Drilling

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Pesce

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I'm hoping someone can confirm if the side glass panels of a 20g long AGA or Top Fin are tempered glass. I know the bottom of the AGA is not. But, I wanted to drill the back panel to install a float valve. (DIY Sump project).

Anyone have any advice other than....... try it, if it shatters, it's tempered! :eek:
Thanks
 
It shouldn't be tempered. Usually, only the bottom is tempered on any tank.

By the way, if your tank shatters and you suffer injuries from the glass, I am in no way responsible :P
 
lol.......Thanks for the reply.
I figured I would give it try today and hope for the best.
Its not like I'm drilling a sump currently running.
 
If you want to be 100% sure, contact the manufacturer. I wanted to know the same thing about my 75 gal oceanic and e-mailed them. It took a few days but they finally got back to me. In mine the bottom is tempered and the back and sides are not. I have some diamond hole saws on the way from Hong Kong......

Oceanic was also very blunt in saying the warranty would be void if I modified their tank in any way. The worthless warranty is void anyway since I'm not using one of their stands. This could turn into a rant, so I'll stop here......

Matt
 
Thanks for the response Matt,
I did email them last week. But, never heard back. Thus, the post.

I'm going to roll the dice and drill it this evening and install the float valve. Hopefully, everything will go as planned....:eek:
 
Well, I drilled it!...... and it couldnt have been easier.
I used a dremel with a tile cutting bit #562 and it cut through it "like budda". The float valve is in and the rest of the plumbing (top-off tank) will be ready to go after work tomorrow.
Thanks everyone for all the replies and advice.
 
Did you lay it on its side and drill/cut down, or did you do it in its upright position? Was there water it in? What speed did you cut with?

Thanks.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6566374#post6566374 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OldmillXxX
Did you lay it on its side and drill/cut down, or did you do it in its upright position? Was there water it in? What speed did you cut with?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You can drill a tank in any position you feel comfortable with. It is reccomended that you are able to cool the glass as you grind it, generally with a spray bottle and some r/o water. If there is water in the tank, drop the water line down about an inch under the hole so you can tape off a catch (inside the tank) for errant glass (not to mention keeping the water from shooting out as you pass through).

I have drilled many tanks like this and it works well. I usually use about 3/4 speed on my dremel and grind for about three to four seconds before hitting it with water.

It is much easier to drill from the top as you can pool the water in the area using a hot glue dam.

Just use patience, ear plugs and plenty of water. Some use vegi oil to cool the area but water has worked fine for me.
 
Tim,
The tank was emplty. So I laid it with the front glass down. And drilled the back glass from a top down position. I had the dremel on the highest speed setting 35K-RMP. I did built a 3" Dia. water dam around the hole using modeling clay. Filled the inside of the circle with water and just drilled away. I guess a hot glue dam would work just as well like evolution suggests.

This evening I got the top-off tank hooked up and everything is up and running.......It's all good! And one less thing to worry about when I travel for work.
 
Frankly, I was so preoccupied being nervous that I didnââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t think of pics until afterwards......so, no I don't have any pics to post. With my new found confidence I'm sure I'll be doing another DIY project in the near future and will be sure to capture everything step by step.
 
I want to take the plunge and cut my 55, but I just am not sure. I have a HOB overflow and it works just fine, but I don't want to cut my new hood to fit the thing.

Maybe I should just stick to growing hair algae!
 
All 55 gallon tanks are tempered. don't try it unless you contact the manufacturer.

The only one I ever broke was a 55. a couple days later, a lady at a tank co, told me the 95 percent are tempered, UNLESS you special ordered it or its REALLY old.

Search for a thread this past summer... diy forum... "i think I broke it.." and was by someome funny like "I wet myself"

OldmillXxX, if you read back a few 20 pages, this dremel thing and the hole has been done so often, you'll find all the info you want.
Serious people are using diamond hole saw for the bigger stuff, dremel for the small stuff...

BTW No disrespect intended. Anyone ever think of having the "hole info" put as a permanent sticky so that it does not reappear 6 times a day?

OM, next time your in Green Bay, look me up, I'll give you a demo.

J
 
I hear what you are saying, but was under the impression that only the bottom was tempered. There is a label on the bottom only specifying the bottom. It is a cheap tank from Wal-Mart so if it breaks...not too concerned.

Thanks for the info, though. I'll check into that thread if the search ever starts working again.

Go Pack!
 
Just my 0.02 but I have never seen a tank with tempered sides or back panels. If you look at the cost of tempered glass over regular it would cost a fortune to make a whole tank out of tempered glass. I have replaced panels in a few tanks and the tempered glass panels will give you a heart attack from sticker shock on the 100G and up tanks.
 
I could be unaware of some manufacturers who do tempered on all panels but I have never come across one yet doing side panesl.
 
Many older 55 gallon tanks are all tempered. If you care about the tank, call the manufacturer or use the polarized lens trick.

Dan
 
I just can't see 55 gal such as sold in Wally World being tempered...Why would one size tank in particular be made of tempered glass all the way around when the ones above or below it are not..Bottom yes, sides and backs etc I doubt it. So just what s so special about a 55 gal tank with it having to be tempered all the way around, or is this an old wives tail that has yet to die and go away.
 
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