drilling an aquarium

[christopher1260]

does anyone have advice on drilling a 75 gallon all glass aquarium. it looks like this would be the way to go for me, as i have been researching sumps and would like to try one with my aquarium. i can't really afford a hang on overflow. i was also wondering if you can drill an aquariumabout 1" from the bottom and use 90 degree elbows for the inlet and outlet of your sump. i want to do this because my aquarium has a tempered glass bottom. thanks for the advice.

[Darkangel]

Perhaps not the advice you were looking for but if you have never done this before, I would get some one else to do it. When I had my tank drilled a friend came over and did it for me. I was sure glad because it looked very nerve wracking plus they have equipment that does a better job then a hand drill will do. While you could drill it that low, my opinion would be to drill it up much higher. That way should something happen to the bulkhead fitting the tank will not empty completely onto the floor. Just my two cents worth.

[slipknottin]

you could drill near the top, but you dont want to use just an elbow pointing to the surface.

you need to create a durso standpipe through the back, and use a mini overflow box.

Ive drilled quite a few holes in tanks and have never had a problem... i just use a hand drill and a diamond bit.

[Darkangel]

A diamond bit works fine for a small hole. When I had my tank drilled the hole was 3 inches across. To the best of my knowledge they do not make bits that large. You need to use a special hole saw with a powdered cutting compound. If you are drilling it to use an overflow and sump you want as large a hole as is reasonably possible to do. You want it to be able to handle whatever flow you put through it. Besides a 75 gallon is an expensive tank and for the $20 bucks or so it would cost, if they break it they have to replace it.

[slipknottin]

what on earth do you need a 3" hole for? a 2 1/2" bulkhead will flow like 4000GPH+

:confused:

Ive used the steel bits with the diamond grit too... not that different.

For the record, i have never heard of any LFS, glass driller, or glass shop that would take credibility if the tank breaks while drilling.

[Darkangel]

That was the size hole I was told to use. That was why I used it. As for the driller taking resposibility, the one time I had it done he did. I do not know if that is normal or not. I would however think if I was paying for the service they would be responsible for any mistake they made. Just what I would expect anyways. As I said, it was my opinion and it still is. christopher1260 was asking for advice and that was mine. Yours is different which is the reason for posting on this type of forum so that one can get differing views of the same thing. He or she can take what everybody says and decide how to procede from there. Later.

[Dabbler II]

If you are looking on how to drill a tank here is a site where he sells the drills including the 3" you are looking for.

http://www.wetdryfilter.com/drilling_holes.htm
:)