What did I learn today? - Aquarium Advice

mentallylost · 06-15-2005, 09:59 PM

What did I learn today?

Today I learned not to attempt to drill a 10 gallon tank yourself. I have read sooo many articles and threads on how to drill a glass tank. I was prepared. I had the special (recommended) dremel bits, lots of water for cooling, and hours upon hours of reading on the subject so I could get it right.

It started well enough. I measured and cut off the trim in back. I marked and stenciled all of the holes. And I began to drill. That's when it went sour. I wasn't even through the first hole when it shattered.

So now I need to acquire another 10 gallon tank to try again. I will get this external overflow thing down. It just might take a few tanks in the process.

Anybody out there who can shed a little light on what mighthave gone wrong? The tank has sat dry for a few years. Could that have had anything to do with it?

greenmaji · 06-16-2005, 04:45 AM

did the glass break up into tiny little pieces or was it like panes of glass.. it might have been tempered.. It should have broke like plate glass.. if it was tiny pieces then that was the problem..
If it was plate glass it was most likely bad luck.. sorry to hear about it though.. Ive read about guys busting 75 gallon tanks this way on other forums..ACK!! If it were me I would get a piece of glass and do it on it then put it into the 10 gallon.. unless the entire tank broke..

Bearfan · 06-16-2005, 08:17 AM

Some glass companies will drill for you, and in the long run it's probably cheaper.

malkore · 06-16-2005, 10:04 AM

You can get a 10gallon tank for under $10 at PetCo, so I don't think it's worth the time and effort to get a new sheet of glass cut and installed, just to try again.

I agree, it sounds like it was tempered glass, and that requires some pretty specific tools for drilling.

Kam · 06-16-2005, 10:11 AM

I have been reading about drilling glass, as I am going to attempt it in the near future.

From everything I read, it is extremely important to go very slow, do not apply any pressure, just use the weight of the drill, use a low rpm and a good coolant (water, vinegar or radiator fluid).

RLG2182 · 06-16-2005, 10:28 AM

Not many companies will go through the expense of using tempered glass for such a small tank... there's simply no need to add to the cost for such a tiny tank that doesn't require added strength. I'm a bit sceptical if it was an issue of tempered or not. (especially since most of the tempered pieces are on the bottom of large tanks, or sides of extremely tall tanks). I'd be willing to bet that it was just an issue of going too fast, and using too much pressure. If you are still not sure, call the tank company and ask if they installed tempered in their tanks. They'll have the final answer

You need to let the drill bit do all of the work... no need to put pressure or try to rush. I say either get yourself a new tank from a [acronym:c547045b03="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:c547045b03] for $10-12, or have a glass shop do the cut for you (which runs about $15 per hole). Good luck!

mentallylost · 06-16-2005, 10:43 AM

It was tempered glass. Broke up into 10,000 pieces (looked like it anyway). But I am going to try it again. I don't discourage that easily. I have this thing for doing things on my own so the glass shop is out of the question. PetSmart has them for $9.?? around here. Son what's another 10 bucks or so.

I think that my problem was speed really. I was on the lowest rpm. But I was moving up and down with it a little too fast. My fault. Now I have to do it again.

RLG2182 · 06-16-2005, 12:22 PM

Good luck!!

If I ever decide to go drilled... it'll be done in the factory before I get it.

Toirtis · 06-16-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentallylost

I think that my problem was speed really. I was on the lowest rpm. But I was moving up and down with it a little too fast. My fault. Now I have to do it again.

Um...no...you cannot drill tempered glass....that was your problem.

mentallylost · 06-16-2005, 07:04 PM

I see.

I'll have to find a non-tempered glass tank then.

06-15-2005, 09:59 PM	#1
mentallylost Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington Posts: 289 Images: 6	What did I learn today? What did I learn today? Today I learned not to attempt to drill a 10 gallon tank yourself. I have read sooo many articles and threads on how to drill a glass tank. I was prepared. I had the special (recommended) dremel bits, lots of water for cooling, and hours upon hours of reading on the subject so I could get it right. It started well enough. I measured and cut off the trim in back. I marked and stenciled all of the holes. And I began to drill. That's when it went sour. I wasn't even through the first hole when it shattered. So now I need to acquire another 10 gallon tank to try again. I will get this external overflow thing down. It just might take a few tanks in the process. Anybody out there who can shed a little light on what mighthave gone wrong? The tank has sat dry for a few years. Could that have had anything to do with it?

