Drilling a Filled Tank

[rooneyj889]

Hey all, my tank has been running for a month and a half with a canister filter. However, I have decided to install a sump and do not want to use a HOB overflow because I do not want to deal with problems with it in the future. So, I am planning on drilling my tank.

For the drilling, I am going to empty the tank, but I am not sure what to do with the sand. Should i leave it in the tank while J am drilling? My tank hasn't been up for too long and I haven't turned the lights on yet so i am not dealing with algae in the sand or anything like that, I just don't want to make it unsafe for the fish by disturbing the sand bed.

Anyone have any experience with this or any recommendations?

 

[piranhaman00]

Its not a good idea. How big of a tank?

HOB overflows from lifereef have a great track record. I am using one for over a year now without a single bubble in the Utube or other issues.

 

[ScubaFish802]

From my understanding you will want to to remove the sand and turn the tank so the drill side is facing up, and drill while running water over the area the entire time (garden hose usually). Also want to verify your glass is not tempered as it will shatter if you drill it.

Scoop it all out into a bucket or something.

 

[mrlavalamp]

drilling with the sand in just sounds problematic to me.

I think you will have the best experience drilling if you can drill down vs. sideways. better lubrication and easier to keep it square and steady.

 

[rooneyj889]

Its not a good idea. How big of a tank?

HOB overflows from lifereef have a great track record. I am using one for over a year now without a single bubble in the Utube or other issues.

75 gallon. Was going to take it off and put it on the side not drill it on the stand

 

[rooneyj889]

drilling with the sand in just sounds problematic to me.

I think you will have the best experience drilling if you can drill down vs. sideways. better lubrication and easier to keep it square and steady.

Do you think it'll be fine if i scoop the sand out? Tank is relatively new so i don't think disturbing the sand bed is hugely problematic but i just want to make sure

 

[BrandonS]

If you've drilled glass or tile before it can be done. I would use a towel underneath where you are drilling. Start with drill at 45 degrees till it bites. Then go for it. Dab with wet rag during drilling. Use a regular drill and check for tempered first. It can be done but it's better if you have some confidence with the operation. A practice hole or two in a Tile or glass is recommended in better circumstances.

I have seen and done it with water still in the tank.

 

[mrlavalamp]

Do you think it'll be fine if i scoop the sand out? Tank is relatively new so i don't think disturbing the sand bed is hugely problematic but i just want to make sure

totally, brandon429 has some great posts in his history about sand removal and moving tanks and the like if you want some better information than I have.

 

[mijan]

If you're going to put it on the side then your concern of disturbing the sandbed is irrelevant as the sand would just fall onto the opposite side. In your scenario it won't make any difference to remove it

 

[92Miata]

For a 75 - I'd find one used on Craigslist/Facebook/whatever and drill that one - and then just do a swap. It'll make the transfer-day way easier. Then sell the current tank.

You really don't want to end up in a situation where you've got everything in bins and you crack the tank.

 

[rooneyj889]

For a 75 - I'd find one used on Craigslist/Facebook/whatever and drill that one - and then just do a swap. It'll make the transfer-day way easier. Then sell the current tank.

You really don't want to end up in a situation where you've got everything in bins and you crack the tank.

If I have everything in bins and crack the tank I know my lfs has a 75 gallon so I am not too worried about that. All I am worried about is disturbing the sand bed and causing problems when I put the fish back in.

 

[rooneyj889]

So what I am seeing is that I should rinse the sand before putting it back in the tank. Wouldn't that cause problems and cause my tank to re-cycle?

 

[mrlavalamp]

less than 2 months in you should be fine to scoop the sand into clean buckets and then put back.

You will be re starting your cycle anyways.

 

[ScubaFish802]

The bacteria you want in the sand will stay stuck to the sand particles beneath a film of “insulation”. As long as it doesn’t dry out you wont kill the beneficial bacteria by moving it around.

There’s plenty of sand rip and rinse threads here on R2R. If anything you are cleaning the gunk out of the sand allowing the bacteria to work better when it is added back to the tank.

 

[rooneyj889]

less than 2 months in you should be fine to scoop the sand into clean buckets and then put back.

You will be re starting your cycle anyways.

How will i be restarting my cycle anyways?

 

[mrlavalamp]

So what I am seeing is that I should rinse the sand before putting it back in the tank. Wouldn't that cause problems and cause my tank to re-cycle?

I dont think you have much choice on at least a small re-cycle period.

You will be adding significant new equipment, and you will have to keep the rock/sand wet and warm to avoid most, but all things combined the pragmatic approach is (imo) to just consider this a recycle and watch your levels to see what happens.

 

[rooneyj889]

The bacteria you want in the sand will stay stuck to the sand particles beneath a film of “insulation”. As long as it doesn’t dry out you wont kill the beneficial bacteria by moving it around.

So then I should be fine just scooping it out into a bucket and putting a lid on the bucket to make sure it stays wet

 

[rooneyj889]

I dont think you have much choice on at least a small re-cycle period.

You will be adding significant new equipment, and you will have to keep the rock/sand wet and warm to avoid most, but all things combined the pragmatic approach is (imo) to just consider this a recycle and watch your levels to see what happens.

Yeah, was planning on watching my levels anyways. Going to put the live rock in a brute bin so not worried about sand or rock drying out.

 

[ScubaFish802]

So then I should be fine just scooping it out into a bucket and putting a lid on the bucket to make sure it stays wet

Yes,

This thread will give you better answers about the sand portion of your questions faster than me typing them if you’re interested -

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[rooneyj889]

Yes,

This thread will give you better answers about the sand portion of your questions faster than me typing them if you’re interested -

Official Sand Rinse and Tank Transfer thread

If you are reading this thread to cure a tank invasion from a link I sent you, we do not need to identify your type of invasion here we do not need you to test anything at anytime regarding nitrate, phosphate etc Above all, we do not need to see a microscope slide picture of your invasion at...

www.reef2reef.com

Yeah, I did read that thread. So what i'm gathering is that I should scoop the sand into a bucket and then before I put the sand back in the tank I should rinse the sand out.