Is a non-tempered bottom tank with holes drilled in the bottom safe ?
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Jens Kallmeyer
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HI
In Europe 99.99 % of all tanks do not have tempered bottoms. Still there are holes in almost any reef tank. There would be much less reefers in Europe if this was an issue.
Jens
In Europe 99.99 % of all tanks do not have tempered bottoms. Still there are holes in almost any reef tank. There would be much less reefers in Europe if this was an issue.
Jens
Jens Kallmeyer
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10219165#post10219165 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
So long as the bulkhead fittings are properly installed, you'll be fineWhatever you do, don't get scared of leaks and try to really tighten them, they should only be hand tight.
There is a sequence in tightening: loose, tight, very tight, loose again.....
I didn't install the bulkheads... the guy also siliconed them in. He ran it with water and it doesn't leak. What I'm worried about is the glass not bearing the weight of the tank full of water with 100# of LR and another 100# of sand in an island configuration (around the holes as all 3 are in the dead center of the bottom).
The bulkhead fitting restores any strength lost to making the holes, so you'll be fine. I drill tank bottoms all the time and routinely place hundreds of pounds of sand and rock on them afterwards, only time I've had a bottom crack is from over tightening the bulkhead fittings before I knew better
What is the thickness of the bottom glass? What is the spacing between the three holes? What is the diameter of each hole?
Unless the tank was built by a rank amateur who had no idea what he was doing, you're probably safe.
Most glass tanks do not have tempered bottoms. That's something you're more likely to find on cheapy tanks by the common lower-priced volume tank builders. They temper the glass so that they can get by with thinner glass.
My 120-gal tank, with 1/2" (12mm) Starphire sides, had a 3/4" (19mm) glass bottom and it was not tempered. I had only two holes drilled in it, one for a 1.5" drain bulkhead and one for a 1" return bulkhead. There was a good 2" of glass between these two holes and they were not in the middle of the tank but rather in the far left side at the rear.
Unless the tank was built by a rank amateur who had no idea what he was doing, you're probably safe.
Most glass tanks do not have tempered bottoms. That's something you're more likely to find on cheapy tanks by the common lower-priced volume tank builders. They temper the glass so that they can get by with thinner glass.
My 120-gal tank, with 1/2" (12mm) Starphire sides, had a 3/4" (19mm) glass bottom and it was not tempered. I had only two holes drilled in it, one for a 1.5" drain bulkhead and one for a 1" return bulkhead. There was a good 2" of glass between these two holes and they were not in the middle of the tank but rather in the far left side at the rear.
bottom is 1/2" thick and holes are a few inches apart:
http://images.craigslist.org/010105010404010303200706135645f5ade73b2d3bd00089bb.jpg
http://images.craigslist.org/010105010404010303200706135645f5ade73b2d3bd00089bb.jpg
