drilling older glass tank... yes/no??

[Trevdawg]

So i see plenty of topics on how to drill the glass and what not...

But i am curious about drilling this tank i got that is atleast 12/15 years old. It is glass and im afraid is it cracking due to age.
It has an overflow that hangs off the back. so i want to install the black overflow wall in the corner and drill 2 holes, return and supply. I am just nervous of it cracking from being old.I am going to reseal it since it is empty, why not drill into it too??

Any thoughts??

 

[Jake1]

What size tank is it? How thick of glass? Really I don't see much of a problem if you take it real slow like you should.

 

[OurReef]

I'm in the process of drilling a 75g that is 10+ years old. One hole down two more to go,

 

[Lokii_37]

It terms of the glass aging it shouldn't make a difference old or new. If you know it's not tempered go ahead and drill it

 

[Trevdawg]

I love these quick responses.
What I'm gunna do is let it dry out and then take it to the local fish store to drill it. And try to have it so if they break it.... They replace it. Lol

 

[Jake1]

Most LFS will tell you if it brakes it brakes your out of a tank. They will give you your money back and a broken tank. I know the store I work at its 50$ to drill 2 holes and no warranty at all if it brakes while drilling or after its drilled.

 

[Trevdawg]

Most LFS will tell you if it brakes it brakes your out of a tank. They will give you your money back and a broken tank. I know the store I work at its 50$ to drill 2 holes and no warranty at all if it brakes while drilling or after its drilled.

This local fish store practically know me because of all the shopping I do for the tank I work on so I can maybe push for a deal.
I will stop by there tomorrow and ask them. There are 2 local places I will ask.

 

[pciscott]

Make sure it is not tempered there is a trick to look through the glass at a computer screen, I do not know the trick but I can show you what happens when you drill a tempered tank. Since then I have drilled several holes with no problem. I start by taking a piece of thick plastic I drilled with a standard hole saw and use it for a guide. Drill it half way from each side if you have access as the hole will not chip on either side this way.

Bang this is a bad drill job!

Here is a better one making my holes bigger in my Euro Brace for new Sea Swirls.

Guide I made to fit in old 1 3/4 hole

Glued a larger piece on top to hold water in and not make a mess in the house.

Rings of Glass

Finished hole

Old 1" Sea Swirl, and the new smaller version, they work great and hide inside my sofit I made on top of tank.

Soffit that hides 8 Sea Swirls on my almost done 400 and 8 holes drilled in 1/2" Euro Brace the next day after the first tank I drilled for a friend went Bang

Go slow, use plenty of water, easy pressure and it is easy to drill the holes, I drilled 8 holes with 2 bits I got on Ebay and they are pretty Dull now so make sure you have a good bit when you start. If you are worried go by a glass shop and ask them for a scrap. The shop by my house gave me one i practiced on. Good luck and again make sure it is not Tempered!

 

[Trevdawg]

Thank you. Love the pics!!

 

[wakeboardgeek]

Drilling was a lot easier than I thought it would be on my last tank! Good luck!

 

[Trevdawg]

I just found a LFS that carries the bit. So I might try this weekend

 

[OurReef]

Just finished the second hole. Much easier than the first.

 

[Trevdawg]

I have to find where I can get the black plastic piece with precut holes that is the barrier/wall to the overflow.

 

[redfishbluefish]

You first need to determine if the glass is tempered. HERE’s a simple way to determine that.


Second, I would highly recommend a Glass-Holes overflow kit. It comes with everything, including the drill bit to drill the tank.


And finally, drilling glass is easy. Just go slow with no pressure on the drill. Once you've done your first hole, you're an expert!


JMTC

 

[Trevdawg]

Thanks red fish.
I saw a video on YouTube doing the same thing with polarized glasses or 3D glasses. The only problem is, I don't have polarized sunglasses. I tried it with 3D glasses and it appeared to be non tempered.

That link for the overflow kit is what I was looking for, it will save room and be affective. Unlike the traditional over flows that take up a decent amount of tank.
Any advice on how many gph over flow I should use for my 75gallon tank. ..700 or 1500???

 

[Trevdawg]

Well I noticed this chip in the corner. It was filled in and touched up with silicone whenever they resealed the tank.
But I assume if this chip occurred in tempered glass the whole thing would have shattered.... Or am I wrong??

 

[Trevdawg]

Anyone have thoughts on this last comment I made about the chip?

 

[OurReef]

Sorry for the delay, I personally wouldn't trust it to hold water, I have a 37 cube that has a similar chip, frog tank now.

On another note, my first attempt to drill a tank is a success, my 75 is holding water with no cracks or leaking from the bulkheads, tomorrow I fill it full if salt water (saved from water changes) and start getting it set up fully.