drilling tank
- Thread starter DonDon1
- Start date
scaryperson27
New member
2" holes are really big but i would imagine it could be done. There are a lot of leads to resourceful information in the reef central search.
Google one works the best:
http://www.reefcentral.com/search.php?menu=11
Google one works the best:
http://www.reefcentral.com/search.php?menu=11
runningnreefing
New member
Is the tank glass or acrylic?
woody311az
New member
I can't remember the name of the thread, but I did read a thread a while back where a guy did do it with live stock and all and I don't think he had anything die. But I pretty sure he had taken extra precautions to make sure he didn't get shavings in the tank.
kretzkiller
New member
I thought about doing it, but then I thought about all the water on the floor if it cracks. Needless to say I am draining it.
I posted the link to the video just in case you had extra large Kahunas. Obviously the guy in the video did.
Although drilling/grinding a tank is fairly easy, it took everything I had to get up enough nerve to drill my brand new tank. I now will drill a new tank without hesitation but I doubt I'd ever have enough nerve to try a filled tank. I just think of the terrible mess that would be made of my house if I made a mistake while drilling it.
Although drilling/grinding a tank is fairly easy, it took everything I had to get up enough nerve to drill my brand new tank. I now will drill a new tank without hesitation but I doubt I'd ever have enough nerve to try a filled tank. I just think of the terrible mess that would be made of my house if I made a mistake while drilling it.
I will be honest I have drilled quite a few operating tanks, but I don't like to do it. Myself, I don't worry about the glass getting into the tank, since the grinding residue is so small it makes very fine sand for the tank. I drill from the inside to the outside, so if it does chip as the hole is finishing the chips do fall out of the tank.
It is pretty easy to do, as long as the glass is not tempered, just grind slowly, and keep the bit wet so it does not grab at all. Drop the water level as low as you can before drilling and make sure you practice drilling before attempting this so you don't end up cracking the tank. I myself have drilled I don't know at least 75 tanks total and have never cracked one when drilling. I have found some tempered glass that I was not expecting, and I have cracked one tank a few years ago, when I was enlarging a hole from 1.5 to 1.75 inches. Just make sure you go slow and hold the drill as steady as you can because if you tip the drill after the bit is most of the way through the glass you can cause it to bind and end up cracking or chipping the main glass.
Kim
It is pretty easy to do, as long as the glass is not tempered, just grind slowly, and keep the bit wet so it does not grab at all. Drop the water level as low as you can before drilling and make sure you practice drilling before attempting this so you don't end up cracking the tank. I myself have drilled I don't know at least 75 tanks total and have never cracked one when drilling. I have found some tempered glass that I was not expecting, and I have cracked one tank a few years ago, when I was enlarging a hole from 1.5 to 1.75 inches. Just make sure you go slow and hold the drill as steady as you can because if you tip the drill after the bit is most of the way through the glass you can cause it to bind and end up cracking or chipping the main glass.
Kim
firebirdude
User and Abuser
Good call!
Lemeshianos
New member
how do you keep the drill bit wet?
There are lots of ways to keep the bit wet. If the tank is empty put the tank so you are drilling down into a horizontal surface and use a hose that is running a slow dribble on the cut. You can do this with a vertical setup also. Or if you are trying to drill a tank with water/life in it, what I do is dip the bit into the tank ever 20 to 30 seconds, or if I have help, have them poor water over the bit.
Kim
Kim
YOutube is your friend
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlaOl-dBniI
I happened to come across this video a few weeks ago - where 2 guys are doing just that task.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlaOl-dBniI
I happened to come across this video a few weeks ago - where 2 guys are doing just that task.
