defigart Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Can you successfully drill the side panels of 10G or 5g AGA tanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I am sure you can. Will let you know what happens as I am going to drill a 10 in the side for a fuge on my new system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted July 16, 2008 Author Share Posted July 16, 2008 Great. What size bit are you going to use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mister crabs Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 yeah u can but the glass is so thin theres a good chance of breaking it. good luck with it and let us know how it turns out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benny503 Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 If you do, please take pictures... thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 Not sure on the size of bit. I think it is around 1 1/2 but not sure. Will look this weekend and post up. Hell at the rate this project is going will not be drilling it for a few monthsDOH! If the tank breaks oh well it is a 10$ Petco special. I think I have spent more than that on things that only last a few days or get eaten by other thingsDOH! Will try and take a pic or to but my camera sucks so we will see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted July 16, 2008 Share Posted July 16, 2008 I just drilled a 10g tank a couple of weeks ago (right as school was getting out). I used silicone to put an extra piece of scrap glass (with the same size hole) around the hole in the tank to give it more strength. With the pressure of the bulkhead, the extra piece of glass did crack (I was hoping that it would not), but the tank still holds water. I then made an overflow out of more scrap glass. It looks horrible, but it works. I may be able to get pictures of it up later. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barelycuda Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 Yes you can drill the sides & bottom of a 10g tank. We (Brian & I) have sucessfully drilled over 40 tanks for our systems. A 1-3/4" hole saw is the standard size for a 1" bulkhead. The glass is thin and will crack if the bit binds but all in all not ver difficult. We found it the best to make a jig out of a pice of 1/4" acrylic to hold the bit in place when making multiple cuts that require repetition. The jig also helps hold the bit in place so that it doesn't walk around and scratch the tank. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spectra Posted July 17, 2008 Share Posted July 17, 2008 ^^^ That is how I drilled all the 1/8" glass for my sons overflow on his 29. Just took a hole saw and drilled a pc of plywood then clamped the glass to the wood and turned on the hose and drilled away. Made quick work out of it and did not crack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defigart Posted July 17, 2008 Author Share Posted July 17, 2008 Thanks guys. Perhaps I can bring over a couple tanks and drill them with you, Barelycuda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barelycuda Posted July 18, 2008 Share Posted July 18, 2008 Doran, I am sure we can work something out to get the tanks drilled. I have to work on Saturday but after that looks pretty good. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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