Drilled Tank issues

[Shane-o]

So I finally got around to starting my reef tank and decided to drill it out and one of the holes somewhat blew out at the end on the inside of the tank... I have no idea why.. I had it taped, used water and never used pressure let the bit do all of the work.. Theres no cracks just that piece chipped.. I put the bulk head on last night hand tightened and no leak but, still worried. You guys think it will be fine or should I look for a new 55 gallon tank?

Also could I just turn the bulkhead around where the gasket would be on the outside of the tank?

 

[GHill762]

I was under the impression that almost all 55g tanks are guaranteed to be tempered.. ?

 

[sherita]

I also thought most all 55's were tempered. At least the three I have tried to drill most certainly were.

OP, that "blowout" isn't a crack, that tank is tempered. And there is no way I would trust it to not rupture the rest of the way, from the looks of that hole and spidering.

 

[Fatmike92]

No no. Keep the gasket on the inside for sure. When I drilled my tank the same thing happened

I think you should be fine. If you can seal the edge of the bulkhead after you tighten it then you should be perfectly fine. I seal all my bulkheads just because it puts my mind at ease lol.

You should be good though.

If I'm wrong don't tell at me!

 

[AZDesertRat]

As long as the gasket is on the flange side of the bulkhead it does not matter if its inside or outside. You could turn the bulkhead around with the nut inside and flange outside.
https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/eq...iscussion/34973-installing-bulkhead-tips.html

 

[fragmatic]

1st.. There are many people that make tanks. I know of no rules that say any size has to be tempered. I could be wrong.

Here is my take on your tank drilled and chipped at the inside flange. If your rubber gasket is some larger than the chip and if you think the rubber is able to confirm to the shape of the chip, you may not have a problem. You will need to make a decision on that observation. In any case I would fill it with tap water and wait a couple of days and check for any drips. I have a 20 long (pretty thin) that I had crack out to the edge seam on one side. I simply removed my bulkhead connector and coated the glass in that area with silicone aquarium cement and it has never had a problem, but it does concern me. From what I can see in the picture you don't have much of a flange chip. Many of the drill jobs I have done or helped with had a least some flange type chipping. I'm thinking by the picture that is less than half the width of the rubber gasket. If so, I wouldn't worry, as long as it doesn't drip any. It doesn't take near as much contact pressure to hold water as many think.

I hope this helps.

 

[Kworker]

I drilled my 55. Not tempered. Granted the one I'm using was put together in the early 90s

 

[Fatmike92]

1st.. There are many people that make tanks. I know of no rules that say any size has to be tempered. I could be wrong.

Here is my take on your tank drilled and chipped at the inside flange. If your rubber gasket is some larger than the chip and if you think the rubber is able to confirm to the shape of the chip, you may not have a problem. You will need to make a decision on that observation. In any case I would fill it with tap water and wait a couple of days and check for any drips. I have a 20 long (pretty thin) that I had crack out to the edge seam on one side. I simply removed my bulkhead connector and coated the glass in that area with silicone aquarium cement and it has never had a problem, but it does concern me. From what I can see in the picture you don't have much of a flange chip. Many of the drill jobs I have done or helped with had a least some flange type chipping. I'm thinking by the picture that is less than half the width of the rubber gasket. If so, I wouldn't worry, as long as it doesn't drip any. It doesn't take near as much contact pressure to hold water as many think.

I hope this helps.

Listen to him! He helped me out with all my bulkhead and gasket stuff with his thread

 

[Kworker]

Oh, and sorry for not noticing at first... Nice foxbody

 

[fragmatic]

BTW. .. this tends to happen more if you don't have the dill as 90° as you could. It is a good idea to stand a combination square or two on the tank to look at for reference while drilling in the future, ....more so for some of us than than others. Sometimes I can get things square to the surface, other times things around me out of square can cause my brain to compensate incorrectly. So I tend to stand a combination square head near enough to the project to provide a relationship to 90° while drilling when it is important that I be square, and I consider myself to be more skilled at keeping things square than most.

Regardless, you can normally expect a little flange chipping on exit out the other side of the hole (1/16" to 1/8" or so) as the glass gets too thin and fractures through, without using a drill press.

 

[Shane-o]

Thanks for all the input guys.. The tank is a older tank. I did every tempered test i could find before i cut it.. My sump tank is tempered and could see the dark lines in it through polarized glasses but, could not with the 55 gallon.. I have filled it up.. going to let it sit a day or two and see if it leaks... And thanks for the Foxbody comment.. I've had that mustang since 1985.. They day I bought it off the showroom floor..Boy, that makes me a old guy..lol

 

[ReeferBob]

That little bit of tear out should not matter one bit. Your gasket should seal it fine and I would have no fear of failure around the hole.