my crazy idea

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 11:26 AM

this may be a BAD idea, or it may be a really good one for my situation...

what if... I drilled (4) 1/2" holes in the top left, back glass of my tank (horizontally) and siliconed a homemade overflow box?

this would save me about $100 on the overflow I was considering

topherc84 · 03/26/2008, 11:55 AM

I've done something similar with 1" holes in a 58 gallon and made a coast to coast overflow. worked out great. Just make sure your holes arent too close together which weaken the glass. Maybe leave atleast 1.5-2" between holes.

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 12:18 PM

that was one of my main concerns. got pics?

the "crazy" thing is, I was thinking about draining 3/4 of the tank, making a duct tape "bowl" on the inside, and drilling it from the back, with my fish still in the tank. If the wall cracked I would be in some serious trouble. I guess I'd have to take out my livestock to be safe.

so this might actually work...

JUNI0R · 03/26/2008, 03:04 PM

If it's a 55g (like your sig line says) it's tempered glass on all 5 sides and you can't drill it.

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 03:13 PM

that's what I was afraid of. Do you know how to check this? It's an AGA. I'll see if I can find some general specs on it...

thank you tho

rhoptowit · 03/26/2008, 03:19 PM

call the manufacturer. or there was a test you could do yourself using polorized lenses or something like that..i think.

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 03:25 PM

I can't wait to "build" a new, bigger setup. Until then I'm just trying my best to do what I can now. I can't spend $110 on the overflow alone, it just doesn't make sense when I could put that toward a new tank.
I'll post up when I figure out what I'm gonna do

Thanks guys!

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 03:46 PM

I did some research and it turns out some of AGA's 55's WERE tempered and some were NOT tempered.

DAMMIT!

lol.....kinda

kayne_21 · 03/26/2008, 03:52 PM

If you actually call AGA with the part number of the aquarium they would be able to tell you for sure. That's what I did with my 75 and it turned out just the bottom pane was tempered. They said this was the case of all their tanks over I believe 30g. But personally I would call to make sure.

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 04:05 PM

I don't think I'd be able to get the part #

JUNI0R · 03/26/2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sk8rreefgeek
I can't wait to "build" a new, bigger setup. Until then I'm just trying my best to do what I can now. I can't spend $110 on the overflow alone, it just doesn't make sense when I could put that toward a new tank.
I'll post up when I figure out what I'm gonna do

Thanks guys!

Just save up for a 90 or 120, you can get a used one pretty cheap and I don't think they are tempered on all sides you'd need to double check, plus you can reuse some of your equipment since they are the same length and about the same height. 110 for an overflow is already half the cost of the bigger tank.

sk8rreefgeek · 03/26/2008, 05:42 PM

that's my plan. A pre-drilled 120 sounds good..

03/26/2008, 11:26 AM	#1
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	my crazy idea this may be a BAD idea, or it may be a really good one for my situation... what if... I drilled (4) 1/2" holes in the top left, back glass of my tank (horizontally) and siliconed a homemade overflow box? this would save me about $100 on the overflow I was considering

03/26/2008, 12:18 PM	#3
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	that was one of my main concerns. got pics? the "crazy" thing is, I was thinking about draining 3/4 of the tank, making a duct tape "bowl" on the inside, and drilling it from the back, with my fish still in the tank. If the wall cracked I would be in some serious trouble. I guess I'd have to take out my livestock to be safe. so this might actually work... __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

03/26/2008, 03:13 PM	#5
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	that's what I was afraid of. Do you know how to check this? It's an AGA. I'll see if I can find some general specs on it... thank you tho __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

03/26/2008, 03:25 PM	#7
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	I can't wait to "build" a new, bigger setup. Until then I'm just trying my best to do what I can now. I can't spend $110 on the overflow alone, it just doesn't make sense when I could put that toward a new tank. I'll post up when I figure out what I'm gonna do Thanks guys! __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

03/26/2008, 03:46 PM	#8
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	I did some research and it turns out some of AGA's 55's WERE tempered and some were NOT tempered. DAMMIT! lol.....kinda __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

03/26/2008, 11:55 AM	#2
topherc84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 70	I've done something similar with 1" holes in a 58 gallon and made a coast to coast overflow. worked out great. Just make sure your holes arent too close together which weaken the glass. Maybe leave atleast 1.5-2" between holes.

03/26/2008, 03:04 PM	#4
JUNI0R Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 272	If it's a 55g (like your sig line says) it's tempered glass on all 5 sides and you can't drill it.

03/26/2008, 03:19 PM	#6
rhoptowit Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 415	call the manufacturer. or there was a test you could do yourself using polorized lenses or something like that..i think.

03/26/2008, 03:52 PM	#9
kayne_21 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 209	If you actually call AGA with the part number of the aquarium they would be able to tell you for sure. That's what I did with my 75 and it turned out just the bottom pane was tempered. They said this was the case of all their tanks over I believe 30g. But personally I would call to make sure.

03/26/2008, 04:05 PM	#10
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	I don't think I'd be able to get the part # __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

03/26/2008, 05:42 PM	#12
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	that's my plan. A pre-drilled 120 sounds good.. __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg