Drilling rocks under water

[regal]

I have seen some really nice aquascape with acrylic rods. My tank has been running for 6 years and it is quite tall (36"). I would like to pile my rocks higher with acrylic rods but taking the rocks out to drill them is out of the question. Is it wise to use a coreless drill and a long masonry bit like a 24" long to drill them under water? I need to keep the coreless device out of the water of course. What do you guys think?

 

[chinatown]

gl with the debri and dust.

 

[KathyC]

I'd worry the vibration would crack the tank.
Ever get a drill stuck in a rock and the rock rotates around?....oh, not good

 

[jay1335]

Im with kathy on that one!! Why not get a few beers and a few friends and take the rocks out and redo it?

 

[InfernoST]

Im with kathy on that one!! Why not get a few beers and a few friends and take the rocks out and redo it?

+1
Take lots of pics so you can almost get it back to the way you had it.

 

[Mattl22]

Very bad idea just what Kathy said will most likely happen


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[MO~IDOL]

I'd worry the vibration would crack the tank.
Ever get a drill stuck in a rock and the rock rotates around?....oh, not good

what Kat said and the debris & dust will end up a cloudy tank!
I drilled a few pieces lay on a plastic bin cover on the floor cracked the rock and the cover with too much pressure.

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

+1 verry bad idea...

 

[ecvernon]

not a good idea. the only drilling under water i would do is to insert a frag plug

 

[michael Jack]

All around bad Idea

 

[regal]

Thank you all for the suggestions. The rock that I am thinking of drilling has been in the tank for 5 years and I am sure at this point, it is frozen to the rest of the rock. It is a large piece also probably weight 20-30lbs. I do have concerns about all the risks that were mentioned here. I will find some other ways then. Thanks again for the recommendation.:inlove:

 

[albano]

The rock that I am thinking of drilling has been in the tank for 5 years and I am sure at this point, it is frozen to the rest of the rock.

IMO, except for the possibility of some corals growing/joining the rocks together...they will not be 'frozen' together.
I have taken down many tanks, older than that, with no rocks 'frozen' together.


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[smoq]

Not a good idea. Imagine the long drill bit stuck in the rock and that rock hitting your glass.

 

[jaa1456]

I wouldn't imagine them being stuck together either, I took a tank down with close to 400lbs of live rock that was running for 12 years. No problems. I would never drill inside the tank, besides the drill bit getting stuck what if the vibration causes an avalanche of your rocks.