up drilling it you must check the manufacturers specs they will tell you if there tempered or not.

I had one like that quite a few years ago... couldn't wait for help carrying it, found out it was tempered when 3 sides shattered when I dropped it on a corner:hmm2: Kinda cool how it continues to crackle for several minutes after:lmao:

Tim

 

[Bcollins111900]

If the tank is not tempered get some plumbers putty and place it mounded up around the hole you want to cut in the glass. Put a towel or some sort of padding inside the tank so the piece of glass that is cut out wont fall directly on the other pin of glass. Once the plumbers putty is in a circle around the hole about 3/4" of an inch pour water inside the plumbers putty circle. This will keep the drill but from getting hott and will lubricate it as well. Let me know if you have any further questions

 

[superchargeme]

I'm in Munroe falls have drilled several tanks. If your tanks are drillable I'll give you a had with it LMK when you find out if they are temperd, Paul

 

[guillotine]

hey im goin to take the tanks to a glass shop down the street and ask them to make sure its not tempard once i find out how do you actually do the drilling do u have to use more than one hole saw?

 

[paolellawp]

I know someone who does it for $15 a hole be cheaper to let someoe do it that knows what they are doing shoot me a pm and I'll give you the number