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

[JustOneMoreTank]

ray22... no problem. Glad that you found this thread useful and happy that it saved you a nice chunk of change.

The questions about the bulkheads are pretty easy. The double threaded ones have an internal thread on the internal of the outside the tank piece. You will have to use Teflon tape and a piece of PVC called Male Pipe Thread to Slip . This will allow you to change the plumbing later.
The second type of BulkHead is the more standard Slip fitting. This needs to be solvent glued to a slip fit piece of PVC at the connection making this connection permanant.
Hope this helps some.

 

[portjeffski]

Great thread, Just One More Tank.
Very informative. I ordered 2 drill bits from the ebay listing you mention. Lau said they are on their way. I am setting up my new 180 r/r tank. Will be drilling my sump and refugium following the step by step procedure you so neatly have shown us all.

Thanks.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6572335#post6572335 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by portjeffski
Great thread, Just One More Tank.
Very informative. I ordered 2 drill bits from the ebay listing you mention. Lau said they are on their way. I am setting up my new 180 r/r tank. Will be drilling my sump and refugium following the step by step procedure you so neatly have shown us all.

Thanks.

Hey no problem! Glad that I could be of some help to the members of this board. Reef Central has helped me with so much along the way as well.
Good luck with the drilling. Take it slow and gently and you should not have any problems.

 

[Taikimoto]

What would you suggest for drilling a 2.5g tank? I used to manage a fish store and the big huge drill we had was ok for 10g and up, but it would be to big for such a small tank. Is there anything store bought I can use to drill it?

 

[portjeffski]

I completed drilling my sump and refugium tanks with the drill bits I ordered from Lau in Hong Kong. By simply following the instructions from Just One More Tank, it was no problem at all.
This was the first time I have ever tried drilling glass. By reading this thread I was able to figure out just what size bits I would be using, and there is also a conversion link on Reff Central home page.
I would like to thank the starter of this thread( Just One More Tank) for taking the time to post such graphic detailed instructions.
Thanks and read on.

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6694414#post6694414 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by portjeffski
I completed drilling my sump and refugium tanks with the drill bits I ordered from Lau in Hong Kong. By simply following the instructions from Just One More Tank, it was no problem at all.
This was the first time I have ever tried drilling glass. By reading this thread I was able to figure out just what size bits I would be using, and there is also a conversion link on Reff Central home page.
I would like to thank the starter of this thread( Just One More Tank) for taking the time to post such graphic detailed instructions.
Thanks and read on.

Hey thank you for the kind words.
I was very nervous the first few times that I drilled a few bulkhead holes in a handful of glass tanks. Now it is no sweat. I just wanted to help take some of the fear and uncertainty out of the process for those who need/want to have this done. I wanted a fairly organized step by step approach that beginners could follow and have excellent results. I am glad that this could help so many people out. Reef Central is a great resource!

 

[REEF-DADDY]

I got my bits today. One question for those who have done this. I am drilling a 80mm hole through 3/8" glass, do you think one bit will be enough?

 

[Paverdude]

http://www.richontools.com/catalog/c8_p1.html

 

[boofer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6697390#post6697390 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SteveDohoney
I got my bits today. One question for those who have done this. I am drilling a 80mm hole through 3/8" glass, do you think one bit will be enough?

Yes...I drilled 5 1 3/4" through 3/8 with one bit and could do more if needed. Just go slow and use plenty of coolant, youll save the life of the bit and you wont break anything It was taking me roughly 15 minutes a hole, but I was letting the weight of the drill do all the work. Good luck

 

[causeofhim]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6701375#post6701375 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by boofer
Yes...I drilled 5 1 3/4" through 3/8 with one bit and could do more if needed. Just go slow and use plenty of coolant, youll save the life of the bit and you wont break anything It was taking me roughly 15 minutes a hole, but I was letting the weight of the drill do all the work. Good luck

Yep. I did three.

 

[BraenDead]

How many 1.75" holes do you think I should be able to drill in the back of a standard all-glass 75g tank? I am hoping to get 5 holes on the back but will not do this if it will cause the strength of the tank to decline to a dangerous level.

Thanks for any input.

Bob

 

[aroundtuit]

Is Shank size an issue?

Is Shank size an issue?

I'm looking at ordering a 45 mm bit through Lau on ebay. It says the shank on the bit is 10 mm which comes out to 0.39 inches. That's just over 3/8", the size of the chuck on my drill. Is this an issue or is there enough room to fit the 10 mm shank into my 3/8" drill?

 

[daFrimpster]

3/8 = .375
.39 -.375 = .015
That's just 15 thousandths of an inch. It shouldn't be a problem.

 

[aquamanco]

Well thanks for starting this thread. Got my bits from Lau++
and bulkheads. I'm ready to drill. ALL NEED IS THE TIME GET IT DONE.

 

[aquamanco]

Well thanks for starting this thread. Got my bits from Lau++
and bulkheads. I'm ready to drill. ALL NEED IS THE TIME GET IT DONE.

 

[aquamanco]

Now how that double post ? Sorry

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

Hey! Thanks for the triple post ... errr... I mean bump.

 

[BraenDead]

Well, after drilling 12 holes (8mm) of the 60 I will be cutting to make slots for an external overflow, I can say the following:
- using a drill press makes it much easier
- 1100 RPM's cuts much better than 620 RPM's
- definately use a piece of tape on the back side (duct or something similarly sticky and wide)
- drilling the holes is really quick. The long part is prepping each hole (I'm getting rather tired)

Bob

 

[JustOneMoreTank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6773273#post6773273 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BraenDead
Well, after drilling 12 holes (8mm) of the 60 I will be cutting to make slots for an external overflow, I can say the following:
- using a drill press makes it much easier
- 1100 RPM's cuts much better than 620 RPM's
- definately use a piece of tape on the back side (duct or something similarly sticky and wide)
- drilling the holes is really quick. The long part is prepping each hole (I'm getting rather tired)

Bob

Good job. Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Do you have any pictures of the progress? I would love to see your tank so far.

 

[boofer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6727344#post6727344 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BraenDead
How many 1.75" holes do you think I should be able to drill in the back of a standard all-glass 75g tank? I am hoping to get 5 holes on the back but will not do this if it will cause the strength of the tank to decline to a dangerous level.

Thanks for any input.

Bob

Every hole makes it weaker, but If your worried about integrity, you can silicone acrylic to the inside of the glass you drilled. I ended up with 5 holes in my back pane (36x23 3/8" thick), and used black 1/4" acrylic to strengthen up the glass. Just make sure you seal it good around the bulkhead holes and put enough to paste the acrylic to the back glass. Then just silicone the edges and you should be good.