Need Tank Drilled
- Thread starter Galantra
- Start date
- Location
- Howard Beach, Queens
buy the bit and ill do it
- Location
- New Rochelle
Jim did a sump for me. PM "House Of Fish" ...
- Location
- Old Bethpage
Sorry for highjacking your thread, but, can someone tell me what a "closed looped" system is?
- Location
- Marine Park
I've drilled tanks, it's really easy. Most people here will do it for you for free. If not buy a bit and go on youtube. It's REALLY REALLY easy to do.
check
www.glass-holes.com
check
www.glass-holes.com
- Location
- Staten Island
steady hand and let the drill bit do the work don't push a lot..
iconoclast
Tired Member
- Location
- Brooklyn: near brooklyn college
its easy to drill...... except that damn tempered glass! thin tanks like 10g are a pain to drill since the glass is so brittle, they break really easily during and afterwards.
i have bits and a drill too =)
theres plenty of how tos floating around about how to do it and the pitfalls.
generally people only drill the backs of tanks since bottoms are often tempered. i know if you have an AGA their website has info on which tanks have tempered bottoms, i think its midsize and up basically.
PhoenixOne, a closed loop system is like.... having 2 holes in your tank attached to a circulating external pump, one hole for intake the other for output; although you could have multiple for each, its even recommended in case one gets blocked. its another method of introducing flow in your tank. there are devices that can randomize the flow when you have multiple inputs. personally i dont like them, im too afraid of floods. i'd rather have oscillating, wave maker'ed powerheads and surge devices.
i have bits and a drill too =)
theres plenty of how tos floating around about how to do it and the pitfalls.
generally people only drill the backs of tanks since bottoms are often tempered. i know if you have an AGA their website has info on which tanks have tempered bottoms, i think its midsize and up basically.
PhoenixOne, a closed loop system is like.... having 2 holes in your tank attached to a circulating external pump, one hole for intake the other for output; although you could have multiple for each, its even recommended in case one gets blocked. its another method of introducing flow in your tank. there are devices that can randomize the flow when you have multiple inputs. personally i dont like them, im too afraid of floods. i'd rather have oscillating, wave maker'ed powerheads and surge devices.
- Location
- NY
If you're worried or unsure about doing it yourself, let us know. We can do it for you.
Russ
Russ
Galantra - Jim aka House of Laughter did mine and did a great job. He is a pro at drilling. If you are like me and never did it and worried about cracking the glass to me that is the way to go. Leave it to someone who has drilled a thousand holes. Not expensive at all either.
- Location
- Ossining, NY
Steve/all, thanks for the compliments.
Risk/reward - as Swimmer said, up to you - we try and make it reasonable for those who are not willing to take the risk to have it done right by us - it is easy, but as Bob mentioned, if you don't have a steady hand, it's over. And as fast as that recent video from YouTube, it happens in fractions of a second when things go sour.
Let us know.
House
Risk/reward - as Swimmer said, up to you - we try and make it reasonable for those who are not willing to take the risk to have it done right by us - it is easy, but as Bob mentioned, if you don't have a steady hand, it's over. And as fast as that recent video from YouTube, it happens in fractions of a second when things go sour.
Let us know.
House
Solace Aquatics LLC
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Charleston, SC
It is super easy, just take your time and remember to sand the rim after to reduce the chance of stress of fractures.
We drill tanks as well, it only takes a few minutes and we have a drill press that is designed for this operation.
We drill tanks as well, it only takes a few minutes and we have a drill press that is designed for this operation.
- Location
- Staten Island
Truthfully I would just pay someone to do it So you can blame on them if it breaks... And it really is an art ..Keeping you hand steady and knowing when to add pressure and how much...lol..
I have drilled a lot of tanks that were full and some empty.. I think a full tank is easier.... More steady
I have drilled a lot of tanks that were full and some empty.. I think a full tank is easier.... More steady
- Location
- Staten Island
Very carefully lol
iconoclast
Tired Member
- Location
- Brooklyn: near brooklyn college
drilling filled tanks: its best to drain it about at least a cm below the would be hole. attach some sort of container or cup (easiest if someone else holds it in place) and drill away. the other person can squirt water on the area as you drill. putting a heavy tape over the opposite side can help. when done scoop everything up.
i saw some post on a board somewhere about this guy constructing an acrylic box that would go underwater and drill so that he didnt have to drain his tank at all. pretty crazy, i dont know if it ever worked out.
i saw some post on a board somewhere about this guy constructing an acrylic box that would go underwater and drill so that he didnt have to drain his tank at all. pretty crazy, i dont know if it ever worked out.
- Location
- Marine Park
www.glass-holes.com
I drilled my 75 gallon sump and then put like 15 holes into an old tank I had laying around just for fun. I know you're thinking I should have done the 15 practice holes first before trying it on a brand new tank but where would the fun in that be?
I find there is no danger if you expect it to take you 10 minutes to drill the hole. Just keep in mind that you are NOT DRILLING! You are GRINDING your way through glass. Also going slower makes the bit last longer. Use only the weight of the drill. I'm sure you can probably add some pressure but why? If you can drill a tank in 3 minutes good for you. I can drill one in 10 minutes and I never worry about anything bad happening. Maybe I could do it in 3 but why risk it? What am I going to do that's so great in the extra 7 minutes?
It's really fun to do, a "coming of age" so to speak in reefkeeping. A veritable Bar Mitzva if you will. I was soooo pleased with myself having done it. Drilling a tank was always some really risky thing that I was terrified to try on my own. Having conquered it made me really proud of myself.
If you're nervous though you might want to have someone else do it and watch them carefully so you can do it the next time. If you find yourself in Brooklyn with your tank feel free to come by. I'd be happy to help you drill it, "teach a man to fish" and all. No charge for a fellow reefkeeper.
I drilled my 75 gallon sump and then put like 15 holes into an old tank I had laying around just for fun. I know you're thinking I should have done the 15 practice holes first before trying it on a brand new tank but where would the fun in that be?
I find there is no danger if you expect it to take you 10 minutes to drill the hole. Just keep in mind that you are NOT DRILLING! You are GRINDING your way through glass. Also going slower makes the bit last longer. Use only the weight of the drill. I'm sure you can probably add some pressure but why? If you can drill a tank in 3 minutes good for you. I can drill one in 10 minutes and I never worry about anything bad happening. Maybe I could do it in 3 but why risk it? What am I going to do that's so great in the extra 7 minutes?
It's really fun to do, a "coming of age" so to speak in reefkeeping. A veritable Bar Mitzva if you will. I was soooo pleased with myself having done it. Drilling a tank was always some really risky thing that I was terrified to try on my own. Having conquered it made me really proud of myself.
If you're nervous though you might want to have someone else do it and watch them carefully so you can do it the next time. If you find yourself in Brooklyn with your tank feel free to come by. I'd be happy to help you drill it, "teach a man to fish" and all. No charge for a fellow reefkeeper.
Killerdrgn
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- Park Ridge, NJ
ebay!
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