Drilling a 75 gallon aqueon tank

MysticBlue · Jul 28, 2022

Hey guys so this is my first time drilling an aquarium so I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing. I pretty sure it’s not tempered glass but it’s a 50/50 chance so if it is oh well no loss. What is the key to drilling into glass? Is it as hard as it sounds? And how do I connect the plumbing to the whole I drilled?

mehaffydr · Jul 28, 2022

As long as its nottempered its fairly simple the key is to keep it wet and go SLOW SLOW SLOW. Don't push hard on the dril or get in a hurry and you should be fine. For plumbing you use a bulkhead. Make sure you get the right size hole saw for the bulkhead your using. And make sure its a Glass cutting hole saw.

Homers · Jul 28, 2022

MysticBlue said:
Hey guys so this is my first time drilling an aquarium so I’m not exactly sure what I’m doing. I pretty sure it’s not tempered glass but it’s a 50/50 chance so if it is oh well no loss. What is the key to drilling into glass? Is it as hard as it sounds? And how do I connect the plumbing to the whole I drilled?

Never drilled a tank but have drilled a lot of other stuff with hole saws with no pilot. I would get a wood holesaw the same size and cut a hole in a small piece of plywood or a board and use that as a jig that way your bit doesn't walk on the glass and u can also put water in the hole to help lube and keep saw cool while cutting. Again just stuff i have done in the past with holesaws. I will be drilling a 75 gallon myself pretty soon. Did see a neat video to tell if its tempered or not with a phone/laptop and polarized glasses. Go on YouTube and look up using polarized glasses and laptop to see if glass is tempered. I saw that method on another aquarium site and had to look myself.

MysticBlue · Jul 29, 2022

So i bought all the supplies I needed today. I’m still not sure if it’s temperd or not I tried the polarized sunglasses thing and it didn’t work. I tried it on some glass I know isn’t temperd and all it did was get a little dark but it didn’t black out. Then I tried it on some temperd glass and it did the same thing other than on the temperd it was all rainbow strips type thing so I’m very confused. But at this point I’m just going to say pardon my language what the heck and just drill it lol. Are 75 gallon aqueon tanks usually temperd on the sides? I’m just not sure.

Surf985 · Jul 29, 2022

I THINK that's the PetCo one, right? If so, it should be the same as mine. Tempered SHOULD be labeled, and the sides usually aren't on those models - just the bottom. highly doubt you'll have any issues.

As others stated, turn the hose on it and let it run over the glass. And to emphasize mehaffydr, don't push on it too hard. Easier than I expected. just make sure you measure for the overflow box before you do it. Mine was like 1/16 too high and I had to cut the box lid for it to fit. worked. but annoying for such a small margin of error. BUT the water line is as high as literally possible so that's a plus lol

bigbugoutfitters · Jul 29, 2022

The new aqueon tanks are tempered glass. I learned the hard way. Ended up getting a lifereef overflow. Very happy with it.

bigbugoutfitters · Jul 29, 2022

Its a pretty recent switch to tempered glass.

MysticBlue · Jul 30, 2022

bigbugoutfitters said:
Its a pretty recent switch to tempered glass.

How recent? I bought this tank in 2020

MysticBlue · Jul 30, 2022

Surf985 said:
I THINK that's the PetCo one, right? If so, it should be the same as mine. Tempered SHOULD be labeled, and the sides usually aren't on those models - just the bottom. highly doubt you'll have any issues.

As others stated, turn the hose on it and let it run over the glass. And to emphasize mehaffydr, don't push on it too hard. Easier than I expected. just make sure you measure for the overflow box before you do it. Mine was like 1/16 too high and I had to cut the box lid for it to fit. worked. but annoying for such a small margin of error. BUT the water line is as high as literally possible so that's a plus lol

The very bottom panel is labeled temperd glass but the other sides are not. And like I said I already know the bottom is temperd. If the other sides are temperd isn’t it required to have a label or a mark saying it’s temperd?

