Drilling mistake?

[ZoWhat]

@John A!10

Curious to know if you used Gorilla Duck Tape on both side of the glass as the bit spinned

 

[John A!10]

@John A!10

Curious to know if you used Gorilla Duck Tape on both side of the glass as the bit spinned

No just masking tape.

 

[John A!10]

Ok so I think my plan is:

1. just add the bulkhead and inspect. (Can you please elaborate on what exactly I should do with the lube on silicone, and will Vaseline work.
2. If it leaks add a bead of silicone, let it cure and inspect.
3. if it still leaks , try to re drill the whole bigger to fit the overflow.
4. Buy a new tank.

Tuesday the bulkheads arrive and I will test. Also for the silicone can I use the normal GE silicone, no additives.

 

[John A!10]

Also crack is on the inside.

 

[John A!10]

The reason I’m stepping away from the new tank, is because the dollar a gallon sale just ended, and I’ve been waiting months to setup the tank. Also I don’t really want to pay 60 for something I could get for 30.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I did the same thing you did pushing too hard and blowing out the back of the hole. It was a deal breaker for me and I scrapped the glass and made a new one.

Even though your tank is only 30 gallons, I still wouldn't personally risk it. Go fill up a 30 gallon garbage can in your drive way, then push it over. When you see how much water that actually is, then imagine that in your house. $60 is dirt cheap compared to the water damage of blowing out your tank. Not to mention what are you going to do with the live stock that was in that tank assuming you're even home to do anything about it.

On the plus side, the old one made a great template to use going forward. (I cut off the 4th hole as the template and the second try turned great.)

 

[chowberg]

I have a new idea. Do you think it is possible to make this hole bigger and put the overflow box.

Assuming the location of the hole will work with the overflow I think this is a great idea. You won’t worry need to buy a new tank and won’t need to worry. Most overflow bulkheads are lower than the return (assuming that this was a return), so I’d line up the overflow to make sure the water level is where you want it. Also, account for the orientation of the drain in the sump. Good luck!

 

[Jagg]

It’s a risk. You’l never know. It may be okay or it may not be. Personally given what you could lose if she blows, I’d replace the panel if possible. Relatively cheap to do ... or even get a new tank. Why risk it. Or set her outside fill her up and see what she’s does but for how Long? As a safety measure you could take a thicker square of glass with a decent overlap drill it first then glue it to the back. Make sure you clamp it down before drilling or she’ll spin. I would use something like C1 to glue it. It’s darn strong and it’ll be on the outside so perfectly safe. Yes tanks are female.... they always present a risk of exploding when men don’t foresee it. (I am for some reason assuming your a man, alas I could be wrong).

 

[Jagg]

Sorry CT1. This stuff available in all good hardware stores or on Amazon.

 

[samnaz]

I say it’s not worth the risk. Imagine you set up the tank, plumb it, full with water, and it leaks. If you’re fine with dealing with that when/if it happens, go for it. I’d rather start over again with a new tank, drill a clean hole and have no worries and no leaks to fix.

 

[Jagg]

Actually CT1 is fish safe and rated food grade... hum may use it for my build! Never knew that.

https://www.ct1.com/product-applications/reseal-glass-tank-aquarium/

 

[Alan_J_MN]

In my opinion, the primary parameter that will determine whether this holds up long term is stress on the glass. Any ‘twist’ stress on the glass is going to be translated to any weakness such as this, and that will eventually result in failure.
Are you confident that the entire surface on which the tank lies is absolutely totally flat ( long term) and therefore not transferring any stress to the glass?

 

[John A!10]

Ok so I’ll just try to put the overflow hole. If it doesn’t work, I’ll wait for a dollar a gallon sale to buy a new one.

 

[John A!10]

I just want to know. Has anyone had any experience with such a chip got it to leak or explode the glass?