Vertical Drilling

[Timbo]

Ok, this thread is for masterswimmer since I see he has returned. After talking to Russ about drilling a tank he said that the best way to do it is to make a well with putty and fill with water. Since my 29g biocube is filled with water, liverock, and two beautiful black clowns (courtesy of HOF) I needed to figure out how to drill the tank in place.

Steps
1. Drain the filtration area.
2. Duck tape a bag to the back of the glass to catch the water run off from keeping the drill head wet, which then drained into a bucket next to the tank.
3. Duck tape the glass to minimize chipping.
4. Set up a drip system to keep the drill head wet.
5. Drill


Most of you probably think that this was crazy considering the tank was full, but let me tell you it worked awesome. Now I have a drilled biocube with an custom built sump that I picked up from HOF. I can now add more livestock to the tank, have a bigger skimmer (Euroreef), and still keep the look of a nano.

Here are some pics. I have to thank Russ for the support, because without it I probably wouldn't have tried this.

 

[Lenny718]

Great job!

 

[House of Laughter]

It is always possible to do - equally probable that it will fail.

Two words for you!

Play Lotto!! :thrash:

Great job.

House

 

[jhale]

it looks great, but what would you have done if it cracked


if your feeling lucky want to come over and drill my sump


one question what's the electrical tape for on the plumbing?

 

[Timbo]

a little drip coming from under there. just a quick fix till the weekend.

 

[reefnewbe]

Thrill seeker:bigeyes2:

 

[Bob 1000]

Have a little more confidence in your self.... Every tank I have owned was drilled with live stock in it... Just have a towel under the hole and and air line tubing siphon from a small pitcher watering the drill bit on the glass... Great job..

 

[grisha]

good job man,,, sorry for that overflow situation again man...but you drilled your tank so much better, i have my part in this lol

 

[yeahcheetah]

I guess when aiptasia get huge, they earn their right to live

 

[masterswimmer]

Tim, great job buddy. VERY glad it worked out for you.

Let me add a little caveat for anyone else reading this and making the decision to drill a filled tank. Tim's tank is a biocube. It has a section in the back of the tank that can be emptied of all water. This allowed him to keep his animals in the display section and drill the backside of the tank empty. Still, a scary thought, but much less risk to the animals if there was a failure.

Great job Tim. Now I want to see that blue carpet host those Australian Black's.

R

 

[NYreefNoob]

whats size ap is that ? i have a 24g ap that i took the back out cause it was drilled, and basically usinf it as a rr tank

 

[Timbo]

It is a 29g biocube. I left the back set up with rubble in it and the stock charcoal filter. The sump was to increase water volume and add a good size skimmer. Working on upgrading the lights to MH.

 

[NYreefNoob]

i put a 250w mh on mine. imagine the room you gain without the back wall :wink1:. plus thats what the sump is for. looks good either way though