Can you enlarge a hole in glass bottom?

[SteveG_inDC]

I can't believe this. I just set up my custom 240g tank. It has an internal overflow with holes drilled in the bottom for three 1.5" drains and two 1" returns. I just realized the bulkheads do not fit!! They are really close, but cannot get them to go through the holes. How can a tank manufacturer screw this up? Is there something I can do?

I'm also annoyed because I found that the overflow has a pinhole leak, so water seeps from the tank into the overflow. Not devastating, but still, I paid a lot for this tank. That should not be happening.

 

[Brandon3152134]

I would see about getting a new tank from where u purchased it

 

[joseserrano]

Is this new or used?

 

[KWT]

Is it SAE or metric

 

[JumboShrimp]

The BRS bulkhead videos explain that a manufacturer is almost always going to drill for those black ABS bulkheads (used in 95% of aquariums); if you are trying to use the gray schedule 80 bulkheads, they will be too large (i.e., the drilled holes too small). Let’s pray that this is your situation— then you can just buy ABS bulkheads. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[SteveG_inDC]

The BRS bulkhead videos explain that a manufacturer is almost always going to drill for those black ABS bulkheads (used in 95% of aquariums); if you are trying to use the gray schedule 80 bulkheads, they will be too large (i.e., the drilled holes too small). Let’s pray that this is your situation— then you can just buy ABS bulkheads. Let us know how it turns out!

The manufacturer said they drilled the holes for Schedule 40.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Before attempting to enlarge the holes I would try to find the bulkheads that fit in there.

To answer your first question you can enlarge the holes with a diamond tipped hole saw or diamond coated grinding bit. But that should be your last result.

 

[SteveG_inDC]

Before attempting to enlarge the holes I would try to find the bulkheads that fit in there.

To answer your first question you can enlarge the holes with a diamond tipped hole saw or diamond coated grinding bit. But that should be your last result.

Thanks, I'm switching out my Schedule 80 for SChedule 40s.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Gotcha, I must have missed that you were using sch80...

I used sch80 bulkheads on my tank but definitely weren't a necessity.

 

[rc1626]

Is the bottom glass tempered? Just wanted to ask before you start trying to make holes bigger.

 

[SteveG_inDC]

Is the bottom glass tempered? Just wanted to ask before you start trying to make holes bigger.

Yes, I believe so. The plan is to just to return all my bulkheads (schedule 80) and swap them out with smaller schedule 40. The tank manufacturer says those should fit.

 

[G Santana]

Before attempting to enlarge the holes I would try to find the bulkheads that fit in there.

To answer your first question you can enlarge the holes with a diamond tipped hole saw or diamond coated grinding bit. But that should be your last result.

Sound advice!!!

 

[Waters]

I would also repair that overflow leak now while you can. Depending on where that leak is, if you had a power outage the tank water could continue to flow into the overflow, eventually flooding your sump.