Balancing flows

[keddre]

How thick will the glass be? I may have exaggerated the time required . I do my drilling using the garden hose at a trickle held in place with some duct tape or such.

Barely a centimeter

 

[Big G]

Check out the video on BRS on drilling a tank. Best advice: use very little pressure. Let the weight of the drill provide the push. If you push too hard the glass could crack or large chips can happen. Go slow, it will work out nicely. They also sell bulkheads and for "their" bulkheads they provide the suggested drill bit size.

 

[cracker]

that won't take long at all with a new drill bit ! As Big G says don't push down. be real careful when 1st starting. The bit will want to jump around a bit. Some type of guide to hold the bit in place would be nice,but if Ya take your time, it will be just fine. Not as tough as it looks the 1st time.

 

[keddre]

that won't take long at all with a new drill bit ! As Big G says don't push down. be real careful when 1st starting. The bit will want to jump around a bit. Some type of guide to hold the bit in place would be nice,but if Ya take your time, it will be just fine. Not as tough as it looks the 1st time.

I'm not too worried as petco's $/g sale and I can afford a mess up, but I would rather not.

 

[mcarroll]

+1 to all

Rushing is the biggest problem from what I've heard/seen. Standing there with a drill running in the exact same position for 20+ minutes isn't the easiest thing for a human....I think that's why we invented the drill press.

Good luck and don't sweat it too much.

 

[CNDReef]

A nice way to keep water on the bit is using some play dough or plumbers puddy , roll it out to a long cigar and make it into a circle around the area. Fill it with water so the bit is always under water. Another tip is start at a slight angle when drilling glass so it doesn't wobble all over the place.

 

[Big G]

I made a cutting guide out of an old piece of plastic trash can. Clamped it to the glass. "tipped" it a bit like Toomanyfish said, at it worked out great.

 

[keddre]

Somehow I got a crack, but hopefullyit shouldn't matter since it is at the top

 

[keddre]

 

[CNDReef]

Is that a sump?

 

[keddre]

Is that a sump?

Fuge, the water will overflow out when cut off

 

[keddre]

Water test shows this will be a low flow system and to order a larger size for my next fuge; otherwise no leaks, even at that crack

 

[keddre]

I don't know what happened, but spider cracks ran down it when I was putting the plumbing in. Time to get a new tank and try again

 

[Big G]

Looks like you may have gotten too close to the edge of the glass. Though opinions vary, most say to keep at least one diameter or more of the hole you are going to drill away from the edge. Especially with smaller tanks with thin glass.

 

[keddre]

Looks like you may have gotten too close to the edge of the glass. Though opinions vary, most say to keep at least one diameter or more of the hole you are going to drill away from the edge. Especially with smaller tanks with thin glass.

Never heard this rule, thanks. I'm trying again tomorrow

 

[Big G]

You may want to check that bulkhead to see if it is flat. A ruler would be great to do that. A lot of bulkheads are made for water storage tanks that are round. So when they make them they are not so careful to check for flatness. BRS for example, sells some schedule 80 bulkheads that cost more but they are higher production quality: thicker washers, harder plastic, etc. and they also come with 2 soft-ish washers. Those washers by the way, go inside the tank. Just the nut on the outside. Cheers!

 

[DJ Monty]

Consider taking it outside. While drilling glass You need a constant supply of a little water to cool things down. Remember it takes a while to drill thru the glass. The thicker the glass the longer it will take. Would take Ya a couple of hours to drill 3 holes maybe,

I just drilled a 20 gallon to use as a refugium & it took just a few minutes..Whatever size hole cutter you use for the bulkhead, cut the same size hole in a piece of plywood to use as a template & that will stop your cutter sliding around on the glass.. Also make sure you have someone trickle water on the hole saw as you cut.. Don't put pressure on the drill, it will cut under it's own weight.. Good luck & take your time...