Step-by-Step: Drilling Holes in Your Glass Tank for Bulkheads

I initially cut some egg crate and put it in my bulkhead, then after having a shrimp take a ride down to my sump I went out and got some gutter guard and cut it to fit and placed it in the bulkhead on top of the egg crate. Works great! Nothing had gotten through and it doesn't cut down the return and it doesn't stick out of the bulkhead!!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8653868#post8653868 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Steve 926
I would like to thank "Just One More Tank" and every one else on this thread for their advice & experience. I have decided to start it up again ( This obsession with SW) after a long rest.
I have purchased a drill guide & some 45 & 40mm diamond hole saws from Lau, & will be burning the midnight oil in the garage & pondering what to do next to make it a better system this time.
Being retired I now have the time & patience to devote to a lifestyle of just enjoying my reef & shareing it with all. Once again thanks for the time you take to help others, & RC is without a doubt the Best!!

Steve926
Click to expand...


Hey no problem. Glad that everyone is finding this thread useful. :) Glad to have you back in the reefing community. :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8658647#post8658647 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Reefn00b
Thats not a bad idea... Anyone else with cool strainers and a place to get em?
Click to expand...

These are just the standard strainers that I used.
They look different when you start getting larger diameters instead of the smaller diameter units that look long and skinny.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=FT8577

You could also try here:
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/listings.categories/ssid/344
 
Just bought a 60mm from Lau. Will be drilling my first reef tank, a 40 breeder. Want to thank in advance JustOneMoreTank for this thread. I will definitely read up before I drill.
 
I bought a 45mm drill bit from Richon Tools...the shaft is a hair too big to fit in my 3/8" drill chuck. Anyone else have this problem? What was your fix?
 
Just drilled a 45mm hole for a 1" bulkhead in my "new" 20Long, using a hole saw from lau on eBay. After reading nearly this whole thread, I sat down and *carefully* drilled the whole out over about 30 minutes (Much to the enjoyment of my family :D). I hooked a hose up to the faucet in our largest bathtub and had a steady, fast stream of cold water running across the area the whole time.

Only problem I ran into was starting the hole as it would not sit still in the same place. My only solution was to drill faster, and that paid the bill! So for the drilling newbies out there: Do the math on 500rpm, its a little more than 8 revolutions per SECOND!

Good luck all,
Marty
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8817571#post8817571 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Fish'InMN

Only problem I ran into was starting the hole as it would not sit still in the same place. My only solution was to drill faster, and that paid the bill! So for the drilling newbies out there: Do the math on 500rpm, its a little more than 8 revolutions per SECOND!

Good luck all,
Marty
Click to expand...

It's easiest if you start the hole at an angle. Sounds like you held the drill 90 degrees to the tank.
 
Incorrect. I started at 15 degrees off normal, which at the time produced a little arc no more than an inch long.

The key part was not the angle, it was the speed. I started at, by my best SWAG, about 120rpm. Way too slow.
 
Thought the thread deserved a bump.

Tank #2 and hole #3 w/ the bit from lau.

65_Drilled.jpg

65_Bulkhead.jpg
 
Thanks. The first two I did I used a hole saw and cut a "guide" hole for the diamond bit. I used duck tape and a clamp to hold the guide w/ a thin sheet of glass and another 1x4 on the through side.

That was ~6mths ago....

Then = :worried:

Now = :smokin:

...I turned the tank on it's side, slapped some duck tape on the interior, dumped some bottled water I was drinking on the tank and drilled. I'm almost ashamed.

The drill did jump a bit as you can see but that is covered by the bulkhead.


On a different note: favorite "The Office" moment:
Jim's fax to Dwight from his future self:

At approx 8am someone poisons the coffee. DO NOT DRINK THE COFFEE. More instructions will follow.

Cordially,
Future Dwight
 
I didn't have the time to read all 23 previous pages, but did anyone mention that if you have a yard and the tank is portable, like 75 gallons or less, you can take it out in the yard and use a trickling water hose to accomplish the same thing as the cup method? A lot less time and worry and you get a nice cleanup, all at the same time.....

Very good heat dissipation with running water........;)
 
I am worried that drilling holes in my tank will significantly weaken the strength of the tank. what do you think?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
40 Gallon AIO Tank Repair?
Replies
8
Views
214
kingyking888
K
K
What happens if you cut into glass while removing a baffle from the tank?
Replies
6
Views
347
wvned
wvned
S
Lighting Question - Glass penetration
Replies
7
Views
199
xabo
xabo
A
DRILL aquarium only 1 DownPipe?
Replies
1
Views
305
Timfish
Timfish
A
DRILL aquarium only 1 DownPipe?
Replies
0
Views
264
Andrés Garza
A
Back
Top