How to drill into the wood stand or a sump? - Aquarium Advice

AoiGSR · 06-26-2008, 03:33 PM

I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on drilling 2 holes for the 50 gallon tank (with overflow). Will a 18V Lithium Ion Drill with a hole saw (I am told holes should be slightly larger than the the one on the acrylic tank) be adaquete? Or should I go out and get a corded drill with a hole saw for uninterrupted power? Any one have a hole size that you recommend?

land locked · 06-26-2008, 04:40 PM

Is the glass tempered?

dskidmore · 06-26-2008, 04:54 PM

You can't use a standard hand drill and hole saw. Glass is really ground, not cut. If you use a hand drill instead of a press, you're going to have to figure out how to hold it steady with light pressure for a while. You also need to cool the bit as you drill.

How to drill glass

dskidmore · 06-26-2008, 04:55 PM

Better Link:

Bulkhead Fittings

land locked · 06-26-2008, 06:52 PM

We took our qt tank to every glass shop in town and not one would touch it because it was tempered. Everyone said it would break.

ccCapt · 06-26-2008, 07:31 PM

That is correct. You can not drill tempered glass. Most small tanks are not tempered. What size are you talking about that's tempered all around?

Here are pics and a description on how I drilled my sump.

FishEggs · 06-26-2008, 07:57 PM

I am confused as to whether he is drilling holes in the stand for plumbing or holes in the sump tank.

if drilling holes in the wood stand then yes an 18volt cordless drill is sufficient and i'd go with a hole saw 1/4 inch larger than the outside diameter of the pipe you are using. be sure not to drill through the structural framework of the cabinet.

if drilling the tank you could probably still use the cordless drill depending on how skilled you are with keeping it steady and straight. but if it is a glass tank you need a special glass cutting hole saw. if it's an acrylic tank a regular wood hole saw would work but as you cut and the hole saw heats up it will start to melt the shavings and gunk up the saw so go slow and clean out the saw teeth often.

i drilled through tempered glass once. just a small 1/4 inch hole in a piece 12 x 10 inches. as soon as the drill bit pierced the backside of the glass it exploded into thousands of tiny little pieces. that was a fun experiment.

AoiGSR · 06-27-2008, 01:56 PM

This is a 50 gallon acrylic tank. Not glass

My old one was glass (40 gallon). Sorry for the confusion, but I am drilling the hole into the stand. The holes on the acrylic are already done (I think they were pre done by the acrylic company that made my tank (Clarity Plus).

CaptainAhab · 06-27-2008, 02:21 PM

He's drilling the stand... Cordless drill, hole saw and your set.. Let the saw do the work. Once it drill bit part breaks through go at it from the other side.. the cut will be smooth as ...er...... glass

AoiGSR · 06-27-2008, 03:37 PM

Is there a good size hole I should cut? I was told by the LFS not to drill the same diameter as the hole ("Don't make it snug") but suggested a little bit larger than the hole. Not sure what 1.75" and 1.375" is for (maximum size of the hole?)

Enclosed are the 2 holes that are on the acrylic:

06-26-2008, 03:33 PM	#1
AoiGSR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Japan (Ok not really) Southern California :) Posts: 31	How to drill into the wood stand for a sump? I was wondering if anyone has recommendations on drilling 2 holes for the 50 gallon tank (with overflow). Will a 18V Lithium Ion Drill with a hole saw (I am told holes should be slightly larger than the the one on the acrylic tank) be adaquete? Or should I go out and get a corded drill with a hole saw for uninterrupted power? Any one have a hole size that you recommend? Last edited by AoiGSR; 06-27-2008 at 02:04 PM..

06-26-2008, 04:40 PM	#2
land locked Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 195	Is the glass tempered? __________________ 72 gallon bow front, koralia 1 powerhead, approx 30 gallon sump and separate 20 gallon display refugium, Aqua C protein skimmer, Live rubble filteration, 80 # of LR, and a 4 inch sand bed.

06-26-2008, 04:54 PM	#3
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	You can't use a standard hand drill and hole saw. Glass is really ground, not cut. If you use a hand drill instead of a press, you're going to have to figure out how to hold it steady with light pressure for a while. You also need to cool the bit as you drill. How to drill glass __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

06-26-2008, 04:55 PM	#4
dskidmore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Genesee Valley Posts: 2,290 Images: 1	Better Link: Bulkhead Fittings __________________ 75 gallon freshwater Baby shrimp sighted! 2.5 Gallon unpowered freshwater now with high light 0.25 gallon palmtop doomed to an unlit end?

06-26-2008, 06:52 PM	#5
land locked Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 195	We took our qt tank to every glass shop in town and not one would touch it because it was tempered. Everyone said it would break. __________________ 72 gallon bow front, koralia 1 powerhead, approx 30 gallon sump and separate 20 gallon display refugium, Aqua C protein skimmer, Live rubble filteration, 80 # of LR, and a 4 inch sand bed.

06-26-2008, 07:31 PM	#6
ccCapt SW 10 & Over Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northeast PA Posts: 1,875 Images: 3	That is correct. You can not drill tempered glass. Most small tanks are not tempered. What size are you talking about that's tempered all around? Here are pics and a description on how I drilled my sump. __________________ 125g reef See My Tank Info Check out The build project /Larry

06-26-2008, 07:57 PM	#7
FishEggs Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Highland, Maryland Posts: 516	I am confused as to whether he is drilling holes in the stand for plumbing or holes in the sump tank. if drilling holes in the wood stand then yes an 18volt cordless drill is sufficient and i'd go with a hole saw 1/4 inch larger than the outside diameter of the pipe you are using. be sure not to drill through the structural framework of the cabinet. if drilling the tank you could probably still use the cordless drill depending on how skilled you are with keeping it steady and straight. but if it is a glass tank you need a special glass cutting hole saw. if it's an acrylic tank a regular wood hole saw would work but as you cut and the hole saw heats up it will start to melt the shavings and gunk up the saw so go slow and clean out the saw teeth often. i drilled through tempered glass once. just a small 1/4 inch hole in a piece 12 x 10 inches. as soon as the drill bit pierced the backside of the glass it exploded into thousands of tiny little pieces. that was a fun experiment. __________________ ~Matt~ If you put off what you can do today until tomorrow it will never get done cause tomorrow never comes. It's always today. Last edited by FishEggs; 06-26-2008 at 08:02 PM..

06-27-2008, 01:56 PM	#8
AoiGSR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Japan (Ok not really) Southern California :) Posts: 31	This is a 50 gallon acrylic tank. Not glass My old one was glass (40 gallon). Sorry for the confusion, but I am drilling the hole into the stand. The holes on the acrylic are already done (I think they were pre done by the acrylic company that made my tank (Clarity Plus). Last edited by AoiGSR; 06-27-2008 at 02:06 PM..

06-27-2008, 02:21 PM	#9
CaptainAhab Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Southern NJ/Philadelphia Posts: 419	He's drilling the stand... Cordless drill, hole saw and your set.. Let the saw do the work. Once it drill bit part breaks through go at it from the other side.. the cut will be smooth as ...er...... glass Last edited by CaptainAhab; 06-27-2008 at 02:22 PM.. Reason: horrendous spelling

06-27-2008, 03:37 PM	#10
AoiGSR Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Japan (Ok not really) Southern California :) Posts: 31	Is there a good size hole I should cut? I was told by the LFS not to drill the same diameter as the hole ("Don't make it snug") but suggested a little bit larger than the hole. Not sure what 1.75" and 1.375" is for (maximum size of the hole?) Enclosed are the 2 holes that are on the acrylic:

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