Full Version: too risky to drill an oceanic tank?
I'm planning on setting up an almost-all-natural aquarium w/ a closed look (run by either a sequence dart or snapper), and am playing around with the idea of buying an oceanic tank w/ out overflows or anything, and i wanted to know how hard it would be to drill between 3-5 holes for 1.5-2" bulkheads??? the tank i had in may be a 76 gallon half-circle, or larger rectangular (under 120gallon), so i wouldn't want to crack the glass on a $500+ tank.
Not outside the skills of most people. Do it. Make sure it's not tempered first. 
The glass is quite thick on a tank that size, so your risk of cracking is fairly low. Use hardly any pressure, and keep lots of cool water flowing over your cut. Get your holesaws from glass-holes.com. The thrill of success is exhilarating. Dooo eeet!
If you fark it up and break the back, all hope is not lost. You can remove the broken pane, and have a glass shop make you a new one. You can have them drill the holes if you like. Silicone it in place and you're done.
Of course, if you're already looking at a budget of $500, consider having a tank custom built - you can have them drill your holes for you, put in eurobracing or go rimless, and otherwise get a much better tank for your money. It costs nothing to get a few quotes. Word of advice, avoid glasscages. Search for them on NR and you'll find out why. There's a reason they're dirt cheap.
The glass is quite thick on a tank that size, so your risk of cracking is fairly low. Use hardly any pressure, and keep lots of cool water flowing over your cut. Get your holesaws from glass-holes.com. The thrill of success is exhilarating. Dooo eeet!
If you fark it up and break the back, all hope is not lost. You can remove the broken pane, and have a glass shop make you a new one. You can have them drill the holes if you like. Silicone it in place and you're done.
Of course, if you're already looking at a budget of $500, consider having a tank custom built - you can have them drill your holes for you, put in eurobracing or go rimless, and otherwise get a much better tank for your money. It costs nothing to get a few quotes. Word of advice, avoid glasscages. Search for them on NR and you'll find out why. There's a reason they're dirt cheap.
It's probably worth a call to Oceanic and an inquiry into what panels are tempered or not. Just try to get to someone who seems to know wtf they're talking about. For most companies, thats not the first person who answers the phone
Had no problem drilling my 30 gallon Oceanic (1 overflow hole and 2 returns). Just remeber to use plumbers putty to build a water damn around hole your drilling. They have instructional videos on glass-holes.com. Remember that the bottom glass is tempered.
practice on cheap replacment panes for 8x10 picture frames. there super thin so when you can get through these life is all good, there also only like 2 bucks a pop @ the big box stores. if nervious about it you can look into a drill guide to help drill stright on.
let me find the linky http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_8_6?url=...;sprefix=drill+
neanderthalman's right about gl#######s great price good cs, and lots of info.
hope this helps.
let me find the linky http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_8_6?url=...;sprefix=drill+
neanderthalman's right about gl#######s great price good cs, and lots of info.
hope this helps.
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