Old tank new build.

[burkhart.5150]

Hi so my question of the day is this. I have a 90 gallon aqueon tank (un-drilled) sitting around that I had as a cichlid tank and would like to use it as a future reef tank. The problem is I would like to drill it but do not know how to go about it. (Drill the back or the bottom) not too sure if all sides are tempered. The other issue I have is it has some scrathces in it that I would like to remove. What product do I use to polish the glass and where can I buy it. Any input is welcome and thanks in advance!

 

[mcgyvr]

In general...If the scratches will catch a fingernail.. its too deep to fix..
You can buff "very light" scratches our with cerium oxide powder/buffing pad.

You need to determine if its tempered first ..More than likely just the bottom is.. But a pair of polarized sun glasses and a laptop will let you know for sure.

Drill the back with a BeanAnimal style setup with a coast-coast overflow box.. Everything else just sucks. No really.
http://www.beananimal.com/projects/silent-and-fail-safe-aquarium-overflow-system.aspx

Then try the search around here or google as all of these questions have been asked/answered many times here.. But I guess thats what forums are for
Happy reefing..

 

[burkhart.5150]

Thanks for the info very helpful, what if I don't own a pair of polarized glasses?

 

[mcgyvr]

Thanks for the info very helpful, what if I don't own a pair of polarized glasses?

Then off to the store you go.. you can pick up a pair at any store for a few bucks in the regular sunglasses display.. I think I got mine from CVS pharmacy..
I actually like them now for regular driving,etc... It makes all the cars look like "Chrome Illusions" paint all the time at certain angles with the sunlight..
Its easy to see tempered windows on cars too..

In general tempered glass will have a "scotch plaid" pattern of "dark" lines running through it when viewed through the glasses.

 

[uncleof6]

Thanks for the info very helpful, what if I don't own a pair of polarized glasses?

Personally, I would recommend you haul the tank to a glass fabrication shop, and have them check for tempered glass with the proper equipment...DIY methods are not a surity...

 

[mcgyvr]

uncle will suck the fun out of anything if given the chance..

When using the glasses/laptop screen method the temper was VERY clear/distinct to me.

 

[uncleof6]

And some people will do things regardless of the actual reliability of a particular method. The forums are a small part of the aquarium hobby, and it is not always an accurate source of success vs. failure informaton. I have had reports of these DIY methods showing the "temper" as you put it, in an auto windshield, but not on the side or rear glass. There are too many variables for a DIY method to be as accurate as the legend would insist.... it may work, but what will be the reponse when it doesn't work?