Drill a hole on acrylic?

GoblinFish · 02/11/2008, 08:24 PM

Hello all, i recently decided to redo my refugium which is going to be connected to my sump that is made out of acrylic. Now i need to drill a hole in the sump so that i can run water from the refugium to the sump. Unfortunately my stand wont allow me to have a bigger sump so im stuck with this method, and i also cant pull the sump put out of the cabinet because the sump was placed in the cabinet from the back of the cabinet before it was moved against the back wall (damn 55G wallmart stand!

).
My question is, how can i drill a 3/4" hole into my sump without breaking it? the sump will be holding water while i do this so if it cracks in any shape or form im going to be in trouble.
Which drill bit do i need to buy in order to do this?

any help is much appreciated!

thanks.

Setec · 02/11/2008, 08:39 PM

with only 55 gallons, I would drain half the tank, get a friend and move the tank from the wall, remove the sump and drill it away from the tank.

I would not want all of that acrylic dust floating in my tank nor take a chance of screwing up in close quarters.

Pulp Fishin · 02/11/2008, 08:44 PM

DO NOT DRILL WHILE WATER IS IN THE SUMP!

The water will add extra pressure which it might be too much for it to stay stable! I recoment setec sugestion to drain half or more then with soem help move the tank and empy the sump before you do any dilling.

SquidHC · 02/11/2008, 08:51 PM

As for drilling acrylic, you can use just about anything meant for wood applications. Go pick up a cheap "hole saw" the size you need and go at it. Dont push, let the but work its way through slowly.

GoblinFish · 02/11/2008, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pulp Fishin
DO NOT DRILL WHILE WATER IS IN THE SUMP!

The water will add extra pressure which it might be too much for it to stay stable! I recoment setec sugestion to drain half or more then with soem help move the tank and empy the sump before you do any dilling.

i can drain the sump but moving the stand forward is going to be a pain...

Setec · 02/11/2008, 09:59 PM

a pain to move and be sure of not screwing up your tank or mess up and rush to move the tank to get the sump that is now cracked and leaking out from under your tank and have your filtration shut down?

I just wouldnt chance that one. If it was a 100g+ maybe, but I have moved 55g with fish still in the tank. Just drain enough to move the tank and youll be ok.

02/11/2008, 08:24 PM	#1
GoblinFish Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 366	Drill a hole on acrylic? Hello all, i recently decided to redo my refugium which is going to be connected to my sump that is made out of acrylic. Now i need to drill a hole in the sump so that i can run water from the refugium to the sump. Unfortunately my stand wont allow me to have a bigger sump so im stuck with this method, and i also cant pull the sump put out of the cabinet because the sump was placed in the cabinet from the back of the cabinet before it was moved against the back wall (damn 55G wallmart stand!). My question is, how can i drill a 3/4" hole into my sump without breaking it? the sump will be holding water while i do this so if it cracks in any shape or form im going to be in trouble. Which drill bit do i need to buy in order to do this? any help is much appreciated! thanks.

02/11/2008, 08:44 PM	#3
Pulp Fishin Were all mad here. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London Ontario Canada Posts: 608	DO NOT DRILL WHILE WATER IS IN THE SUMP! The water will add extra pressure which it might be too much for it to stay stable! I recoment setec sugestion to drain half or more then with soem help move the tank and empy the sump before you do any dilling. __________________ Reef Central Corner Club Aquarium Dumpster Diver Extraordinaire Money talks, mine says "Good-Bye" Current Tank Info: RIP:60g Pentagon Reef 100lbs LR 20g Sump Deltec Mce 600 Mag 750 250W Metal Halide & 2x39W T5's Phosban ReactorX2 5gal refugium 36xTO RIP:135G FOWLER /Agressive

02/11/2008, 08:51 PM	#4
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	As for drilling acrylic, you can use just about anything meant for wood applications. Go pick up a cheap "hole saw" the size you need and go at it. Dont push, let the but work its way through slowly. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

02/11/2008, 08:39 PM	#2
Setec Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 138	with only 55 gallons, I would drain half the tank, get a friend and move the tank from the wall, remove the sump and drill it away from the tank. I would not want all of that acrylic dust floating in my tank nor take a chance of screwing up in close quarters.

02/11/2008, 09:59 PM	#6
Setec Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 138	a pain to move and be sure of not screwing up your tank or mess up and rush to move the tank to get the sump that is now cracked and leaking out from under your tank and have your filtration shut down? I just wouldnt chance that one. If it was a 100g+ maybe, but I have moved 55g with fish still in the tank. Just drain enough to move the tank and youll be ok.