Glass floats.

Jamo7 · Jan 5, 2021

My Family had to move my grandma out of her apartment and into a care facility this week. While moving all of her stuff I found these really old glass fishing bouy floats. Thinking of some way I can incorporate them into my tank somehow. Even if I just drill a hole and sink them I think they would be a nice addition. Anyway. Let me know if you guys have any ideas. The smallest float is around the size of a tennis ball. Biggest is soccer ball size.

Waters · Jan 5, 2021

They are cool.....but unfortunately they are just going to be quickly covered with algae. Maybe if you threw some encrusting coral on them? They would look cool completely encrusted over.

Dom · Jan 5, 2021

I don't know how big your tank is, so that is something to consider.

I don't know that you would be able to drill them without breaking them.

GlassMunky · Jan 5, 2021

Jamo7 said:
My Family had to move my grandma out of her apartment and into a care facility this week. While moving all of her stuff I found these really old glass fishing bouy floats. Thinking of some way I can incorporate them into my tank somehow. Even if I just drill a hole and sink them I think they would be a nice addition. Anyway. Let me know if you guys have any ideas. The smallest float is around the size of a tennis ball. Biggest is soccer ball size.

Dom said:
I don't know how big your tank is, so that is something to consider.

I don't know that you would be able to drill them without breaking them.

You would need to use a diamond blade and a wet drill, but being “art glass” they are going to be annealed, not tempered, so drilling should be fine as long as you have the proper tools to do so.

Dom · Jan 5, 2021

GlassMunky said:
You would need to use a diamond blade and a wet drill, but being “art glass” they are going to be annealed, not tempered, so drilling should be fine as long as you have the proper tools to do so.

Won't they be thin and delicate?

I would think it will take the right tools in the hands of a person with a surgeon's touch.

GlassMunky · Jan 5, 2021

Dom said:
Won't they be thin and delicate?

I would think it will take the right tools in the hands of a person with a surgeon's touch.

Not really. Glass is a lot tougher than people give it credit for.
just go slow and use a lot of water for lubrication and you should be fine.

Jamo7 · Jan 5, 2021

Dom said:
I don't know how big your tank is, so that is something to consider.

I don't know that you would be able to drill them without breaking them.

I currently have a 240 gal in the works. And that is what these would go in. It’s a ways down the road though. It would be cool to keep the smaller ones still able to float somehow? Not just floating free but attached to rock work or something.
the glass is pretty thick, they were originally used to float fishing nets in Japan in the 1940-1950’s before they switched to cork and styrofoam (from what I have read)