drill question

donalds1 · 04-17-2005, 01:12 PM

Can you drill an already made 55 gallon glass tank ? My 55 which got replaced by a 90 is not being used and I would like to find out if I can have it drilled so I do not have to have that box hanging off the back.

Thanks,
Don

twd4 · 04-17-2005, 01:14 PM

You can have it drilled. If the bottom is tempered you may have to drill the back though....

donalds1 · 04-17-2005, 01:57 PM

mmm.... not sure. I bought it as a starter at petsmart to see if I had the patience for salt.

twd4 · 04-17-2005, 05:04 PM

Any idea of the manufaturer?

Stevhan · 04-17-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donalds1

mmm.... not sure. I bought it as a starter at petsmart to see if I had the patience for salt.

Petsmart sells their tanks under the name top fin they are manufactured by a company called Island

RobinsonFam1 · 04-17-2005, 06:21 PM

try a website for topfin or island and go from there. most companies spec if the tank is tempered or not.
but as others say you may have to drill somewhere other than the bottom.

tobbob · 04-17-2005, 07:12 PM

FYI.. I talked to a glass guy a few weeks ago about drilling.
He said he would suguest drilling then tempering the glass.
I think you heat the glass to temper??
Anyone ,,coments??
Bob

wildemon · 04-18-2005, 08:37 AM

Yes you would drill first then temper glass. This is not an option in a finished tank, nor would you want to pay what that service would cost. If you are thinking of using it as a sump, then you really only need holes in a side panel for bulkheads so you can connect an external pump.

If you want to retain it as a display tank, you can still drill the back or side to drain the overflow box. It is virtually guaranteed the bottom is the only tempered piece in a tank. Tempering makes the glass much stronger to fractures until it reaches too much, then it shatters into many tiny shards. I am sure you have seen the result of an auto windshield's destruction. You should also drain the tank before drilling.

RobinsonFam1 · 04-18-2005, 08:29 PM

yes Bob,
all glass starts out as plate glass. then its cut or drilled, then tempered. tempering is done by basically "cooking the glass in a large oven". i think they also spray or lay some sort of coating on the glass as well but im not sure of that.
safety glass does have the coating on it which is why a windshield will break and bend before actually coming apart.