Drilling a 5.5G tank for refugium

haggarse · #1 12/29/2007, 08:46 PM

So...I attempted to build a plastic trash container refugium and was unimpressed to say the least!

I have since bought a 5.5G tank (all I can fit under the display) for a small refugium. However I would like to drill it and add a bulkhead or two. Any recommendations on where I can get this done or where to buy a cheap, glass holesaw (don't really want to spend $30-50 to drill a hole in a $8 tank)

Thanks!

geo · #2 12/29/2007, 09:16 PM

Thin glass is harder to drill. We had some CORA glass drills floating around but I am not sure who has them at this point. Check with Hollback.

itZme · #3 12/29/2007, 11:51 PM

I've drilled 10g tanks before and it is very touchy. I am not sure if this would be better or not but it could possibly help to laminate another square of glass over the area that you want to drill so it is 1/4" instead of only 1/8" thick. This sounds like a perfect time to look for someone that knows how to work with acrylic to do a custom sump tank **wink wink** GEO **cough cough**

Reefdiver72 · #4 12/30/2007, 03:16 AM

I tried to drill one the other day now its in the trash very brittle glass good luck.

hollback · #5 12/30/2007, 10:15 AM

Yep I've got the glass bits for club member use.

haggarse · #6 12/30/2007, 10:19 AM

I am going to return the small glass tank I bought and have an acrylic refugium made. From the feedback I have rcvd, it seems drilling this thin of glass may be near impossible.

Thanks anyways!

sammie · #7 12/30/2007, 12:48 PM

Good decision.... I've drilled 10 gal and the glass is so thin it really dosen't support anything hooked to a bulkhead anyway.

Easily Distracted · #8 12/30/2007, 03:11 PM

Yup. I agree with Sammie. For fun I actually drilled a 2.5 gal. It was a beautiful 2.5gal micro nano over a 2.5gal sump on a custom made wooden stand. It worked great until the first water change when I bumped the PVC and it cracked the glass at the bulkhead. The glass is just too thin to support the PVC.

MarineFishGuy · #9 12/31/2007, 02:42 PM

Yep, I drilled a 10g with a 2" bulkhead.
The glass chipped as the saw exitied the other side.
When I installed the bulkhead it cracked due to the pressure (hand tight).

I removed the bulkhead and siliconed a piece of 1/4" acrylic on either side. It has held up so far, however I think an acrylic sump is a better idea.

I bought my diamond hole saw off Ebay for about $9 shipped.