Drilling holes in aquarium

[Cooper Butts]

Hello everyone I am planning on drilling holes in my aquarium for an eshopps eclipse overflow box. But my aquarium is roughly 30 years old, could I face cracking my whole aquarium by drilling holes in it because of its age? Thanks!

 

[dantimdad]

Age does make a difference. Over the years you can get scratches and calcium deposits.

That being said, I have drilled very old tanks without issue.

Just be sure it's not tempered and empty and clean.

 

[dantimdad]

OH!

Welcome aboard!

 

[Captain Quint]

@Cooper Butts welcome to R2R!

I've drilled many tanks but not one 30 years of age.

I have no doubt that dantimdad is correct.

I'd probably be too much of a chicken to do it on a 30-year-old piece of glass. lol

Glad to have you aboard and let us know what you do please.

 

[dantimdad]

@Cooper Butts welcome to R2R!

I've drilled many tanks but not one 30 years of age.

I have no doubt that dantimdad is correct.

I'd probably be too much of a chicken to do it on a 30-year-old piece of glass. lol

Glad to have you aboard and let us know what you do please.

It's a pucker moment when you first start on one for sure. As with most drilling the first 10 seconds and last 5 are the worst.

 

[Coralreefer1]

To R2R!
Glad your here, and best of luck to you!
Be careful when drilling a tank because, more often than not, I’ve seen the end result not what it was intended to be!

 

[ca1ore]

Give it a try! If it breaks, celebrate that you got 30 years out of the tank and now have practiced for the new tank LOL. I think if it were me, I'd replace the tank anyhow.

 

[Shawn Waldon]

IMO if the aquarium is that old I have a couple questions to think about before drilling.

1. When was the last time the tank was recaulked?
2. What would be the cost to replace the tank?

If the cost was manageable to replace it then I would just go with that. Honestly if it is a concern with drilling and you want to keep the aquarium you can go with a HOB style overflow.

 

[Captain Quint]

Give it a try! If it breaks, celebrate that you got 30 years out of the tank and now have practiced for the new tank LOL. I think if it were me, I'd replace the tank anyhow.

Ya know...that is a cool way to look at that. I like it.
___________

@Cooper Butts in the center where you use some form of putty to surround the future hole section I've always used radiator coolant versus water to keep the bit from heating up too much. Takes a bit more time for clean up but I liked that it never overheated.

 

[lapin]

30 years old Hummmm does it have a slate bottom and a metal frame?
And as stated above use lube and back the glass with wood or acrylic