Project External Glass Overflow
- Thread starter Tunjee
- Start date
Tunjee
New member
Aquaduck said:I'm doing it to my 90 right now (1/2" glass :eek2: ). I've already started cutting into the glass ands it's going slow but it will be worth it. I will not be making a toothed overflow though. Just one long continuous overflow about 8" long and 1" deep. I will be using guttergaurd on the ouside box to keep critters out of the drains. I just wish my tank was empty it would be so much easier. My fish probably wonder what the hell is going on.
Tunjee, what size is the gasket you are using on the bulkheads?
Wow Aquaduck that is cool your cutting 1/2" glass with a dremel! I wasnt sure it could cut glass that thick. Cant wait to see the results.
I think the gaskets are 1". The bulkead I used had a 1" mpt on one side and a 1 1/4" female slip joint on the other. They are not "real" bulkheads just something I made work.
Tunjee
New member
gumbybc said:
Next day service. They cut the glass from their stock and use their machine to polish the edges. It's all done right there at the shop. It was cheap too, under 20bucks. I assembled it myself and have pics of it and a walkthrough on the first page or two of this thread. Glad to help!
daytona955
New member
What kind of bits did you use for this work?
manderx
New member
i just picked up some bits from harbor freight. i previously used the dremel brand ball and taper bits, but wanted to try some other shapes/sizes now that i'm drilling some bigger tanks.
i got the 50-pack of various bits for 15 bucks and a set of drums for another 5. they don't look as nice as the dremel bits, but they work fantastic. they are alot bigger and slightly coarser. i drilled for a 1" bulkhead in a 40 breeder, and it took less than 10 minutes start to finish. i ground a trench around the entire hole down to about 25% remaining thickness with a large ball. then i drilled perforations every 1/4" around it with a smaller ball. i did this because on the second tank i ever drilled, as i got close to completing the circle it cracked. luckily, it cracked in exactly the right direction, but it might not have, so now i do the trench-perforate before finishing with a cylindrical bit to connect the dots. then i used the drum to round out the hole and fine-tune the size for the bulkhead. the larger ball and the drums made an *amazing* difference, especially the drums.
if you're using the dremel taper bit to side-cut around the hole, i accidentally found out if you stick the point straight down without enough water, the very tip of the diamond coating will break off leaving the tip of the steel shaft sticking out. then as you move it up and down as you cut around the hole, if it accidentally pops up and skitters across the glass it won't scratch it- also accidentally noticed...
i got the 50-pack of various bits for 15 bucks and a set of drums for another 5. they don't look as nice as the dremel bits, but they work fantastic. they are alot bigger and slightly coarser. i drilled for a 1" bulkhead in a 40 breeder, and it took less than 10 minutes start to finish. i ground a trench around the entire hole down to about 25% remaining thickness with a large ball. then i drilled perforations every 1/4" around it with a smaller ball. i did this because on the second tank i ever drilled, as i got close to completing the circle it cracked. luckily, it cracked in exactly the right direction, but it might not have, so now i do the trench-perforate before finishing with a cylindrical bit to connect the dots. then i used the drum to round out the hole and fine-tune the size for the bulkhead. the larger ball and the drums made an *amazing* difference, especially the drums.
if you're using the dremel taper bit to side-cut around the hole, i accidentally found out if you stick the point straight down without enough water, the very tip of the diamond coating will break off leaving the tip of the steel shaft sticking out. then as you move it up and down as you cut around the hole, if it accidentally pops up and skitters across the glass it won't scratch it- also accidentally noticed...
daytona955
New member
Fun stuff, have to give this a try next project (fuge coming up)
Aquaduck
New member
Well, my attempt to cut an overflow failed. Last night after cutting a 2" long slot and refilling the tank, it cracked. I got up to 40 gallons of water missing from the tank. Most went to the basement. Hardwood floor is ok but the joints are swelled a bit. Downstairs carpet is pretty wet.
Evacuated the tank inhabitants and most of the good rock into a 45 gallon that I was going to use a sump.
Got a used tank with a proper 1.5" drain/bulkhead and overflow box. No more DIY for me for a while. Did I mention I was a structural engineer J/K
Lesson learned:
1. Do not try and cut an overflow slot into the long side of a tank that is 12 years old and is full of water, coral, rock, fish and other things and then go to bed.
2. Tanks will always crack or leak when no one is looking or home at the time.
3. Empty tanks stink, and sand beds stink even more.
4. Just when you think you've got every last hermit crab into the holding tank, you will find at least half a dozen more.
5. Snails are stupid. They would rather dry out than find the water level.
Evacuated the tank inhabitants and most of the good rock into a 45 gallon that I was going to use a sump.
Got a used tank with a proper 1.5" drain/bulkhead and overflow box. No more DIY for me for a while. Did I mention I was a structural engineer J/K
Lesson learned:
1. Do not try and cut an overflow slot into the long side of a tank that is 12 years old and is full of water, coral, rock, fish and other things and then go to bed.
2. Tanks will always crack or leak when no one is looking or home at the time.
3. Empty tanks stink, and sand beds stink even more.
4. Just when you think you've got every last hermit crab into the holding tank, you will find at least half a dozen more.
5. Snails are stupid. They would rather dry out than find the water level.
Tunjee
New member
Very sorry to hear your tank cracked Aquaduck. I wonder why exactly it cracked? At the point where the edges of the slot meet with the vertical cuts, were the corners rounded radius or tight right angles. Or did it even crack there? It might have cracked in the middle of the slot. In that case it could have been structural in that it needed reinforceing.
Here's Qualos's tank. It has an external overflow cut out of the glass but it was not done with a dremel. It was done with a laser. Why did your tank crack and Qualos's didnt? I know this can be done successfully on large tanks.
Here's Qualos's tank. It has an external overflow cut out of the glass but it was not done with a dremel. It was done with a laser. Why did your tank crack and Qualos's didnt? I know this can be done successfully on large tanks.
NuclearReefs
Active member
nice work tunjee,, very clean work..)
)
