Drilling a stocked tank to add an overflow.

[swimmatte]

Has anyone here done it? I have someone experienced willing to help but was interested in hearing how this went for others.

 

Also, based on some google searches I'm fairly confident that my Marineland 56 gallon does not have tempered glass on the walls. Can anyone confirm?

[flooddc]

I drilled my 29G. It pretty easy. But there are always a small risk. I have the 1- 3/4" diamond bit if you like to borrow it.

[swimmatte]

You drilled it full or before stocking?

[flooddc]

Tank was empty when I drilled it.

[zygote2k]

I drilled a 265 last year with livestock in it. I drained the water down about 12" and used a diamond bit to drill 2 holes in the end for a Glassholes 1500 Dart Overflow kit. You need a second person to squirt water on the bit to keep it cool, but it's really easy to do.

Took about 30 mins to do both holes.

[Chad]

I also drilled mine with livestock in it. Lowered water, drilled. Stressful, but was really a non-event in the end.

[scott711]

Very easy. I have done it with stock and empty

[swimmatte]

Ok well I feel better about it now. I just kept envisioning the tank cracking, spilling fish, water, and coral everywhere. It sounds like as long as I take it easy and slowly, everything will be fine. The overflow that I'm ordering from glass-holes.com comes with a bit so I should be good to go.

[ToddR]

Installed a Dart overflow on my 125. Did it on a new empty tank. Piece of cake. Just wear ear plugs, glass drills are VERY loud.

[Origami]

I drilled 4 holes in iy 210 while it was upright on the stand, doing it from the back. It was empty, but there would have been little difference in the complexity of the mechanics and stresses. You just need to keep the area a bit wet to dissipate the heat from grinding and to wash away the debris. Take your time. To keep the area wet, I would occasionally rinse the area with water from a water bottle with several small holes punched in the top (making it a sort-of squirt bottle). Since I was above a concrete floor, I just let the water drip to the floor, but you could put a towel down to catch it if over a regular floor. The secret is to just take your time. Oh, and to lower the water level, of course!

[sen5241b]

Do a big water change and keep water in 5G buckets, If all goes to H-E-double hockey sticks you can throw Livestock in buckets.

[swimmatte]

Do a big water change and keep water in 5G buckets, If all goes to H-E-double hockey sticks you can throw Livestock in buckets.

 

Good idea. I plan on emptying half the tank so that should give me water to set up in case I run into a problem.

[treesprite]

Good luck.

[sachabballi reef]

Do you have a Plan B in case it did break? Spare tank or Rubbermaid container?

 

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

 

[Coral Hind]

I have done it to stocked tanks as well, just drained the water down about half way to reduce stress on the glass. Drilling towards the corners of the tank is safer as there is less bowing and stress compared to the center of the tank. I drilled from the inside out and had my helper hold a small powerhead with a hose on it to keep water flowing as I drilled. Don't worry about the white slurry from the drilling. It didn't seem to hurt the water chemistry any.

[swimmatte]

Good luck.

 

Thanks!

[swimmatte]

Do you have a Plan B in case it did break? Spare tank or Rubbermaid container?

 

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

Plan B is to store in buckets/rubbermaids while I run like a bat out of H-E-double hockey sticks to purchase a new tank.

[swimmatte]

I have a couple offers from people that have done it before so that should help. Also, I have drilled quite a bit of tile for showers and it shouldn't be much different. Honestly it might be easier.

[sachabballi reef]

You will do fine not to worry...its just way my year has been going I started having plan C's lol so just want to be sure you're covered.

 

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2