Ok...I have been wondering...what to do with my 125 gal
- Thread starter frankandmaura
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frankandmaura
New member
ok...I just called the guy from Creature Comforts to ask how much a 30 gal long is for a sump (first of all he was asking me what I meant by sump), hmmm....
The I asked if the sides were tempered and he said no, why? I said because I was thinking of drilling it and he said oh, 80% break. Then I told him I was planning on drilling my 125 and he said, same goes for the bigger tanks (I am scared!). I don't want to be replacing my 125! Is this a bad idea?
I mean I trust ya Vince, but if 80% break...are we taking our chances?
The I asked if the sides were tempered and he said no, why? I said because I was thinking of drilling it and he said oh, 80% break. Then I told him I was planning on drilling my 125 and he said, same goes for the bigger tanks (I am scared!). I don't want to be replacing my 125! Is this a bad idea?
I mean I trust ya Vince, but if 80% break...are we taking our chances?
Bobtail1075
Member
80 percent.. NO WAY.. I have only heard of a couple ever breaking. I had never done the drilling before and I drilled 4 holes in a 90 I had, then I drilled 2 holes in my new 44 pentagon tank. I think as long as your glass is not tempered and you use plenty of water to cool it down. I really would not worry all that much about it.. As long as you take time to do it. more like 90 percent of tanks don't break.
RyanM
New member
I have drilled dozens of holes. Not one ever broke. With that being said, its always a risk. Even if every precaution is taken, small imperfection in the glass that under normal use would have never hurt a thing can cause it to crack if drilled. Like I said the risk is low but its there on every tank. When I was a kid in autoshop the instuctor was ever so slightly tapping on the rear window of a gorgeous camaro with a plastic screwdriver. Not hard at all. Just kinda talking to us and tapping it as he spoke. You can guess what happened. SMASH!!! I was standing right there and would have bet a million dollars that that little piece of plastic would never have broken it.
If your affraid to break it dont drill it.
If your affraid to break it dont drill it.
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Usually what you are fighting is thermal expansion stress. The drill bit will end up heating the glass in a given area so much that it will expand by .02%-.05%. While these numbers seem small, that expansion pressing against the other 95% of the sheet of glass will be enough force to cause a failure. The force that glass expands at is often several thousand pounds per square inch. Thermal expansion can be minimized by co-heating the entire area to a higher temp, and minimizing the drill area temp with a coolant reservoir. The trick is going to be creating that reservoir while the glass is vertical. Other ways to help reduce the risk, is by using very little pressure about (about 10-18 lbs, let the bit do the cutting, not your force), and keep the RPMs low. Both of those thing will help reduce the heat caused by friction. If you can come up with a way to keep a coolant pooled up, and follow the low pressure and low RPMs, your risk will be greatly reduce. You could always go to a glass show and get a piece of scrap glass (with the equivalent thickness of your tank) to practice on. It's always good to see what the process is before you start on the final project anywho.
Another thing to consider when drilling an aquarium is that you are in fact damaging the structural integrity of the tank. The tank was engineered without that hole, so that pane will not be as sound as it once was. This doesn't really pose much of a threat, but after having the first accident with the tank, a second one would suck!
Another thing to consider when drilling an aquarium is that you are in fact damaging the structural integrity of the tank. The tank was engineered without that hole, so that pane will not be as sound as it once was. This doesn't really pose much of a threat, but after having the first accident with the tank, a second one would suck!
frankandmaura
New member
You aren't kidding! I would hate another flood and my wife would kill me!
frankandmaura
New member
Well...I just though I would ressurect this thread...LOL, I can't believe how far it has come since I started this thread! Thanks a TON (and I mean a TON) to Vince, and also to Nate for the use of his Weldon - I'll get you another tube, promise!!
Anyway...here is what we have done since January
New Tank - Perfecto 125 RR
New Skimmer - Octopus Extreme TS-150
New Sump - Thanks Dave (Pirc) - 55 Gal acrylic
New Return pump - Mag 9.5
Various other new stuff...anyway here are some pics of where we stand today
The Sump
Under the tank
The Skimmer - working (and my little skimmer stand that I built)
Behind the tank (much neater than before)
The tank - few shots (rockwork is not complete, I need a few more pieces to finish off the left side) - but I am very proud of the cave on the right side of the tank.
Anyway...here is what we have done since January
New Tank - Perfecto 125 RR
New Skimmer - Octopus Extreme TS-150
New Sump - Thanks Dave (Pirc) - 55 Gal acrylic
New Return pump - Mag 9.5
Various other new stuff...anyway here are some pics of where we stand today
The Sump
Under the tank
The Skimmer - working (and my little skimmer stand that I built)
Behind the tank (much neater than before)
The tank - few shots (rockwork is not complete, I need a few more pieces to finish off the left side) - but I am very proud of the cave on the right side of the tank.
frankandmaura
New member
I actually posted the freezing question on TRT and I was told this will not work and that I should "torch" the rock. In other words, take an actual torch to the rock...LOL.
Does anyone have a torch that wants to play a little???
Does anyone have a torch that wants to play a little???
frankandmaura
New member
I potsed it over in The Reef Tank. A pretty reputable person said they have tried it and it hasn't worked...
I am going to try it anyway of course (in fact it has been outside since yesterday afternoon - so it definately froze last night). Torching sounds fun though...don't ya think
Maybe we should try it anyway...lol!
I am going to try it anyway of course (in fact it has been outside since yesterday afternoon - so it definately froze last night). Torching sounds fun though...don't ya think
Maybe we should try it anyway...lol!
frankandmaura
New member
I can't wait
My wife asked me this weekend...so when can we go fish shopping!! I just said...it is going to be a while, plus I have at 2 additions in the bag (your Blue Jaw and Capt Cully's Pink Tail).
My wife asked me this weekend...so when can we go fish shopping!! I just said...it is going to be a while, plus I have at 2 additions in the bag (your Blue Jaw and Capt Cully's Pink Tail).
frankandmaura
New member
It was perfect Dave (I'll never get it out unless I take the tank out - but why would I ever have to do that *tapping on wood)
*tapping on wood)frankandmaura
New member
Thanks Dave. Yeah...amazing how a few months makes a difference. I told Vince that someday, maybe this summer, we can have a frag swap at my house. Now that the basement is back together and everything, I am feeling a little better about things.
How are the G2 and Hydors running?
How are the G2 and Hydors running?
Dave VG
New member
You will not regret keeping the tank Frank. It is the coolest thing knowing that you have a piece of the ocean in your house. Heck put a sand box around it and you have a little beach to lol. Your little one would love that I’m sure. Everything I got from you is working good.
