swedish steel
Member
I tried the one hand and spray bottle in the other, too. Did not result in a cracked tank, but quite this process when it wanted to bind due to lack of firm control. Sorry to hear about the cracked sump.
Step-by-Step: Drilling Holes in Your Glass Tank for Bulkheads
- Thread starter JustOneMoreTank
- Start date
humboldt reefer
New member
It was a 75. I got about half way through and started rocking the drill in a circular motion. It seemed to cut faster that way. Anyway that's when it grabbed and cracked it. Its allright though, it was really too tall for under the stand. I picked up a 40 gallon breeder and drilled it no problem.
BallaBooyeaH
Premium Member
Well I drilled 5 holes with no problems. Lau bits are great.
I had planes of glass as I smashed my tank trying to move it myself. Need an extra drill bit now to re-drill my sump return line.
I went with the spray bottle method with a piece of wood with a template over it to start the hole.
It was simple and the first time I have ever tried. I used a scrap piece of glass underneath to stop the splintering. Worked well.
Just-on-more-tank, When you are in Ireland next I will buy you a pint of beer.
Will post photo's when I can fix my USB port on my laptop.
Thanks again and if anyone is thinking of doing this - go for it as it is basic to do.
I had planes of glass as I smashed my tank trying to move it myself. Need an extra drill bit now to re-drill my sump return line.
I went with the spray bottle method with a piece of wood with a template over it to start the hole.
It was simple and the first time I have ever tried. I used a scrap piece of glass underneath to stop the splintering. Worked well.
Just-on-more-tank, When you are in Ireland next I will buy you a pint of beer.
Will post photo's when I can fix my USB port on my laptop.
Thanks again and if anyone is thinking of doing this - go for it as it is basic to do.
JustOneMoreTank
New member
Glad it went well and you found the infomation useful. At this rate I will have a glass of beer waiting for me whereever I go!
BallaBooyeaH
Premium Member
here are some shots of the finished Job.
This is for a 2" bulkhead - tough to drill took around 20 minutes - but came out fine
This is the 45mm's for the return lines for the OM 4way.
Hope this inspires others to take the plunge to drill.
Andrew
This is for a 2" bulkhead - tough to drill took around 20 minutes - but came out fine
This is the 45mm's for the return lines for the OM 4way.
Hope this inspires others to take the plunge to drill.
Andrew
swedish steel
Member
Looks great!
here's a photo of the system ive built, thanks in large part to being able to drill my own holes. I drilled 4 holes myself and had one done by a LFS, their price, 25$.
Its really easy and beyond the drill bits you only need a variable speed drill driver. i encourage everyone to drill their own
Its really easy and beyond the drill bits you only need a variable speed drill driver. i encourage everyone to drill their own
I used 1/4" clear glass -- it was the cheapest. i dont think there are any real requirements for thickness. but then again, if you have a 300 gal tank it would be under a lot of pressure.
the height depends on how high you want the water and what you're going to use as teeth, if anything.
I have smaller tanks so I made my overflows as small as possible. the inside intake piece of the bulkhead are 90 degree elbows which cant turn the all the way around.... so I lost some flexibility in assembly.
the height depends on how high you want the water and what you're going to use as teeth, if anything.
I have smaller tanks so I made my overflows as small as possible. the inside intake piece of the bulkhead are 90 degree elbows which cant turn the all the way around.... so I lost some flexibility in assembly.
BallaBooyeaH
Premium Member
Mcary,
Tou wife or girlfriend must not of been around when yopu drilled your holes - on the carpet !!!
All looks good.
zeblisik - how many tanks you got? What you doing with all of them ?? Wish my wife would let me have a room like yours for my hobby
Tou wife or girlfriend must not of been around when yopu drilled your holes - on the carpet !!!
All looks good.
zeblisik - how many tanks you got? What you doing with all of them ?? Wish my wife would let me have a room like yours for my hobby
BallaBooyeaH,
I have too many; im not allowed anymore.. haha.. I techincally have 10! but to be honest ones an eclipse beta bowl type thing...
the 4 in the picture above is one system intended for saltwater; they're small tanks though, totalling ~90 gal. ones a sump, another is a 'main tank' for coral and other inverts that like a lot of waterflow. the first inline tank that receives run off is for a vegtable/seahorse tank(hopefully) and the one below that is for a DSB and zooplankton fuge.
I have too many; im not allowed anymore.. haha.. I techincally have 10! but to be honest ones an eclipse beta bowl type thing...
the 4 in the picture above is one system intended for saltwater; they're small tanks though, totalling ~90 gal. ones a sump, another is a 'main tank' for coral and other inverts that like a lot of waterflow. the first inline tank that receives run off is for a vegtable/seahorse tank(hopefully) and the one below that is for a DSB and zooplankton fuge.
poopsko24
New member
I want to take off my hang on overflow box and drill the back top of my tank. I will drill for two 1 1/2" bulkheads, how far aprat from one another do I have to be on these ? And from that I woul like to make up the smallest possible glass overflow box, i will silicone it to the inside, but what size should i be if i plan on roughly 1200 gph going through ? I would like to do something like 12" L x 4" or 5" W and I'm not too sure at all if the height of it will matter ? I was thinking just enough to cover the bulkheads, is there a certain height I need to be? thanx all.
vanceny
New member
I read somewhere that they should be at least the diameter of the hole apart from each other as well as from all sides. Others have done it closer without any problems but why take the chance.
What size tank is this? You could also build the overflow to run from end to end. This would give you optimal surface skimming. As for the hieght, you would want the overflow to be tall enough so the water level when running is above the trim line. I'm doing this on my 90gal right now.
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