06-16-2005, 08:17 AM	#3
Bearfan Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 3,554 Images: 45	Some glass companies will drill for you, and in the long run it's probably cheaper. __________________ 75 gal w/ 75 gal sump, 25 gal fuge with Chaeto and 25 gal frag - 4x65 PC w/ Moonlite on the main tank, 2x20W PC on the fuge, 4x20W PC on the frag 72 Gal Bowfront Planted w/ 2x65 PC and 40W T8

06-16-2005, 10:04 AM	#4
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	You can get a 10gallon tank for under $10 at PetCo, so I don't think it's worth the time and effort to get a new sheet of glass cut and installed, just to try again. I agree, it sounds like it was tempered glass, and that requires some pretty specific tools for drilling. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

06-16-2005, 10:11 AM	#5
Kam Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: May 2005 Location: Grand Island, NY Posts: 137	I have been reading about drilling glass, as I am going to attempt it in the near future. From everything I read, it is extremely important to go very slow, do not apply any pressure, just use the weight of the drill, use a low rpm and a good coolant (water, vinegar or radiator fluid). __________________ 55 Gal [acronym:d952257e2c="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym:d952257e2c] 105 lbs Live rock from [acronym:d952257e2c="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:d952257e2c].com 2 Yellow Tail Damsels 2 Green Chromis 1 Emerald Crab 3 Peppermint Shrimp 4 Scarlet Hermit Crabs 1 Blue Knuckle Hermit Crab 1 Large Turbo Snail Hitchhickers: 3 Purple sea urchins, lots of rock crabs, pistol shrimp, brittle stars, snails, worms, etc. and aiptasia, aiptasia, aiptasia (it was free $$)

06-16-2005, 10:28 AM	#6
RLG2182 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California Posts: 770 Images: 12	Not many companies will go through the expense of using tempered glass for such a small tank... there's simply no need to add to the cost for such a tiny tank that doesn't require added strength. I'm a bit sceptical if it was an issue of tempered or not. (especially since most of the tempered pieces are on the bottom of large tanks, or sides of extremely tall tanks). I'd be willing to bet that it was just an issue of going too fast, and using too much pressure. If you are still not sure, call the tank company and ask if they installed tempered in their tanks. They'll have the final answer You need to let the drill bit do all of the work... no need to put pressure or try to rush. I say either get yourself a new tank from a [acronym:c547045b03="Local Fish Store"]LFS[/acronym:c547045b03] for $10-12, or have a glass shop do the cut for you (which runs about $15 per hole). Good luck! __________________ Tank: 60 Gal w/ 40 Gal [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:8ca4e80aae] sump, 75 lbs [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Live sand"]LS[/acronym:8ca4e80aae], 140 lbs [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:8ca4e80aae], Fuge Equipment: 4X65 Retrofit [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:8ca4e80aae], Euro-Reef CS5-2, Mag 9.5 w/SCWD, Auto top-off, (4)80mm fans Corals: Yellow Polyps, Lime Green Shrooms, Hairy Shrooms, White Bubble Coral, Pink Zoos Fish & Inverts: 2 False Perc Clowns, 1 Firefish Goby, 1 Brittle Star, 1 Sand Sifting Star, 10 Hermits, 20 Snails (Nassarius, Turbo, Margarita) ~~Rob

06-16-2005, 04:45 AM	#2
greenmaji Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 5,937	did the glass break up into tiny little pieces or was it like panes of glass.. it might have been tempered.. It should have broke like plate glass.. if it was tiny pieces then that was the problem.. If it was plate glass it was most likely bad luck.. sorry to hear about it though.. Ive read about guys busting 75 gallon tanks this way on other forums..ACK!! If it were me I would get a piece of glass and do it on it then put it into the 10 gallon.. unless the entire tank broke..

06-16-2005, 10:43 AM	#7
mentallylost Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington Posts: 289 Images: 6	It was tempered glass. Broke up into 10,000 pieces (looked like it anyway). But I am going to try it again. I don't discourage that easily. I have this thing for doing things on my own so the glass shop is out of the question. PetSmart has them for $9.?? around here. Son what's another 10 bucks or so. I think that my problem was speed really. I was on the lowest rpm. But I was moving up and down with it a little too fast. My fault. Now I have to do it again.

06-16-2005, 12:22 PM	#8
RLG2182 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California Posts: 770 Images: 12	Good luck!! If I ever decide to go drilled... it'll be done in the factory before I get it. __________________ Tank: 60 Gal w/ 40 Gal [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym:8ca4e80aae] sump, 75 lbs [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Live sand"]LS[/acronym:8ca4e80aae], 140 lbs [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:8ca4e80aae], Fuge Equipment: 4X65 Retrofit [acronym:8ca4e80aae="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:8ca4e80aae], Euro-Reef CS5-2, Mag 9.5 w/SCWD, Auto top-off, (4)80mm fans Corals: Yellow Polyps, Lime Green Shrooms, Hairy Shrooms, White Bubble Coral, Pink Zoos Fish & Inverts: 2 False Perc Clowns, 1 Firefish Goby, 1 Brittle Star, 1 Sand Sifting Star, 10 Hermits, 20 Snails (Nassarius, Turbo, Margarita) ~~Rob

06-16-2005, 07:04 PM	#10
mentallylost Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington Posts: 289 Images: 6	I see. I'll have to find a non-tempered glass tank then.

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