Surf985 · Jul 30, 2022

MysticBlue said:
...If the other sides are temperd isn’t it required to have a label or a mark saying it’s temperd?

I was under the impression that, yes, they're supposed to label it. But as others seem to state, apparently these may have changed recently and their own shop notes that they don't really know.

cdnco2004 · Jul 30, 2022

I have 2 75 gallon Aqueon tanks, drilled both this year. No problem. Did three holes, 2 for overflow and 1 for return. There are some decent YouTube videos that I watched. It was pretty simple. Just remember to rock the bit not press hard straight down.

Jedi1199 · Jul 30, 2022

My new 135g that I got from Aquarium Design, has clear visible stickers on every tempered glass panel.

Of course, I bought this tank "reef ready" so, predrilled, and overflows installed.

MysticBlue · Jul 30, 2022

Surf985 said:
I was under the impression that, yes, they're supposed to label it. But as others seem to state, apparently these may have changed recently and their own shop notes that they don't really know.

Ya like why do they not keep track of these things? It will help us reefers for sure lol.

MysticBlue · Jul 30, 2022

Jedi1199 said:
My new 135g that I got from Aquarium Design, has clear visible stickers on every tempered glass panel.

Of course, I bought this tank "reef ready" so, predrilled, and overflows installed.

That’s why I was thinking it was a requirement. The bottom has one but the others do not so I guess I’ll see lol.

N1tew0lf1212 · Jul 30, 2022

Reached out to them personally it is not required by them but is required by all other glass facilities. They use what they have so it could be just tempered bottom or tempered all the way around. A stamp is not required from what they told me and to drill at my own risk.....also told me to do the polarized test to know for sure. Just a heads up when in doubt unless you are willing and able to buy a new tank dont drill it without doing the test and knowing for sure. They have been doing this more and more when the 1.00 per gallon sales go on to meet demand. When things slow back down they start going back to bottom being tempered only so it is hit or miss and with that sale just ending i wouldnt chance it.

Homers · Jul 30, 2022

N1tew0lf1212 said:
Reached out to them personally it is not required by them but is required by all other glass facilities. They use what they have so it could be just tempered bottom or tempered all the way around. A stamp is not required from what they told me and to drill at my own risk.....also told me to do the polarized test to know for sure. Just a heads up when in doubt unless you are willing and able to buy a new tank dont drill it without doing the test and knowing for sure. They have been doing this more and more when the 1.00 per gallon sales go on to meet demand. When things slow back down they start going back to bottom being tempered only so it is hit or miss and with that sale just ending i wouldnt chance it.

What other test is there. Op said he tried the polarized thing and wasnt sure. I also have a tank that i have to drill when i get home in several weeks so im following this along.

N1tew0lf1212 · Jul 30, 2022

Homers said:
What other test is there. Op said he tried the polarized thing and wasnt sure. I also have a tank that i have to drill when i get home in several weeks so im following this along.

So the key to this is only looking through the glasses while they are held in your hand if you twist it one way and your not sure use the same lens and turn it the opposite way. It should black out. I will see if i can find the video i used that helped a lot. You have to make sure it is a true lcd screen not anything else i ended up using an older tv to be 100% sure and better area for using the sunglasses. If i find the video from youtube ill share.

N1tew0lf1212 · Jul 30, 2022

Here is a good video for everyone just in case there are any questions

Homers · Jul 30, 2022

N1tew0lf1212 said:
So the key to this is only looking through the glasses while they are held in your hand if you twist it one way and your not sure use the same lens and turn it the opposite way. It should black out. I will see if i can find the video i used that helped a lot. You have to make sure it is a true lcd screen not anything else i ended up using an older tv to be 100% sure and better area for using the sunglasses. If i find the video from youtube ill share.

Yeah i watched a video on yt the other day because i had never heard of that. I wont be home for several weeks to try it.