I bought a non-RR tank

[TwistedEnvy]

I'm OK with that for the most part, especially since I do NOT want to drill it myself.

My question is: has anyone made the PVC overflow themselves, and if so, how did it go. What I am think is to make two PVC lines on each side of the tank for the return/overflow. Can you show me pictures of what you did and give me any tips?

 

[sslak]

?

RR would mean you don't have to drill it...because they come drilled already.

If you don't drill it how are you going to have an overflow? Are you talking a hang on overflow box with some sort of syphon?

 

[username in use]

Your best bet is to get an overflow box from someone like Lifereef or CPR, or hang on to your jewels and drill a hole or two and then fit them with the glass holes overflow kit.

 

[Palting]

He meant non-RR, so not drilled.

I was looking into a DIY overflow without drilling for a 20 gal refugium. I finally decided too many things can go wrong with a non-drilled overflow, especially if it's a DIY, and I went ahead and drilled it. Easy as can be. Even the overflow manufacturers like Lifereef or CPR will tell you that drilled is better than any of their products. IMO, the chances of something bad happening is higher with a DIY non-drilled overflow than just going ahead and drilling it.

 

[TwistedEnvy]

He meant non-RR, so not drilled.

I was looking into a DIY overflow without drilling for a 20 gal refugium. I finally decided too many things can go wrong with a non-drilled overflow, especially if it's a DIY, and I went ahead and drilled it. Easy as can be. Even the overflow manufacturers like Lifereef or CPR will tell you that drilled is better than any of their products.

Were you scared to drill the glass? I just have this mental image of it going CRACK! I'm a girl, so, naturally, I don't have a lot of experience drilling anything let alone glass. I have been using dremels for fragging and stuff, but that's not so bad. Did you tape or anything? Are there any good threads on drilling the tank. If I didn't have to drill it that would be my best option, as I have had a RR tank in the past and was pleased with it.

 

[billdogg]

Drilling a tank is easy! (as long as it is not tempered) just go to youtube - there are like a billion clips on there of people drilling tanks (some even while there is water/fish in them.

The basics are like this:
1. make sure tank IS NOT tempered
2. decide what size bulkhead(s) you will use and purchase the drill bit(s)
3. using plumbers putty, or playdough or whatever you want, create a ring around the hole that can hold some water (to cool/lubricate the bit)
4. Set your (cordless works best, IMO) drill clutch to its lowest setting
5. use a guide block or start the drill at an angle to begin the cut, then slowly go vertical with the drill.
6. DO NOT try to rush the job! allow the weight of the drill supply all the downforce, and use fairly low rpm.
7. as the bit starts to break through, the water will drin - keep adding more to avoid heat buildup and binding of the bit.
be careful where the plug falls - it would not be god to drill a hole, only to have the plug crack the opposite side of the tank!

You can get everything you need from www.glass-holes.com they even have an online video to talk you through it.
HTH

 

[Palting]

I'm a girl, so, naturally, .........

LOL!!! My 4 sisters, my wife, and my 6 aunts will beat you for even hinting that girls are in any way lesser! Even my 2 daughters will get into it!!

Seriously, though, I was timid at first. After the first hole drilled, I felt like I could do anything! It's that easy. Just make sure that you have a drill with variable speed, so you can go as slow as you feel comfortable with. Then go really slow for the final thin millimeter. The best guide and confidence booster I had was the video on glass-holes.com.

You do have to make sure that your tank back is not tempered. Most of them are not. You can find out from the store you bought the tank from, or from the manuyfacturer.

 

[sirreal63]

Drilling is easy...it really is. I just drilled a hole in 1/2" glass, it took a while but is really easy. Being female has nothing to do with it, you can do this, as long as the tank is not tempered. The Glass-Holes kit is super easy, and the directions will keep you laughing for hours.

 

[Steve W]

Drilling the holes is no biggie provided that the glass is NOT TEMPERED. Never attempt to drill tempered glass it will shatter no matter how careful you are. If you are not sure whether or not it is tempered, don't try it. Even a heavy scratch can cause a tempered piece of glass to shatter, often months later.

But if you have determined that your glass is not tempered and if you want to drill it yourself, first go out and get a high quality diamond hole drill. Lightly adhere a thin piece of plywood (1/8" paneling works well) to the area you want to drill with MG silicone. Then put about a quarter to half inch of water in the aquarium and then drill. Don't put any more pressure on the drill than you can help. Let the bit do the work. Once you are through remove the plywood and you are ready to install your overflow piping. Now I'm not going to tell you that you will never break the glass using this technique. Glass breaks! But with a steady hand and patience, it should work.

My wife is a stained glass artist and I've done similar things many times, with glass much more fragile and full of stresses than your aquarium glass. So just relax, and keep your bit square to the surface and take your time and you shouldn't have a problem.

