Over the rim return lines, or drilled?

[UncommonSense]

Wow, that’s a lot of good tips I never knew about! Thank you my friend. Yes, my fiji cube comes with a guide which is nice. But I’ll need to get creative for my returns since they are a different size… so I’ll have to rig up a guide with plywood or something similar like you mentioned to keep that bit from slipping around!

Hey another random question while I have you here. When I go from ABS bulkhead slip to PVC from the overflow drain and the returns, is PVC glue ok? I have been reading that since the bulkheads are not pvc but rather ABS, you need a special glue that bonds the pvc to the ABS. What are your thoughts on this, any experience?

Appreciate ya!

I’m happy to spread the knowledge!

Oh! One last thing: light feed pressure while drilling at maximum, it’s an abrasive cut; let the hole saw nibble away at it! — especially when starting and finishing a hole!

You are correct about cements! I typically use readily available “all purpose pipe cement”; good for PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe/fittings!

I personally like to go NPT on my bulkheads, then adapt to slip from there! — you often cant remove a bulkhead with plumbing glued to the “threaded collar” side of the fitting! (Also, most in-tank plumbing components [loc-line adapters, etc] are NPT based!)

Edit: regarding your return hole drill guide; quick grip clamps or similar rubberized clamps work to hold your plywood in place! — also consider cutting a few grooves into the side of the plywood drill guide which is against the glass, allowing the glass dust to flow out!

 

[UncommonSense]

All this info applies to any glass drilling project, and honestly some tile and even acrylic drilling too!

For thicker tank walls though; you want to use a bit more sophisticated technique!

— Here’s a thread I helped out with recently regarding drilling a ~9/16” thick glass tank; I attached a photo there showing how quickly things can go sideways once you aren’t drilling through thicker material at a perfect right-angle!

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...n-from-glass-edge-is-safe-15mm-glass.1110487/

 

[itsTD]

I’m happy to spread the knowledge!

Oh! One last thing: light feed pressure while drilling at maximum, it’s an abrasive cut; let the hole saw nibble away at it! — especially when starting and finishing a hole!

You are correct about cements! I typically use readily available “all purpose pipe cement”; good for PVC, CPVC, and ABS pipe/fittings!

I personally like to go NPT on my bulkheads, then adapt to slip from there! — you often cant remove a bulkhead with plumbing glued to the “threaded collar” side of the fitting! (Also, most in-tank plumbing components [loc-line adapters, etc] are NPT based!)

Edit: regarding your return hole drill guide; quick grip clamps or similar rubberized clamps work to hold your plywood in place! — also consider cutting a few grooves into the side of the plywood drill guide which is against the glass, allowing the glass dust to flow out!

You got it! Appreciate all the knowledge! I wish I found this forum sooner. You all are amazing! Thanks again my friend.

 

[UncommonSense]

You got it! Appreciate all the knowledge! I wish I found this forum sooner. You all are amazing! Thanks again my friend.

Haha of course!

Don’t be afraid to ask if you have any other questions!