increasing size of drilled holes

NirvanaFan

NirvanaFan

Reef Ninja
Premium Member
Soooo.... I have four 10 gallon tanks that are all connected in my fish breeding system (with a bunch of others). They currently have 1/2" bulkheads and standpipes in them. I want to increase these to 1" so I can increase the flow through the tanks. I have the correct diamond hole saw for my cordless drill. *Knock on wood* I've never broken a tank in the ~10 holes I've drilled before.

So, can I just be careful and re-drill the holes a little large with the correct hole saw? Or, will this crack the tank? I'm thinking it may crack the tanks.

I could also use my Dremel I guess, but I've never tried that before.

So, what is my best option?
 
I'd have at it re-drilling. If you've drilled ten 10g tanks and never cracked one, you must have a steady hand and good technique, as 10g tanks have such thin glass they're easy to break!

What sorta standpipe arrangement and overflow box do you have now? I wonder if you could also convert the existing 1/2" line to full siphon and drill a second 1/2" for an emergency backup, i.e. convert to a Herbie. You'd get way more flow than using a 1/2" open-channel (i.e. Durso/stockman/whatever) and you wouldn't have to enlarge existing holes - though drilling a second hole is probably no safer than enlarging an existing hole.
 
Thanks for the input.

It is just a standpipe. There is no overflow box or anything. Just a vertical pipe towards the back corner of the tank with the water overflowing down it into the shared sump.

I'm just nervous that the vibrations of the drill could cause a break in the already weakened glass.
 
How close to the edges are the existing holes?

I've re-drilled, but it was a long time ago, and I used a Dremel with a diamond bit. If I were going to do it today I'd just use a hole saw.
 
The center of the current holes vary from 2.5-3.5 inches from the back, and from 3-3.5 inches from the sides of the tank.

I can always try redrilling with the hole saw. What's the worst that can happen? I break a $10 tank?
 
Yeah, exactly why I'd just have at it if it were me. :)

If they crack you can probably even find other purposes for them. I've got a 10g in my basement that I just use to hold test kits and other supplies.
 
I think the wife would kill me if I kept another tank around the house. There are already eight 10 gallon tanks, four 20 high tanks, two 55 gallon sumps, and a wooden 60g DIY lookdown tank.

Keeping a broken tank around would probably get me killed.
 
Like you said try one and see, you may want to make a template out of wood or something to center over the old hole, so the new one is where you want, it its on btoh sides it may help support the glass too. I do this all the time with holes in wood.

OR any chance if you trill the opposite side and just silicone a piece of glass over the old hole OR just cap the bulkhead with either a threaded fitting or a PVC pipe section and cap?
 
Nates suggestion on a second hole, for either siphon or regular is very worth considering. If you decide to enlarge, put a wooden backing and have someone pour water to keep the bit cool
 
Another idea would be to just drill the 1" hole in a different spot and then use that scrap hole piece of glass to cover the other hole and silicone that into place. That would at least make drilling the new holes way easier.
Dave
 
the drill end of it will be easy but you should putty or duct tape the original hole shut so you can keep water where you are drilling .
 
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