Alternately, call around and find a local glass shop. Stained glass shops I've found are best but any should be able to do this. Take them the aquarium and let them do it. They are set up for this kind of thing and do it everyday. It's probably a lot easier on your blood pressure if you've never done worked much with glass before. Also, some of the larger glass shops can drill tempered glass. They use a laser.

Good luck and hold your cojones. Or just use a syphon overflow although I've never liked them myself.

Steve W
24 g nano w/ 150w MH

 

[TwistedEnvy]

LOL!!! My 4 sisters, my wife, and my 6 aunts will beat you for even hinting that girls are in any way lesser! Even my 2 daughters will get into it!!

Haha, too funny because usually I would, but I am using it as my excuse now, let me get away with it! LOL

 

[TwistedEnvy]

OK I will call around and check out prices, and watch some videos and see what I can come up with -bites nails- Crap I'm not very patient either!

 

[jefathome]

Drilling a tank is EASY.

Just use one of the cordless drills with Variable speed and a clutch.

When I did mine, I stood the tank up on end so I was drilling straight down (Hole was in the side of a sump). Then I duct taped the outlet of my RODI waste water line to the tank, pointed at the spot I was drilling... Started it at an angle and went slow applying almost NO pressure on the drill. Just let it do its thing and you will be fine!!

Oh, and the HOB overflows all suck. It is only a matter of time until it fails on you and you have a flooded floor.

 

[sirreal63]

One of the many nice things about the Glass-Holes kit, the overflow box is small and unobtrusive.

This is the 110 I am in the painfully slow process of setting up...the back wall that houses the overflow is 40" so that will give you an idea of the size of the box. It is roughly 6"x6"x2", very small and still flows up to 700 gph, but 500 gph will be quieter.

click me

 

[TwistedEnvy]

Wouldn't you want to have 2 overflows? Just precautionary? Also, In looking at the GH overflow boxes, I only see one bulkhead- do they have you doing your return elsewhere?

I have a 60 Gallon tank, It is 40" l, 17"w and I think 16"ish high. I will get pics up tonight. I was thinking that 500 gph would work best for this tank, or maybe a little smaller. Do I want my return pump to be the same as my overflow or do I want my overflow to rated slightly higher? I was thinking either a mag 3 or mag 5m or other comparable pumps.



Do you guys think flex line or PVC is better to do plumbing with. I would like to have 4 T's so I can run my reactors off of it as well as do water changes and acclimation. I've always worked with flex line. My last tank, a 155 bow, was purchased from someone with all the stuff already there, return pump, plumbing etc...

Didn't the blade skip if you are putting no pressure on it? What did you do to prevent that? I'd be scared of that for sure. I am also very impatient so I'd make sure to prepare myself as if I were going into traffic.

 

[sirreal63]

You could do two overflows, but it isn't really needed, they sell a dual setup as well. My return will be over the top of the tank.

500 gph will be more than enough, you want to be under the limitations of the overflow to help control noise. I would skip the Mag pumps, not efficient and can add unwanted heat to the tank. Eheim, Ocean Runner, Sicce etc, all are much more efficient. Pay attention to the watts used, watts are heat added to the system. Keeping the wattage as low as possible saves money.

I use spa flex, and wouldn't go back to anything else. You can create gentle sweeps instead of hard elbows, which reduced drag and head. It works with regular PVC fittings, so you can run your reactors.

The GH kit comes with a template to eliminate the need to angle the bit, it worked very well and did not skip around the glass.

 

[Potsy]

Glass-holes provides a wood template that holds the bit in place; it won't slip.

I am the LEAST handy man on the planet, and I drilled my tank with ease. I felt like such an accomplished manly dude when the job was finished.

 

[TwistedEnvy]

So I posted this in my other thread but thought I might want to do it here too. I ended up drilling the tank myself and am making my own overflow.

The hole project is costing me....

Bit- Borrowed
Plumbers putty- $1?
Acrylic - ALL pieces $50
Bulkheads- $30

So $80 and I am getting what I wanted. Here are some pics from the drilling:

The start

I drilled the crappy 20 gallon tank then Brandon (my boyfriend who hates fish tanks mind you) up and took the drill and did the 60g!

I was constantly filling the little ring with water while brandon was drilling- took us a while to get through the glass. The water wasnt getting hot at all, i was just cleaning the area of dust etc...

I will be doing a coast to coast style on the inside of the tank, but it won't be very thick (1.5"-2"), then on the outside I will have an overflow box to help me control the water level and keep any noise to a minimum. It will also give me a 3rd drain and visibility in case anything were to ever get in there. I'll keep this post updated

 

[fishysteve]

Very nice. I don't know why people buy RR tanks anyway. They're overpriced and they have those giant overflows.

 

[TwistedEnvy]

Yeah I have to say it was ALOT easier to do it once I had a 20 gallon tank that cost 10 bucks instead of the display tank to try it on. They're right, glass is strong.

What really scared me was when Brandon took the drill from me and started drilling lol, because he hates fish tanks

 

[chimmike]

Nice job drilling. Gonna be a good setup without an overflow risk!