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- Feb 19, 2020
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For next to nothing, I bought an Aqueon 20 gallon long and a solid metal stand for it, 15 gallon fits well underneath for a sump.
Truth: I am enamored of this set up, low cost aside. It will be perfect for a species specific FOWLR I want to start (also a good QT setup). Perfect form factor, looks great, etc. A 40 gallon breeder will actually be too big for what I want, etc.
Problem?
I have drilled a tank before, it was easy. But I'm getting cold feet here. I'm concerned that the glass here is too risky to be drilling- whether for something like a Modular Marine external overflow (2 x 1" bulkheads and 3 x 1/2" drains), or any sort of internal overflow going out through bulkheads. I'm happy to have an up and over for the return- I won't be drilling for the return. But getting down to the sump...
The problem is not that I will crack it while drilling. I'm out $20 if that happens, and can just buy another. So that's no problem.
The problem is will this thing crack someday and thus flood my house? It seems much higher risk than usual for this? The plumbing will be very well supported. Still... I'm getting jittery.
Some reliable resources claim one should not hang/drill on anything less than 6mm glass, that most flood stories are with smaller tanks. I think this Aqueon is around 5mm, it's slightly less than my 6 mm rimless tank. I notice the warranty is shorter for their smaller tanks but lifetime or similar for their larger tanks. Am I naively wondering into risk that one can easily miss (i.e. "should be no problem, smaller is obviously safer")?
Thoughts? Alternatives? Does anyone make an identical footprint 20 gallon long with thicker glass? Stories of long term success, warm my feet?
Truth: I am enamored of this set up, low cost aside. It will be perfect for a species specific FOWLR I want to start (also a good QT setup). Perfect form factor, looks great, etc. A 40 gallon breeder will actually be too big for what I want, etc.
Problem?
I have drilled a tank before, it was easy. But I'm getting cold feet here. I'm concerned that the glass here is too risky to be drilling- whether for something like a Modular Marine external overflow (2 x 1" bulkheads and 3 x 1/2" drains), or any sort of internal overflow going out through bulkheads. I'm happy to have an up and over for the return- I won't be drilling for the return. But getting down to the sump...
The problem is not that I will crack it while drilling. I'm out $20 if that happens, and can just buy another. So that's no problem.
The problem is will this thing crack someday and thus flood my house? It seems much higher risk than usual for this? The plumbing will be very well supported. Still... I'm getting jittery.
Some reliable resources claim one should not hang/drill on anything less than 6mm glass, that most flood stories are with smaller tanks. I think this Aqueon is around 5mm, it's slightly less than my 6 mm rimless tank. I notice the warranty is shorter for their smaller tanks but lifetime or similar for their larger tanks. Am I naively wondering into risk that one can easily miss (i.e. "should be no problem, smaller is obviously safer")?
Thoughts? Alternatives? Does anyone make an identical footprint 20 gallon long with thicker glass? Stories of long term success, warm my feet?
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