is it possible to drill a running tank

[blackangler]

my 45 gallon is having probs with its overflow. ie it nevers stays equal, so i was thining about drilling my tank where it is. can i just take out about half the water and drill it, attach the bulk head and then fill it back up with a box of corse. if this would work, what kinds of drill bits do i need, and outher supplies like that.

[Paidbychrist0825]

if the tank is gflass, i wouldnt try to drill it. Acrylic might be another story. the glass will chip and shard, and you run the possibility of that getting into your water column. if its acrylic, it kinmda just peels off in twisty bits, kinda like wood. I dont know what kind of tank it is, so thats the bwest advive ive got:)

[Condiman]

Paidbychrist0825, is right on one thing the glass paticles can fall into your water. another reason why I would not recamend doin it on a running tank is because when drilling glass it needs to stay cool other wise it will crack. Where I work we drill with diamond bits and cool them with cold vanishing oil. I hope this helps you in your decision.

[blackangler]

yeah its a glass tank
well thanks anyway

[Macbeth417]

Hey now hey now not so fast...

You are all correct im warning of the dangers of drilling a full tank, especially since the glass will have the force of the water stressing it when you drill. However, it is not something you can't do, just something that is risky and for which you must take a good deal of caution. You can drill a whole with a full tank, though I don't recommend you do so, nonetheless here is some information for you.

First off you must find out if the panel you wish to drill is temperd or not. If its AGA thier site list which are and which aren't. Many are only tempered on the bottom. If it is tempered I really really would not try it as you wont succeed without cracking it.

Second I would use a small rotery tool(dremel) at high RPM (higher the better IMO) and cut out a circle (diamond or silcone carbide tip) and not a drill, as you will be putting less force the glass at any given time. Also, by not using the drill you are not going to torque to edges of the hole and creat flakes or larger fragments of glass. I wouldn't stress the small dust from a dremel as it isn't any worse than the sand on the bottom of you tank.

Now I dont get exactly what you are doing here, drilling a larger hole in one of the overflows? In what way are things uneven I am unclear here?

Here are some directions from the famous RC thread: " How I drilled my 20gal tank, fully setup with fish already in it"

The original post reads as follows:

Originally posted by thomor25
Materials required are:
Dremmel of some brand
2 dremmel bits #7134 and #7103
paper towel or tissues
scotch tape
a spray bottle with the pump handles like some bathroom cleaning stuff comes with(but buy one that is clean don't use an empty cleaning bottle)
sharpie marker
and the bulkhead you are using (I used a 1" bulkhead)

Additional notes:
You might have to buy a new collet for your dremmel to fit the small shaft of the drill pieces but I just wrapped scoth tape around the end of it till it was tight in the dremmel tool.


How I did it:

I first got everything I'd need together in one spot.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02004.JPG


take the gasket from the bulkhead and trace the inside circle onto the glass. then take the round tipped bit and start in the middle and move the dremmel around like you are making a tiny circle, this will help incase the dremmel bend. If you bend the dremmel since the hole is bigger then the bit you won't crack the glass.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02005.JPG


Keep going till you go all the way through making sure you spay water on the bit with the spray bottle.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02006.JPG


Once the hole has been made switch to the tapered dremmel bit. Start in the hole and work upwards pushing and pulling the dremmel in and out of the hole moving it about 1/4 an inch in each direction but make sure you spay it with water. After getting to the top of the circle you made with the sharpie use the marker as a guide and cut through the marker with the drill bit. Make sure you tape some tissue or paper towel to catch the wate rthat is running down the side of the tank from cooling the bit down.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02008.JPG


Keep working your way arounf the tank.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02010.JPG


When you get to the top be careful and don't push as hard, do it slowly and just apply as little pressure as possible and it will pop out.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02011.JPG


Bulkhead installed
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02012.JPG




And my fishtank finished.
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/?i=1

If you can drain a large amout of water and are willing to go slow and take the time, you can do it as long as it is not tempered, but once again I wont pay for your tank if you goof it.

:wink:

[Macbeth417]

Now here is another option, add a U tube siphon over flow.

Here is one built by AquaNight, he did great job is showing how he made it.

Originally posted by AquaNight
I built my overflow boxes modeled after the lifereef boxes. If you are about 50% handy you can build about 4 of them for about 60 bux.

Acrylic 2x4' sheet is about 35.
1.5" Ptrap adapters 1 per box about 1.00 ea.
1.5" PVC down tube 1 per box about 1.00 ea.
1.5" pvc and fittings for u tubes 1 ea. about 1.00 ea.
TUbe of Weldon 16. I paid 6 bux for.
Tube of plastic fusion Hmm bout 3 bux.

All can be bought at Home Depot except for the Weldon.
A call to IPS Corp. will get you a distributer in your town.

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/aquanight/01overflowpieces2.jpg

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/aquanight/040overflowout.jpg

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/aquanight/03overflowside.jpg

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/aquanight/06overflowtubeapart.jpg

http://img36.photobucket.com/albums/v109/aquanight/07overflowutube.jpg

[blackangler]

ok

i am drilling it because i dont like the looks, and the way my u tube overflow works.

[Macbeth417]

Welp, hope my post covered your question well enough. If you have other questions just hit me up and be sure to post some picture so you can stick your tongue out at Condi and PaidbyChrist...


Fear DIY'ers grrrrr 8)


p.s. Make sure you make the right size holes:
Ie Schedule 40 bulkheads have set size holes. It's not 1" hole for 1" bulkhead.

Schedule 40:

BulkHead / Holes Size
1/2" (1-1/4")
3/4" (1-3/4")
1" (1-3/4" hole)
1-1/2" (2-3/8" hole)

-Erik

[Condiman]

Hey I was just being safe that is all because the glass can crack easly. I never said that he couldnt do it I have broken many pieces of glass in my day but I would not recamend someone doing this if it is there first time I would have them maybe go out and purchase a few scrap pieces to practice on first so they get the hang of it. Cause I dont think anyone wants there tank all over the floor.

[Macbeth417]

I was just harrassing you Condi, :lol:

I quote, "You can drill a whole with a full tank, though I don't recommend you do so, nonetheless here is some information for you." & "... you can do it as long as it is not tempered, but once again I wont pay for your tank if you goof it."

-Erik

[Paidbychrist0825]

Hey. i intendt to DIY the crap out of my 55. i was just stating that glass likes to shatter and shard.... grumble grumble. O well, such is the risk in staying safe. HEy will, do indeed post pics of your tank. i wanna see how it works out. and no tongue stick outing... lol j/k