Drilling a tank

I've never drilled a tank, but if you youtube you will find alot of videos. I am doing my 72 next week.

I found a tip to get plumbers putty and make a circle of it around the hole you are going to drill and put water in and make a pond. This is after you use the template to start your hole also spraying water as you go. Set drill on slowest speed and if using a cordless set the clutch at it's weakest setting.

 

Its easier than you think as long as the glass isn't tempered and go slow anybody can do it. I drilled all my 40 breeders. I put tape on the underneath and a towel below where i am drilling just in case the tape didn't catch the piece that comes out and to soak up the muddy water

 

+1 on nerve racking and AJ was even the one drilling my tank for me. lol. but yea all the youtube videos and advise mentioned above will get the job done. Or if you're close to North Liberty - Sea of Marvels will do it for cheap - $20ish I think.

 

Agree, i drilled three holes in my 150tall. Did all the homework i could on the tank, manufacturer, and glass type before i drilled it; just to make sure it was not tempered. The first hole took me a long time, the second was a lot faster, and easier. I just remember taking it really easy just before i cut completely through. I just used a spray bottle with water ( and towels) to keep the bit and the glass cool. I think i bought my bit through bulk reef supplies.

 

Drilling a tank is not hard.  Let the hole saw do the work.  Exactly like they said with plumbers putty and water.  About the only thing that I would add is to put an old  towel on the inside of the tank to catch any glass dust and the glass that you cut out.  Use the clean part of the towel to wipe the glass dust off of the tank and then throw the towel away.  I also throw the used plumbers putty away because it has that glass dust on it.  The stuff it cheap enough that you don't need to worry about keeping it around for reuse.
Now, for the overflow box.  Can you use a bulkhead and an elbow? Yes.  Is it best?  No.  Depending on the amount of flow that you plan to have through your overflow, (common for that size is 600 GPH max) that will tell you the size of hole you need to drill and the size of overflow you need.  Go and use Reef Central's Drain/Overflow size calculator here - http://www.reefcentral.com/index.php/drainoverflow-size-calc   At 600 GPH, you'll see that you need a minimum of a 1" drain (I would recommend rounding up) and 9" of linear overflow surface.  Basically what that means is that no matter what shape your overflow is, there should be 9 linear inches from the point where it touches the glass on one side to the other point where it touches the glass.  This is for optimal surface skimming.  Let me know if this doesn't make sense.
--AJ

 

Trying to be like Andy..... LOL

 

Way to go Bud!

If it was easy, there wouldn't be a calculator and Bud, you'd be even busier! ;=0) lol

 

i have had the elbow with strainer type of overflow and the glass-holes one and i personally like the glass holes one better.  Granted it cost more, but it looked alot better and did a better job.  I think your money would be well spend there.