Okay folks...

Some time, in the near future, this WILL be available as a podcast bonus through the burners etc. However, after speaking with Rob and understanding the current scheulding etc. I've asked permission to let this one out, early, and off of the Talkingreef site. Sooooo.....

Gustavo (Neo) and I (JustDavidP) would like you to learn along with us about drilling tanks.... via this quick (less than 2 minutes) video, on YouTube...

YouTube - Tempered Tank Drilling

Enjoy!

David

ARGH! I think I'm going to vomit!!

He he he.... Whoda thunk that an AGA 29 was tempered like that?

That was SUPPOSED to be my lionfish tank :( Actually, Gustavo has another 29, drilled on the bottom, that he's giving to me. We're building an acrylic overflow box (when we build your box) and I'm going to durso it and sump it. It's allll goood :)

Anyways... it's worth the "investigation" to find out if even your smallest tanks are tempered before drilling eh?

He and I have drilled a BUNCH of tanks with this dremel method. This is his first loss in many years. We even dremeled my 29 Bow with the water half way and fish in there.. Can you imagine if this happened THEN?

Dave

HA. that would stink lol.. it was a nice tank though lol

i just think its good that it wasnt full of water....lol (dave.. ;) )

*pointing to tagline*

Told ya.. I'm always learning...always the newbie ;)

D

How do you tell if the tank is tempered or not. I knew my 44 gallon had a tempered bottom... because it had a sticker on it that said so.

Personally, I can't tell by just "looking". Yeah..I'd depend on a sticker... if new. Otherwise, I'd ensure that you contact the manufacturer before you take out the drill ;)

D

You should see David's face when I crack that tank, hehehe
He almost drop the camera.

How do you tell if the tank is tempered or not. I knew my 44 gallon had a tempered bottom... because it had a sticker on it that said so.

If you have a pair of polarizing sunglasses, you can look through them at the tank. It's best to have sunlight passing through or shining on the window when viewing it. You should also be looking at the tank at an angle rather than straight-on. Hold one lens close to one eye and slowly rotate it. If the glass appears to have a patchy, quilted, rainbow appearance and as you rotate the lens (this pattern will fluctuate during rotation), then you know that the glass is tempered.

Gustavo

Guess this would work with polarizing filter on a camera lens?

yes same thing.

But remember you need 2 polarizing lenses.

okay, come again please? :-)

I dunno...it's all gibberish to me... In English or Portuguese ;) He's setting up for filming at WGBH in Boston today and may not be back on until tonight.

I won't even pretend to answer...this stuff goes over my head. This is why I tag around with him... He's brighter than a Metal Halide... I'm always humbled by his thought processes.

Dave

A polarizing filter for a camera lens comes with two connected filters. One rotates independantly of the one mounted to the lens to create the desired polarizing effect. Not sure if he means two pieces of "glass" which would equal one polarizing filter or if you need 4 pieces of glass which would mean 2 polarizing filters.

Okay...just spoke with him on the phone..

He says, if you hold one polarized lens to your eye and a second, close to the glass itself, you should see the difference.

He likened it to using polarized sun glasses and looking at your windshield. You will see a pattern in the glass that looks like "foggy squares" or other pattern.

He said if you use just one lens, you may not see this. If you use one on your eye, and rotate that one around, while looking into another polarized lens close to the glass, you should see it.

I think I understand, and will go on to further guess that if you have a dual lens system for a polarized camera lens, and you hold it close to the glass, and look into it as you would a magnifying glass or telescope, you should see this. You have to look at an angle for the 'depth' or dimension in the glass, but you should see it.

Dave

Hey buddy that is pretty much it, I think you got it.

Wow.. I can even regurgitate good information from time to time eh? ;)

D

LOL.. I keep getting messages from people who saw this video on Youtube...basically saying "Why would you do that?"

So one person actually posted it there..in the comments... I had to leave another message explaining that I didn't MEAN to do this!

Dave

:doh: Kind of becomes one of those inside jokes that no one else understands.

Yikes!
Question is, if Gustavo knew all this about how to check for tempered glass . . . . ????? :D ;)

I have two 29s sitting empty in my shed . . . you're welcome to one if you want David. No charge of course, I can bring it to work one day if you want, Im only on the other side of 495.

To funny Mr Rob!!!
The thing is I did drill like 4 29g tanks and none of then crack, go figure!!
This is the 1st tank that I ever lost.

Thanks Rob :) Gustavo had another 29 that he drilled (Succesfully) for a 3/4 bulkhead. We made an overflow this weekend and I'll be using that one. Thanks again though.. yer one of the few Boston Reefers who doesn't ALWAYS try to make a buck :)

D

Heh, thats because I believe strongly in Karma and "Paying It Forward".
That and, I know this isnt really a manly thing to say but, I enjoy helping people just for the selfish good feeling it gives me.

I enjoy helping people just for the selfish good feeling it gives me.

I think that is the best thing about TR! We feel good about helping each other. :)

Okay...updates. I finally got my 29 Gallon Dwarf Lion Fish up and ready. Just waiting a few more days for true silicone cure etc. Then I'm plumbing the sucka!

It's been drilled. I built an overflow box at Neo's house (two attempts :) ) and put said box in place. I now need to build a durso and the external plumbing.

I painted the back all black.

Whatcha Think?

Dave

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/drilled.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/oflowbox1.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/OflowBox.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d176/JustDavidP/painted.jpg

You guys made the overflow wall? Do you know how much I paid to have one made to put in the 100g?!? I'm having tool envy. Great job.

It is EASY..

Measure, cut the acrylic sides. Notch the bottoms to fit the silicone bead already in the tank. Use the horizontal router table to cut the teeth, every half inch or whatever. Then weld-on the two sides together and after it cures, silicone the sucka into the tank... viola!

I guess mine was a little expensive because it was a single piece curved.

Y'all need to start you're own little store front... for those of use theat don't have routers and other fun stuff like that.

I did couple of overflow boxes with single curved piece of acrylic, it is a pain, takes to long to bend the acrylic, but can be done.

I'd be happy with the 3 piece Neo model :-)

so ... i have 1 question ... can you drill a tempered tank ?? :jester:


LMAO ....