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

This thread has given me the blind confidence to try this myself. The local glass company wants to charge me $20 per hole. I ordered a 45mm and 60mm and should be able to do all the holes I need for less than $20.

Thanks!!
 
Just be sure when you are starting the hole you want the bit at an angle to the glass surface. It you try to start drilling the hole with the diamond hole saw flush to the glass surface it will be very very difficult to control the bit and it will want to "ice-skate" around all over marring the surface before it starts biting into and cutting the hole. Start at about a 45 degree angle to make it easier to get the hole started. Then later restart the hole squarely against the tank surface using the half area of hole that is cut into the tank to help keep the bit from skating around.
Soon you will see how easy it is. Good luck. :)
 
JustOneMoreTank, nice job! Question on your overflow walls/weirs, you must have built those youself right? How did you do that?
Thanks
 
I have a 50 gallon Oceanic, I am tired of the CPR overflow losing it's siphon. . .

I would like to drill "teeth" into the back of the tank and then attach an oveflox box.

Any advice?

I have a dremel with the router attachment. Which bit should I use to rout the teeth?
 
it seems simple enough. . .drill .25" wide by .5" tall holes and space them an inch apart, nine holes, about 600 GPH, no siphon loss. . .

someone shoot some "holes" in my theory. . .LOL
 
old95er said:
I have a 50 gallon Oceanic, I am tired of the CPR overflow losing it's siphon. . .

I would like to drill "teeth" into the back of the tank and then attach an oveflox box.

Any advice?

I have a dremel with the router attachment. Which bit should I use to rout the teeth?
Click to expand...

Careful with the Oceanic tank. You may want to check their website. They build quality tanks and use alot of tempered glass. If the glass is tempered, you don't want to dril lit.
 
thanks for the heads up, dweakl01. . .

I emailed their customer service and hope that I don't have to hold my breath for too long!
 
question on the size of the hole saw. Do i measure the outside of the threads on the bulkhead to determine the size of the mm of the saw?.

thanks.
 
pmui - What size bulk head are you using?

I drilled 2 of my 3 holes this past weekend. I could not tell you how scared I was drilling the first hole. Once I started it was super easy. I had 2 holes done in less than 30 minutes with lots of "stop and take a look" time.

I will be getting the hole saw for the 3rd hole this week!!

Major thanks to JustOneMoreTank for posting this and giving me the blind confidense I needed, so that that I too could do this. :D
 
As long as you know if the glass is tempered or not, its pretty easy to drill.
Just got to remember to let the drill do the work, dont push down!! And keep it wet........
 
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