Drilling Asap

Trinity · 09-20-2002, 05:52 AM

Ok I read that a lot of you would drill your tanks if you could do it all over again. I have not heard one person prefer a box hanging on the outside.

I have my tank on layaway. I have never seen a drilled tank before so I need to ask you some very important questions.

Be as in depth with your answers as possible so I dont mess this up.

I plan on asking them to drill it but I dont even know if THEY know what that is.

1. How big should the hole be? (ONE measurement please)

2. What goes in the hole?

3. What happens if I want to set up the tank before I start the sump? Can I plug the hole?

4. ANY pictures would be really helpful (wether it be sump pictures or the actual hole and (pipe I am guessing)

5. Where should the hole be?

6. I heard a lot about overflows in corners when this topic is mentioned....what are overflows?

I know it is a lot but the book I have dosen't really go into depth about that stuff. It is more or less a indroduction to tanks. It talks about corals, fish, algae, tests, and a bit on lighting.

I know I must be a pain but in my small town, you are the only ones that can help me. Like I said I have never seen a drilled tank.....NOT EVEN IN THE PET STORE!

Rick O · 09-20-2002, 06:44 AM

Hi Trinity.

If your LFS doesn't know anything about overflows or drilling then you may want to look around a bit. You can buy a reef ready tank that is already drilled or you can have one drilled and an internal overflow box siliconed in. There are a couple of stores in Atlanta that will drill your tank for you even if you didn't buy it from them.

If I were you I would drive down to Canton and talk to Jenn at Imagine Ocean and let her show you some of the tanks she uses in the store. It's easier to understand if you can see it.

Also if you want to come to Marietta you can stop by my house and I'll show you mine.

Doug1 · 09-20-2002, 07:24 AM

If you have settled on a 90g tank, do some serious looking and get the one you want, setup right, Drilling it yourself is a dicey option unless you have experience, and having some else drill it is the way to go, but check on their experience and will they replace the tank if it breaks during the drilling. The option of buying a reef ready is a good one, esp since you are not real familiar with all the various aspects of the process.
considering the investment you will have in a 90g it would be a good idea to follow Ricks advice and see several setups in person, talk to a few people and get the pros and cons before commiting

Trinity · 09-20-2002, 07:35 AM

WOW rick you will let me come see your tank? COOL! I am not far from marrietta (about an hour) so gimmie directions!

I will be coming on 575 south.....Just let me know what exit and from there on

I will bring my wife and daughter (trinity) with me to look.

Thanks a lot man! I will talk to the pet store about getting one predrilled.

How big should the hole be?

kestrel · 09-20-2002, 07:45 AM

Trinity,

If you are going to try to see Rock O's tank, then you definately need to stop in at Jenn's shop in Canton. It's literally two minutes of the interstate and well worth the stop. She would also be a great help with everything else that you will need to get the tank up-to-speed. (OK-so it's a shameless plug for a great LFS

)

Daryl

Rick O · 09-20-2002, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Trinity
WOW rick you will let me come see your tank? COOL! I am not far from marrietta (about an hour) so gimmie directions!

Reefers love to show off their setups.

I'll PM you my phone # and a map.

Mnemic · 09-20-2002, 08:54 AM

http://www.marinedepot.com/a_ft_2.asp

lists the bulkhead sizes you need to use various size pipes.

If you go the drilling route, You should try to get 1 1/2 Drains to the sump. It was reccomended to me that I install two 1 1/2" Drains to the sump.. don't forget your return holes as well.

I had mine places in the upper left corner of the tank. THe place that did mine works with glass doors, windows..etc.etc. and things like that.

He could not warrantee the holes, but he said if anything DOES happen to it, he will replace the glass at cost.

Localy for me the cost between a 75 Non Drilled Vs a PreDrilled Reef Ready was $120 bucks.

$20 to have holes drilled in the tank was a better option imo..

-Paul

Doug1 · 09-20-2002, 09:08 AM

Having it drilled is good if you have a definate plan in mind, might be easier for a first timer to get it already done, but if you have a mentor, that will help alot

Sylock · 09-20-2002, 12:50 PM

Man alive, you guys have expenesive tanks in your areas. My favorite LFS sells reef ready tanks for the following prices:
55 gallon $110
75 gallon $167
90 gallon $214

We don't have Southdown anywhere close to us, so I guess the sand makes up for the 'cheap' All-Glass tanks. Although I was able to find 6 bags about 2 hours from my house

.

Gary D · 09-20-2002, 01:20 PM

Sylock, which LFS are you referring to? I'm in Grosse Pointe. And where is the two hour trip for the Southdown sand? Thanks!

Mnemic · 09-20-2002, 01:57 PM

Sylock, my LFS is a nice place, but the prices are silly stupid.

I purchased my Mag Drive 950 pump for $59.00.

The same pump at my LFS was $105.00

my Mag 1800 was got for $109.00... LFS price... $189.00

I purchased these items off the internet, and even after shipping, it was considerably cheaper.. and thats not figuring tax either if I did purchase it localy.

On a humorus note...
They had a sale recently...

"40% Off all Rio Pumps"

Sylock · 09-20-2002, 02:26 PM

Gary D,
I forget the name of the shop (Aquatic Discovery?), but it's at 15 mile and Ryan. I just bought my 75 today.

Here's a link to a spot in Kalamazoo that has Southdown for a limited time: http://thereefshop.com/ My sister lives there and just flew out from Detroit on Tuesday so I had her pick me up 6 bags. She said this guys shop was incredible and a converted garage.

Gary D · 09-20-2002, 03:10 PM

Thanks Sylock, I go to Aquatic Discoveries. In fact they are having a big sale this weekend for fish club members. I'm going to pick up some livestock, who knows maybe I'll break down and get a big tank too!

Sylock · 09-20-2002, 03:22 PM

Gary
I was going to get some more LR Saturday too. He supposedly has 45 boxes. I'm a little concerned though because he still has them boxed up and they won't be in water for about 1 1/2 to 2 days by the time we are able to get them.

If you see a 6 foot, short black hair, 30ish, guy in his pajamas, looking through all the LR that will be me (name is T.J.). I went in there today to see what he brought in. He bought $14K in new coral. Their mushroom tank is full of ricordea and they've got some great looking other coral. Although he is selling some dyed colt ... really disappoited in him there.