Ok Veriann, I am up for this challenge. I drilled my tank in March and it was very nerve racking! I tried all i could to get out of it, but the only place that would drill it wanted $50 a hole to do it, which was more than the price of a new drilled tank. So I decided that I would try it. If I did it right, I saved $150, if I messed up, no big deal.
The first thing I did was order my bulkheads from
www.drsfostersmith.com. They had a nice chart that told you what size hole for what size bulkhead. Now that I ordered my 3/4"" bulkheads, I need a drill bit that would make a 1-1/2" hole for my bulkhead to fit in. I hit Ebay and found a seller buy the name of Lau. He was out of Hong Kong, but had had great prices and really good feedback. Since we in America make things tough, I had to convert 1-1/2" to mm, which is 45mm. I ordered 2 bits for less than $20 with shipping, they cam in a week later.
I cleaned my glass and made precise measurements. Marking the center point of the hole and then using the bit and a Sharpie marker, I traced the outline of the holes. I measured again, just to be sure. As my dad always told me "Measure twice, cut once."
I turned the tank onto its face on some towels and moving blankets. I put a towel on the inside as well, because when the cut piece falls it could break the tank it it hits it. I actually brought home a jig device that attaches to an electric drill to turn it into a sort of a drill press. This was beneficial for ensuring a straight cut by the bit, but it was not 100% necessary.
Drill Press Attachment As you can see from this photo, I put plumbers putty around my hole to build a dam to hold water. I then added water to the dam. and started drilling.
The key to the whole drilling process is "GO SLOW". I would say you are running like 700 RPM. This is not a speed contest. You must remember you technically are not "Drilling" the tank, you are grinding a hole in it. Once trick I later learned is to leave the bit loose. Not real loose, but loose enough that if it binds, it will stop turning in the chuck of the drill. If the bit binds, it will shatter the glass.
Do not drill with much pressure. The weight f the drill is almost enough weight, just a slight amount of additional pressure is needed. Remember, grinding, not drilling.
DO NOT DRILL THE BOTTOM OF YOUR TANK! Most tanks have tempered glass on the bottoms. These will shatter and they sound like a bomb going off when they do. When in doubt, don't drill it. Check with the manufacturer before you drill ANY part of the tank to be sure the glass is not tempered.
My first hole took about 15 minutes to drill. I added new water to the dam I built every few minutes.
My glass was pretty thick. Remember, the thinner the glass the harder it is to drill without breaking. Shortly after drilling these three holes, I broke a 20 long because I drilled too fast and didn't take my time.
I watched someone drill a tank two weeks ago by drilling it with the glass being vertical. I prefer a horizontal glass, but the reason they did it vertical was because they taped an air line to the tank and siphoned water from a jar to drip on the bit/cut area ans they were drilling. I would say that it is about the same, but the you do have to have a steady hand to begin the hole as the bit would tend to want to walk on you. This is where the jig was helpful.
A few safety notes:
- Always wear glasses to protect your eyes. You can always buy another tank, but new eyes are hard to come by.
- Always wash the tank and you hands after drilling. The water turns cloudy. That is because of the tiny glass particles in it. If you get those in your eyes you will not be a happy camper.
- Always use a GFCI outlet when using an electric too around water.
I hope other can add to this as I am sure I have missed a thing or two. Don't be scared, it is not a bad as it looks.
