Can this tank bottom be drilled?

[reefmaster70]

Got a local 120g tank for sale, and current owner doesn't know brand or anything about the tank. I am curious if anyone knows just by looking at it if they think the bottom can be drilled for a bottom drain/overflow? I hate hang on overflows and really want to install a bottom drain and return. Thanks.

 

[bizzynewreefs]

Well. Is it tempered glass?

 

[Tamberav]

I believe no one can tell you that and you would need to use polarized sunglasses and white screen to check it.

Even if someone knew the manufacturer, they actually sometimes randomly make something tempered once and then not. You could ask if there is a sticker that says on the bottom that can be seen through the glass, though this won't tell you that it isn't just because there is no sticker... just might tell you that it is.

 

[reefmaster70]

Well. Is it tempered glass?

well if I knew that, I would know if it could be drilled or not.

 

[bizzynewreefs]

well if I knew that, I would know if it could be drilled or not.

How am I supposed to know based off a photo? I figured maybe you didn't know the difference between glass types or something. Sorry for chiming in, Goodluck with your hobby bud. I hope you find success, and a better attitude.

Cheers.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

I can’t say for sure but if it were my call I wouldn’t chance it. Most aquarium bottoms are made of tempered glass. This is because tempered is stronger than regular and is better able to withstand higher water pressure, the weight of sand/rocks, decorations and what not. Could you just drill the back wall for your overflow?

 

[reefmaster70]

I can’t say for sure but if it were my call I wouldn’t chance it. Most aquarium bottoms are made of tempered glass. This is because tempered is stronger than regular and is better able to withstand higher water pressure, the weight of sand/rocks, decorations and what not. Could you just drill the back wall for your overflow?

I could drill the side, and for $25 for a 120 gallon is crazy cheap. BUT, My design is to be able to view my tank from both sides, so I want the overflow to drain out the bottom of the tank and down into the stand..so there is no pipes or tubes on either side of the display.

 

[FrugalReeferJon]

Check out this vid. Hope it helps.

 

[RocketEngineer]

I could drill the side, and for $25 for a 120 gallon is crazy cheap. BUT, My design is to be able to view my tank from both sides, so I want the overflow to drain out the bottom of the tank and down into the stand..so there is no pipes or tubes on either side of the display.

You could drill the short end and make it a peninsula style tank. Just a thought.

 

[Fish Fan]

As for drilling the tank, the best way to know for sure is with the polarized sunglasses trick @FrugalReeferJon linked above. Keep in mind that even if the bottom was tempered, many times the back and side panels are not, and you could easily add an overflow like these from Modular Marine to any of those panels, like what @RocketEngineer mentioned.

My comment is that I personally would redo the silicon seams of this tank. I have for years scraped all the interior silicon out of an old tank, cleaned the glass well with acetone, and reapplied new, aquarium safe silicon. I've done this on over 12 tanks I'd guess, the largest were a 75 and a 125, all standard, rimmed tanks (the 125 I know is still holding water 7 years later, though it's not my tank). This has always worked well for me going back many years now.

However, more recently here on R2R I've been told that doing this in not recommended. Many here say that to reseal a tank you necessarily need to separate the glass panels and remove even the little bit of silicon in between the panels and more or less rebuild the tank from scratch. They say that to leave the old silicon in between the glass in inviting a catastrophe.

Good luck with your new tank!