Drilling rocks while in the tank!

ecajoe · Apr 3, 2016

I made a quick rig so I can drill in the tank. Gave me w good idea to make something better but. Someone on Facebook thinks that the calcium carbonate is bad for the tank. I can only giggle

Colin Chaplin · Apr 3, 2016

Stupid idea, stress to tank inhabitants, if the drill bit caught and started whizzing your rock around the tank or even chipped the bit.

cilyjr · Apr 3, 2016

Don't slip.

I see a bunch of chances to chip/ crack the tank as well if not very careful.

ecajoe · Apr 3, 2016

Colin Chaplin said:
Stupid idea, stress to tank inhabitants, if the drill bit caught and started whizzing your rock around the tank or even chipped the bit.

First if you know how a drill works you dial the clutch down to the lowest setting. Second live rock is actually very soft compared to regular rocks.

So basically people will buy rock that's been exploded off the reefs. Fish caught using chemicals and needing to make a hole in a rock that you can get out is unacceptable ?

Colin Chaplin · Apr 3, 2016

Sorry was that a battery drill or electric drill, did they use the hammer setting, in the clip you see the other rocks being disturbed as well, surely it would of been a lot safer to remove the rock and drill it out side of the tank if so required, rather that risk a disaster in the tank.

ecajoe · Apr 3, 2016

Yes a cordless drill. The vid was just a test I had to do it on a rock I can't pull out. An not on hammer just screw setting set so low it would lock and did a few times not saying it's a daily thing but if needed there's a way. I really needed it for a large frail birdsnest with a small foot that needs to be pulled and cut monthly

jakub · Apr 3, 2016

I hope is not on impact or it will pond the rock right threw the bottom of the tank

ecajoe · Apr 3, 2016

jakub said:
I hope is not on impact or it will pond the rock right threw the bottom of the tank

Screw setting with clutch @1

Duke4Life · Apr 3, 2016

Brave and crazy lol

pondman · Apr 3, 2016

My question why would you want to?

ecajoe · Apr 3, 2016

pondman said:
My question why would you want to?

Read the previous post

Colin Chaplin · Apr 3, 2016

Have you done it yet then, like to see the result with photo of bird-nest ?.

MikeyB · Apr 3, 2016

I thought about doing something like that myself once. My only issue was getting a drill bit that was long enough for my tank. I'd need like a 2 foot drill bit lol

Lionfish Lair · Apr 3, 2016

I think we actually DONT agree with catching fish with chemicals or bombing the reefs for rock.....

redfishbluefish · Apr 3, 2016

My only question is that it looks like a wood bit....why not use a masonry bit, it would go smoother?

Jlobes · Apr 3, 2016

ive seen this done before, with much better success. still confused on why this is such a great/important idea. i find it to be a bit stressful and risky, but to each their own.

few tips if this is the route you insist on going:
masonry bit
start drill before placing bit on rock, high rpm slow drilling.

Jlobes · Apr 3, 2016

MikeyB said:
I thought about doing something like that myself once. My only issue was getting a drill bit that was long enough for my tank. I'd need like a 2 foot drill bit lol

pretty easy to find

MikeyB · Apr 3, 2016

Jlobes said:
pretty easy to find

This was a long time ago, I'm sure i could of found one if i put in some real effort

I Just ended up breaking off coral and using the glue/putty combo to secure frags. I guess for him though it wouldnt work as he wants to be able to remove the coral and frag it

ecajoe · Apr 4, 2016

MikeyB said:
This was a long time ago, I'm sure i could of found one if i put in some real effort I Just ended up breaking off coral and using the glue/putty combo to secure frags. I guess for him though it wouldnt work as he wants to be able to remove the coral and frag it

Yea I need to be able to pull it out and it's hard to mount. It's a birdsnest about grapefruit size with a base the size of a pencil. Hard to deal with basically

Salty1962 · Apr 4, 2016

ecajoe said:
First if you know how a drill works you dial the clutch down to the lowest setting. Second live rock is actually very soft compared to regular rocks.

So basically people will buy rock that's been exploded off the reefs. Fish caught using chemicals and needing to make a hole in a rock that you can get out is unacceptable ?

Depending on the rock you have, most is VERY hard. I had to use a hammer drill on mine to drill holes for frags and it still was a chore

Not worth the chance of cracking your tank or messing up corals you already have in the tank. JMO