Fishybizness
New member
So I want to drill 2" bilkheads in the back of a 90 gal I just ordered. Will bilkheads from BRS cement to PVC standard?
Self drilling new tank
- Thread starter Fishybizness
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tkeracer619
New member
Yes.
Please watch videos on how to do it or maybe get some scrap glass to practice. Easy to do, easy to screw up without practice.
Please watch videos on how to do it or maybe get some scrap glass to practice. Easy to do, easy to screw up without practice.
stingeragent
New member
Is the bulkhead itself taking 2" pipe, or is that a 2" hole size? a 2" pipe on a 90 is huge.
EvenFurther
New member
The drill size for a standard 2" BH is a 3" hole. That's big hole on a 90.
sleepydoc
Team RC
+1 to all of the above.
BRS has a video on their site on drilling a tank, and there are many other videos as well. I just got done drilling my 120 (⅜" glass) It took about 5 minutes per hole, but about an hour and a half total, if you include the time to measure, set up, measure again, and say a few prayers before I started!
What are your goals? As others have said, 2" bulkheads are huge, way more than you would need for a 90 gallon tank. I drilled 1" bulkheads for my 120 with a goal flow of 1200 gph. 1" bulkheads need 1.65~1.75" holes. 1.5" 2.32-2.5" holes and 2" bulkheads need 2.8-3" holes. Regardless, buy your bulkheads and measure before you drill you tank.
BRS has a video on their site on drilling a tank, and there are many other videos as well. I just got done drilling my 120 (⅜" glass) It took about 5 minutes per hole, but about an hour and a half total, if you include the time to measure, set up, measure again, and say a few prayers before I started!
What are your goals? As others have said, 2" bulkheads are huge, way more than you would need for a 90 gallon tank. I drilled 1" bulkheads for my 120 with a goal flow of 1200 gph. 1" bulkheads need 1.65~1.75" holes. 1.5" 2.32-2.5" holes and 2" bulkheads need 2.8-3" holes. Regardless, buy your bulkheads and measure before you drill you tank.
stingeragent
New member
5 minutes? Wow. I must have got a terrible bit. I ordered one online, but the bulkheads and bit were way too big so I bought bulkheads locally and was too impatient to wait on the bit so I got one from home depot. Took me at least 30 mins per hole just for the drilling.
mmittlesteadt
New member
2" bulkheads? Are you building an enclosed water park slide? 
Took me about 5 minutes per hole on mine. I used a cutting bit from BRS that I borrowed from a friend. 1.77" (45mm) hole for a 1" bulkhead (from BRS). I cut a template out of acrylic and used plumber's putty to make a dam around where the hole was to be cut and then laid down the acrylic template over the putty and pushed down a bit. Filled the opening with water (and flushed it out a few times with fresh cold water during the drilling). The template allowed me to just drill straight down without having to go at it at an angle first. The rest was just taking my time and not pressing down...just let the weight of the drill alone do the cutting.
Patience and keep the area wet and it's a piece of cake.
You can just use PVC cement, but since the bulkheads are ABS, get cement that is good for both ABS and PVC.
Took me about 5 minutes per hole on mine. I used a cutting bit from BRS that I borrowed from a friend. 1.77" (45mm) hole for a 1" bulkhead (from BRS). I cut a template out of acrylic and used plumber's putty to make a dam around where the hole was to be cut and then laid down the acrylic template over the putty and pushed down a bit. Filled the opening with water (and flushed it out a few times with fresh cold water during the drilling). The template allowed me to just drill straight down without having to go at it at an angle first. The rest was just taking my time and not pressing down...just let the weight of the drill alone do the cutting.
Patience and keep the area wet and it's a piece of cake.
You can just use PVC cement, but since the bulkheads are ABS, get cement that is good for both ABS and PVC.
fishgate
Active member
30 minutes? I think you got the wrong bit. You probably got a ceramic bit. They make one specifically for glass. Just get it from Amazon or BRS they are cheap. Use once and toss it.
sleepydoc
Team RC
Got my bit from BRS. It depends on the drill speed, but I just used my cordless Dewalt, so it wasn't the fastest drill in the world.
I made a template out of hardboard, clamped it in place and drilled for 15-20 seconds to make a groove, then removed the template and clamped a piece of plywood to the back side of the glass for back support and to minimize chip-out. After that, I made a dam of plumber's putty around the hole and filled it with water, placed the drill in the groove and set it on high. You don't need to and shouldn't push or apply much pressure, just let the weight of the drill do it.
4fishman
New member
Just finished drilling 2 return openings in my 90 gallon. Used the bit from BRS and a drill guide. The drill guide helped a lot. It took me at least 15 minutes per hole, I let the weight of the drill do the work as I was afraid that I could crack the tank. Yes the 2" sounds way too large of an opening, two smaller holes would be better, if practical.
mmittlesteadt
New member
Another thing about the hole sizing, I do believe you need to stay 1 1/2 diameters away from any edge or other hole. For a 2" hole, you're looking at 3" away from any edge or other hole. Holes weaken the integrity of the glass.
Did you end up going with smaller holes?
Did you end up going with smaller holes?
EvenFurther
New member
The general rule is 1 diameter of the hole size from the tank edge to the OD edge of the hole.
sleepydoc
Team RC
