Abby's 260
- Large Build
- Thread starter Timfish
- Start date
- Tagged users None
Gumbies R Us
Certified Noob
Following along!
OP
OP
Timfish
Crusty Old Salt
Thank you! It's a Planet Aquarium and it'll be a mixed reef with a BTA island on one end.
OP
OP
Timfish
Crusty Old Salt
Making a big hole in a perfectly good tank.
I'm stting this system up with a low profile drain offset to one side away from from the back. Since it won't have a side to attach it to to keep it in place and a lot of rock setting on top of it, I'm adding a second sheet of glass on the bottom to add additional strength to the bottom.
I prefer to start by making a wood template or jig. Jigs will keep the bit in place and stop it from "walking". If drilling multiple holes a jig helps keep all the holes aligned also. The diamond bit works just as well with wood as glass (no water is required to cool it
)
Sometimes I'll use clamps (use wood on both sides of glass to protect it) but most of the time I use weights like I did here to hold a jig (and hose) in place while drilling.
Reinforcing glass piece with hole.
Silicone and setting the reinforcing piece in place. After it set up a few days I went around the edge with more silicone.
Drilling out the bottom. To keep the bit cool I added about 1/2" of water. The tank is sitting on a hydralic cart, to help keep the bit from chipping when the bit broke through I placed several layers of cardboard compressed under the location of the hole. The cardboard also helped keep water draining out to a minimum after the hole was completed.
Checking to make sure I drilled the right size hole.
I'm stting this system up with a low profile drain offset to one side away from from the back. Since it won't have a side to attach it to to keep it in place and a lot of rock setting on top of it, I'm adding a second sheet of glass on the bottom to add additional strength to the bottom.
I prefer to start by making a wood template or jig. Jigs will keep the bit in place and stop it from "walking". If drilling multiple holes a jig helps keep all the holes aligned also. The diamond bit works just as well with wood as glass (no water is required to cool it
Sometimes I'll use clamps (use wood on both sides of glass to protect it) but most of the time I use weights like I did here to hold a jig (and hose) in place while drilling.
Reinforcing glass piece with hole.
Silicone and setting the reinforcing piece in place. After it set up a few days I went around the edge with more silicone.
Drilling out the bottom. To keep the bit cool I added about 1/2" of water. The tank is sitting on a hydralic cart, to help keep the bit from chipping when the bit broke through I placed several layers of cardboard compressed under the location of the hole. The cardboard also helped keep water draining out to a minimum after the hole was completed.
Checking to make sure I drilled the right size hole.
