Drilled: Bottom vs. Back?

[asianer]

Any experiences, pros, cons, advice?

 

[Deanos]

Personal preference and logistics determine placement.

 

[asianer]

Thanks

Personal preference and logistics determine placement.

 

[tosiek]

depends on your setup.... and its drilled bottom, drilled back, or external overflow =0) It all works the same.

 

[bad coffee]

external overflow with 4 holes drilled for closed loop on my tank.

If you're not going external overflow, i like the top of the back. that way you don't lose the space in the tank of the whole top-to-bottom overflow box.

B

 

[marki24]

Andrew what size tank are you trying to drill?

 

[asianer]

Either a 38 or 45; they have the same footprint. I want to drill the bottom but I'm just afraid of compromising the integrity of the glass.

 

[bigbris1]

45s usually have a tempered bottom & I would say that if the 38 has the same foot print, it does too. So you're left with drilling the back.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

If Possible, we prefer to drill the bottoms, our feeling is the less elbows the better.
And tank and stand are all one, no pipe rising up the back.

 

[asianer]

That's exactly why I was leaning more towards drilling the bottom than the back; streamlined plumbing.

If Possible, we prefer to drill the bottoms, our feeling is the less elbows the better.
And tank and stand are all one, no pipe rising up the back.

 

[masterswimmer]

That's exactly why I was leaning more towards drilling the bottom than the back; streamlined plumbing.

Be careful, tanks that size are normally tempered glass on the bottom (as stated before). Tempered glass CAN NOT BE DRILLED.

swimmer

 

[asianer]

Thanks for all the replies, I have been researching and am hoping that the 38 is not tempered according to this chart:
http://www.alysta.com/books/fishtank.htm

but I will research some more...

 

[Deanos]

That site makes no references to who built the tank.

 

[fritz]

Contact the manufacturer and ask them.

 

[Solace Aquatics LLC]

Also a little trick, get a pair of polarized sun glasses, and look at the tank bottom, if you see any pattern in the glass, it is tempered.
But check with manufacture to be sure.

 

[ming]

If its an All Glass tank, its is tempered
http://www.aqueonproducts.com/assets/011/19784.pdf