Drilled my tank and it chipped... Still usable?

[miltonkl]

So I'm trying to upgrade to a 75G and haven't seen any good options locally so I picked up an Aqueon and decided to drill it myself. Yesterday I finally got around to doing the drilling. Had a hose on it the whole time, put 0 pressure and each of the 4 holes turned out slightly chipped on both the inside and outside of the tank:

No fracturing that I can see, just the chipping. Not sure what else I could have done. My driveway has a slight slope so I'm guessing I wasn't quite at the correct angle or something.

Is this safe to use as long as the gasket from the bulkhead covers the chipping fully on the inside?

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

you gotta risk it for the Biscuit in this diy game..

 

[fishguy242]

hi, can you take a more straight on pic ?

 

[Nonya]

It's fine. Next time drill both sides and don't use so much pressure.

 

[exnisstech]

hmm that looks bad. Even the inside of the hole is jagged. I've only drill one tank and it was nice and smooth so I suspect your bit is the cause. Even my nice smooth holes I had a little trouble sealing with the bulk heads so I would be hesitant to use this tank. If you decide to use it I would probably use some silicone sealer between the gasket and glass to help fill in the chips. I know people say no sealer on bulkheads but I have used it in the past on pesky bulkheads that wanted to seep.

 

[WVNed]

Yes, you can use it if the bulkhead gaskets are wide enough to seal and it doesn't crack when you tighten them.
Yes silicone might help. Leave alone for the entire dry time after you apply it.

 

[miltonkl]

hmm that looks bad. Even the inside of the hole is jagged. I've only drill one tank and it was nice and smooth so I suspect your bit is the cause. Even my nice smooth holes I had a little trouble sealing with the bulk heads so I would be hesitant to use this tank. If you decide to use it I would probably use some silicone sealer between the gasket and glass to help fill in the chips. I know people say no sealer on bulkheads but I have used it in the past on pesky bulkheads that wanted to seep.

The inside of the holes are incredibly smooth, no chips or tears or jaggedness whatsoever. Silicone does seem like the simple solution IF there are leaks which I don't think there would be. My only concern is in these causing cracks down the road even though there aren't any now.

It's fine. Next time drill both sides and don't use so much pressure.

Not sure what you mean by drill both sides but as far as pressure, I literally don't think I could have applied less pressure. All I did was squeeze the trigger and let the drill pull itself down as it went.

hi, can you take a more straight on pic ?

My initial pics didn't really capture the chipping/tearing except at this angle so I deleted them but I can try again from that angle after work.

 

[fishguy242]

tape a white piece of paper over opposite side of hole when taking pics,
looking for runs,hairline cracks , if all clammed should be good...

 

[X-37B]

If the inside is smooth then your fine. The gasket seals from the inside. Just dont over tighten.

 

[Koh23]

You are good to go, if your gasket had larger outside "part" and also your bulkhead....

Enough rubber and plastic "meat" in outside diameter and you can make holes with hammer

 

[miltonkl]

You are good to go, if your gasket had larger outside "part" and also your bulkhead....

Enough rubber and plastic "meat" in outside diameter and you can make holes with hammer

Hmm... maybe I'll try that next time. Results might be the same. lol

 

[DJF]

Should be good- just a heads up that Aqueon doesn’t guarantee that their back or side panels aren’t tempered. (They use “what is available”)

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I agree with the others say it will be good. Just make sure the gasket covers the whole area. A slight coat of silicone will help but don’t over tight or the gasket will squeeze out.

 

[X-37B]

I agree with the others say it will be good. Just make sure the gasket covers the whole area. A slight coat of silicone will help but don’t over tight or the gasket will squeeze out.

I have done this with all my systems for over 30 years and never had a leaker.
I cover the rubber gasket with a thin layer of silicone and place the bulkhead in place and tighten with only a small turn. You want the silicone to be visible around the gasket. Let sit for 24hrs and your good to go. Hand tighten the nut and your good. A small amonut of silicone around the edge of the gasket means its sealed.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I think you can make it work.

Why not fill the tank with RO/DI and fully run it for a few days. If you are good then, salt water can only help (i.e., a little salt-creep is your friend).

 

[Nonya]

By both sides I meant drill the inside and outside partially before drilling all the way through. It's like scoring plywood with utility knife before cutting with a circular saw to reduce chipping.

 

[miltonkl]

I think you can make it work.

Why not fill the tank with RO/DI and fully run it for a few days. If you are good then, salt water can only help (i.e., a little salt-creep is your friend).

I plan to water test it as described, but still collecting all of the plumbing pieces. Figured I'd get some feedback in case there was something particular to do before hand since I'm still waiting out parts.

I have done this with all my systems for over 30 years and never had a leaker.
I cover the rubber gasket with a thin layer of silicone and place the bulkhead in place and tighten with only a small turn. You want the silicone to be visible around the gasket. Let sit for 24hrs and your good to go. Hand tighten the nut and your good. A small amonut of silicone around the edge of the gasket means its sealed.

I think I'll go this route. I planned to silicone the PVC threads anyways so I'll just add some to this step, too.

 

[X-37B]

I plan to water test it as described, but still collecting all of the plumbing pieces. Figured I'd get some feedback in case there was something particular to do before hand since I'm still waiting out parts.



I think I'll go this route. I planned to silicone the PVC threads anyways so I'll just add some to this step, too.

No need to silicone the threads. I never have.
Use teflon tape instead on pipe fittings.
Bulkhead fittings require no teflon tape/silicone ever.

 

[miltonkl]

No need to silicone the threads. I never have.
Use teflon tape instead on pipe fittings.
Bulkhead fittings require no teflon tape/silicone ever.

I won't silicone the bulkhead threads, but the threads of any other threaded connections in the plumbing where water goes through the connection will be. People recommend teflon all the time but from what I've seen, it is not meant for PVC. It's meant for metal fittings. Silicone is an easy aquarium safe alternative sealant choice for the threads.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I won't silicone the bulkhead threads, but the threads of any other threaded connections in the plumbing where water goes through the connection will be. People recommend teflon all the time but from what I've seen, it is not meant for PVC. It's meant for metal fittings. Silicone is an easy aquarium safe alternative sealant choice for the threads.

T.tape is used on plumbing pvc all the time and sprinkles fittings. Its used on both metal and pvc alike