How I drilled my 20gal tank, fully setup with fish

[thomor25]

Materials required are:
Dremmel of some brand
2 dremmel bits #7134 and #7103
paper towel or tissues
scotch tape
a spray bottle with the pump handles like some bathroom cleaning stuff comes with(but buy one that is clean don't use an empty cleaning bottle)
sharpie marker
and the bulkhead you are using (I used a 1" bulkhead)

Additional notes:
You might have to buy a new collet for your dremmel to fit the small shaft of the drill pieces but I just wrapped scoth tape around the end of it till it was tight in the dremmel tool.


How I did it:

I first got everything I'd need together in one spot.

http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02004.JPG

take the gasket from the bulkhead and trace the inside circle onto the glass. then take the round tipped bit and start in the middle and move the dremmel around like you are making a tiny circle, this will help incase the dremmel bend. If you bend the dremmel since the hole is bigger then the bit you won't crack the glass.

http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02005.JPG

Keep going till you go all the way through making sure you spay water on the bit with the spray bottle.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02006.JPG


Once the hole has been made switch to the tapered dremmel bit. Start in the hole and work upwards pushing and pulling the dremmel in and out of the hole moving it about 1/4 an inch in each direction but make sure you spay it with water. After getting to the top of the circle you made with the sharpie use the marker as a guide and cut through the marker with the drill bit. Make sure you tape some tissue or paper towel to catch the wate rthat is running down the side of the tank from cooling the bit down.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02008.JPG


Keep working your way arounf the tank.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02010.JPG


When you get to the top be careful and don't push as hard, do it slowly and just apply as little pressure as possible and it will pop out.
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02011.JPG


Bulkhead installed
http://ratemyfishtank.com/tankdrill/DCP02012.JPG




And my fishtank finished. You may have to click it twice
http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/?i=1

[Bearfan]

Acrylic or glass?

[thomor25]

glass

[BillyZ]

well done. And you are a brave brave soul!

[Bearfan]

I figured it was glass, looks good. I know that's not a feat I would have attempted.

Also, WELCOME!

[TheNewGuy]

yer nuts!!! but congrats I don't think I'll be trying that anytime soon!

did you post the same thing a few months ago on another Forum??? I saw this idential same post on another forum..


James

[astride13]

Very brave!

Two questions.....
Why is there a towel around the back of the bulkhead? Leaky?

Why didn't you put anything on the bulkhead to prevent it sucking something in? I have had snails go in to mine and the only way to get them out is to crush them with a screwdriver. Unless you have a shut off on the pump below, you will be looking for trouble.