Drilling tank while full

[sciknen]

Well im sick of my tank flooding due to snails

So I'm going to drill it. While its full. I'm going to do a big water change at the same time as well.

My ideas. 1 drain 1 emergency..

Or one long cost to cost style? Pretty much one long piece of PVC painted of course running from side to side


What do you guys think?

I'm if i run the two drains I'm going to use the box i have now from my overflow just chopped up. So the Durso will be on the outside of the tank.



Any idea thoughts recommendations?

I just planned on using a water bottle to keep the drill bit semi wet. And im going to drill outside to inside the tank.

 

[number1gsxxr]

What size tank? Size and quantity of holes drilled probably depends on the size of tank and what kind of GPH you want.

 

[dp28688]

if you do it wed like to see the process video tape it. few people been wanting to see it done on a setup tank including myself.

 

[JohnK]

Do you mean your planning on modding a HOB overflow into a real overflow box? Sounds like it could get interesting... Can you post a pic of the box you have? A lot of the HOB style boxes I have seen are made of plastic other than acrylic, that tend to be quite thin walled and brittle (very hard to drill without shattering).

Have you considered the overflows from glass-holes.com ? Might be easier and sturdier.
http://www.glass-holes.com/700-gph-Overflow-complete-kit-gh700kit.htm
http://www.glass-holes.com/1500-gph-complete-kit-gh1500kit.htm

To drill the tank while set up, make a template out of wood that is just a hair larger than the holesaw, then clamp that on the tank so it will act as a guide for the holesaw (so the holesaw doesn't try to walk across the tank and scratch the hell out of it). Have a helper with a spray bottle of water on hand to keep spraying the holesaw down as you drill.

If your drilling two holes, they need to be at least 1.5" apart, but farther is better. (the closer the holes, the more tempting it is for a crack to develop and connect the dots)

Also, what size is your tank? Was it a 55? If so, a lot of 55 have some or all the panes tempered. Make sure you are sure before drilling.

 

[sciknen]

Yea its a 55. Thanks for the warning on the tempered glass. Ill try to find out. If I do it it will be tomorrow and ill tape some of it. All I have is my phone video camera

Hole size not sure. Whatever bulhead I have laying around I thinks its like 1.5 in or something. I'm not too worried about that. I'm defintely going to make a template

And the overflow box would be the HOB overflow. I believe it is and Eshopps. I'd post a link but I'm on my phone


I'm leaning towards the Calflow idea. I can't post a link but there is a tank out there with it done and it looks great. Just not sure if I can spray paint pvc and have it submerged. Ill have to do a lil reading tonight


Thanks for the advice

 

[cilyjr]

you can use the krylon fusion pant on the pvc. it will scratch over time and white will show through where it scratches.

 

[ReeferMedic]

I did a 40 breeder and a 65 gallon tank free hand while the they were full, but I wouldn't suggest it. It was a bit nerve racking to say the least. I would go with John's method, it's much safer.

 

[kevinpratt823]

I've drilled the ends of 3 different 55's no prob, but not the back or bottom. Also drilled the back of my 72 bow while it was full. I drained it down halfway, scraped/cleaned/attempted to dry the glass inside underneath the hole, and stuck together a few pieces of duct tape to make a catch flap so no glass filings would make thier way to the water. I set up a container on top of the tank canopy next to it9you could use a ladder/shelf etc., and ran an acclimation line down to the holesaw and duct taped it in place. Then I taped the hose of a small wet vac underneath to remove the water as it flowed. Worked for me.

 

[sciknen]

I've drilled the ends of 3 different 55's no prob, but not the back or bottom. Also drilled the back of my 72 bow while it was full. I drained it down halfway, scraped/cleaned/attempted to dry the glass inside underneath the hole, and stuck together a few pieces of duct tape to make a catch flap so no glass filings would make thier way to the water. I set up a container on top of the tank canopy next to it9you could use a ladder/shelf etc., and ran an acclimation line down to the holesaw and duct taped it in place. Then I taped the hose of a small wet vac underneath to remove the water as it flowed. Worked for me.

I like it lol


I'm gonna somehow have to figure out if its tempered..I got it at seaworld about 3 yrs back i wonder if they would know.

Umm

 

[dcforester1]

This might help

http://bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93022&highlight=tempered+glass

 

[JohnK]

Yup, definately do the lap top trick, (or polarized glasses are supposed to work in a similar manner) to check for tempered. 55s are weird, some have tempered bottoms, some are all tempered, some not tempered at all. Do check or you could end up with a wet, expensive, glass jig saw puzzle

I don't quite follow on what you mean by a "calfo" style? Do you mean a pvc pipe horizontal across the back with a slit cut across it's top? If so, I have heard the idea suggested before, but a lot of associated concerns and doubts on how well it would actually work. Also, if you made that large enough to work reasonably well, I suspect that it would look terrible and block a lot of light going into the already narrow 55.


If your overflow is like this;
http://www.google.com/products/cata...PJCoqUwgXc4tT4CA&sa=title&ved=0CAcQ8wIwADgA#p
Then it does appear to be made of deccent material, and would not be all that hard to mod to use for this application, though if it were me I would either go with a glass-holes box, or a DIY.

 

[cilyjr]

the bottom is most likely tempered. i would not even attempt to drill the bottom of any aga tank. the back and sides are most likely fine for drilling. i have drilled many tanks and called aqueon for a few here is their number 1-800-255-4527. they can tell you in a couple seconds if it is tempered or not.
here is what i did to drill glass on an erect tank (usually i try to tip the tank so the drilled side is up) there is a 5 gallon bucket with very cold water with a john guest ballvalve tapped to the bottom of the bucket feeding the hose. i notched the template to allow the water to freely reach the hole saw. i believe this would work well with a 1/2 full tank

 

[JohnK]

That's slick, the water line is a fantastic idea.

 

[sciknen]

Yea that's pretty much my idea jimmy. I would like to DIY but I would like to get it done tis weekend and I just don't have the time nor skill to build out of acrylic.

I defintely like that little jig you made.


O yea just remembered. I got it at petco 3 yrs back at one of those dollar per gallon sale

 

[cilyjr]

those glass holes overflows are loud.

 

[sciknen]

The overflows aren't loud.. its the lack of a durso that's loud, or something to control the noise.. You can't just put up the overflow and a bulkhead you need more stuff so it's not loud.

The black box wont affect the noise at all.

 

[sciknen]

I think I'm going to hold off on this.. I can't find out 100% sure if the tank is tempered or not..

For today at least. I need to find a polarizing filter??

 

[JohnK]

Got any sunglasses?

 

[sciknen]

Yes? should i just wear the the sunglasses and look through the glass at the white laptop?

Pretty much?

 

[JohnK]

EDIT, I mispoke, advice deleted, don't listen to me