to drill or not to drill?

[meredith1985]

I just bought a 40gal tank and stand for just $50. I would like to drill it and put and internal overflow in it. All the info I have read says you can't drill tempered glass. I'm inclined to believe this. My problem comes with how to tell of its tempered or not. If it is, then what are my other options for an overflow? I have done the external overflow with that awful tube that you have to prime every time you turn around..... that sucked and it was loud. I'm trying to avoid that.

Thanks for the help and time!

 

[ca1ore]

All the info I have read says you can't drill tempered glass. I'm inclined to believe this. My problem comes with how to tell of its tempered or not.

Not an 'inclination' it's a FACT! Most 40B I've had were not tempered. You can look at it through a pair of polarized sunglasses and if you see that wavy appearance to the glass then it's tempered.

 

[meredith1985]

Thanks. I tried that and didn't see anything different. I think I'm going to try it. The worst that could happen, it would break and I gotta get a new one.

 

[davesolo29]

I've never seen a breeder that is tempered either.

 

[Pife]

I've seen several of them drilled. If you go slow and press evenly I think you will do great. Good Luck!

 

[meredith1985]

Thanks guys! It will be this weekend before we give it a shot. Fingers crossed!

 

[hijinks]

Are you drilling the back or bottom?

 

[Sagan]

For what it's worth, if it is tempered, don't try and drill it. It can be done but only if you have all the equipment and have done it before, you're likely to fail (90%+). For those that say it is impossible, it's not. My shower door (tempered) had to be fix, and instead of sending a new $1500 piece of glass they sent a guy and he drilled a new hole.

 

[paperdesk]

I just drilled my 90 gallon tank. First time to try such a thing and it went well. Go for it!

 

[ca1ore]

For what it's worth, if it is tempered, don't try and drill it. It can be done but only if you have all the equipment and have done it before, you're likely to fail (90%+). For those that say it is impossible, it's not. My shower door (tempered) had to be fix, and instead of sending a new $1500 piece of glass they sent a guy and he drilled a new hole.

The only way to cut tempered glass is to anneal it first which involves heating it to remove the stress lines. If your glass panel was cut without annealing then it wasn't tempered in the first place.

 

[meredith1985]

Are you drilling the back or bottom?

Well, I was planning on drilling the bottom for the overflow and the back for the return. I know some people do the back but I don't know anything about the plumbing that goes with that. I have researched different methods but they all have the plumbing going through the bottom or an external overflow.

 

[hijinks]

Well, I was planning on drilling the bottom for the overflow and the back for the return. I know some people do the back but I don't know anything about the plumbing that goes with that. I have researched different methods but they all have the plumbing going through the bottom or an external overflow.

Who makes the aquarium?

 

[meredith1985]

Who makes the aquarium?

I don't know. Got it off craigslist. No stickers, tags or any identifiable markings.

 

[hijinks]

I don't know. Got it off craigslist. No stickers, tags or any identifiable markings.

Best idea to find out is used the polarized glasses truck to see f the bottom is tempered.

 

[Reefvet]

I just bought a Tetra/Marineland 40B at PETCO during the $1 a gallon sale. It's got a bright orange sticker in the middle of the bottom that says "Tempered glass do not drill."

So do I assume it's just the bottom or all of the tank ?

I don't think I'm going to try and find out. HOB skimmer on the frag tank should be fine.

 

[cnreef]

I just bought a Tetra/Marineland 40B at PETCO during the $1 a gallon sale. It's got a bright orange sticker in the middle of the bottom that says "Tempered glass do not drill."

So do I assume it's just the bottom or all of the tank ?

I don't think I'm going to try and find out. HOB skimmer on the frag tank should be fine.

I'm almost positive that it is just the bottom that is tempered. I think you can google search it as well to confirm.

 

[synapse2]

I would assume because of the sticker all sides of the aquarium glass is tempered not just the bottom.

 

[hijinks]

I just bought a Tetra/Marineland 40B at PETCO during the $1 a gallon sale. It's got a bright orange sticker in the middle of the bottom that says "Tempered glass do not drill."

So do I assume it's just the bottom or all of the tank ?

I don't think I'm going to try and find out. HOB skimmer on the frag tank should be fine.

Yes it's just the bottom