Can I Drill a Petco 55g Tank?

[Rcpilot]

After I get moved, I want to use a new 55g tank that I picked up at the Petco sale. It will strictly be a FOWLR so I can have a few non reef safe fishies.

Can you drill these? I get conflicting info with searches here and google. How do you know if it's tempered or not?

I'm not scared to drill tanks. I've drilled many dozens of holes ranging from 1/2" up to 3" . Just don't want to pop a brand new tank if it's got tempered glass.

I'd be drilling a handful of holes in the back glass for an overflow box and maybe some submerged return lines.

Thanks

 

[Hermie]

After I get moved, I want to use a new 55g tank that I picked up at the Petco sale. It will strictly be a FOWLR so I can have a few non reef safe fishies.

Can you drill these? I get conflicting info with searches here and google. How do you know if it's tempered or not?

I'm not scared to drill tanks. I've drilled many dozens of holes ranging from 1/2" up to 3" . Just don't want to pop a brand new tank if it's got tempered glass.

I'd be drilling a handful of holes in the back glass for an overflow box and maybe some submerged return lines.

Thanks

You'll need to check if the glass is tempered first... According to some other threads I read through, Aqueon uses Tempered glass intermittently and there is never a guarantee that they did not use it on any given tank (they use whatever glass they have on hand at the time). To check if it's tempered, you can wear polarized glasses and see if reflections look different than non-tempered glass.

 

[Rcpilot]

You'll need to check if the glass is tempered first... According to some other threads I read through, Aqueon uses Tempered glass intermittently and there is never a guarantee that they did not use it on any given tank (they use whatever glass they have on hand at the time). To check if it's tempered, you can wear polarized glasses and see if reflections look different than non-tempered glass.

How do you check? I read something about polarized sunglasses and a light, but I can't get an accurate step by step description of the tools needed and the process.

Glass for dummies. Would anyone be willing to spell it out for me?

 

[redfishbluefish]

You can check for temper by using polarized sunglasses and most phones/laptops. First let's find if you electronic device has the "right" glass. Put the polarized sunglasses on and while looking at the electronic device (ideally with a white screen), start rotating the device until it goes all black. If it doesn't go black, then you'll need to find another electronic device that does.

Now put the electronic device inside the tank, with the glasses on. Again turn while looking through the glass of the tank until the screen goes black.

IF you see total black with no streaks or blotches, the glass isn't tempered. IF you see streaks/blotches of gray, the glass is tempered.

Hope this helps.

 

[Rcpilot]

You can check for temper by using polarized sunglasses and most phones/laptops. First let's find if you electronic device has the "right" glass. Put the polarized sunglasses on and while looking at the electronic device (ideally with a white screen), start rotating the device until it goes all black. If it doesn't go black, then you'll need to find another electronic device that does.

Now put the electronic device inside the tank, with the glasses on. Again turn while looking through the glass of the tank until the screen goes black.

IF you see total black with not streaks or blotches, the glass isn't tempered. IF you see streaks/blotches of gray, the glass is tempered.

Hope this helps.

Thank you! Yep, that helps.

 

[SeaJay]

Tempered glass will appear splotchy with polarized sunglasses. Anyone who wears them has probably noticed when driving that the side windows are blotchy but the windshield is not. Side windows are tempered, windshield is laminated plate glass.