SW Tank with drilled bottom change to FW

[Autumnsky]

Getting a 90G bowfront and stand tomorrow but it has a drilled hole in the bottom where the overflow built in box slightly off center rear.

What to do with that bottom hole?

Go to SW store and pick up a "plug" to screw into the space?

If so how likely it will leak?

Anyone with some suggestions, experiences, ideas???
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like this kind

Bowfront Megaflow Central - Oceanic Systems Inc

looks like this one
https://www.pupdaddy.com/central-oc...4OeBMFEV90tuRQcXMDqmqvxX5uA_fcrwaApiUEALw_wcB

 

[Brookster123]

Go to home depot and get a piece of glass and a tube of ge 1 silicone. You tube the process. You could also get a pvc plug with a washer.

 

[Autumnsky]

Ah, that makes sense. I haven't had experience with these before.

Let's say I silicone a nice healthy chunk of glass over it, would I be able to drill through it if I wanted to change it back to SW later? I might. 90G SW for me right now isn't a good fit but I would love it later.

 

[Brookster123]

Off the top of my head. You get a 12x12" square of 1/4" glass and lay down 2 circles around the hole a.few inches apart and then the perimeter of the square. Let cure for 3 days than run a bead around the glass, let cure 3 days. It can be removed carefully with a small spackle knife/trowel whenever. Clean tank with alcohol prior to silicone. Acetone would be best but I wouldn't i don't think??

 

[Autumnsky]

Yeah too scared about the acetone. Magic eraser and extra alcohol perhaps.

 

[Brookster123]

Alcohol should get any residue out of there. Just give the silicone ample time to cure. It takes longer when it's humid out.

 

[Autumnsky]

It also seems that when I know the size of the hole I can likely plug it with appropriate screw in part.

But it was mentioned it can somehow be used for easy water changes. I like that idea too.

Anyone ever done that? And what would one use?

 

[Brookster123]

I drilled the bottom of my sump and used a bulkhead to ball valve for draining. You could do something like that for sure. Measure the hole, they have everytji g you'd need on amazon for bulk heads and the rest you piece together at home depot, fun stuff

 

[Tacit Blues]

Is the overflow still built in? Or you could rebuild it and still use a sump filter for freshwater. I did that for a long time on the 55ish gallon tank I grew up on, bought used at a yard sale. Actually, I've still got the sump even though that tank is way out of commission. No idea if it would be sized right for a 90 gallon though.