Anyone drilled a 10g tank?

LobsterOfJustice · 04/21/2008, 07:32 AM

Hello all,

I am setting up a breeding rack which consists mostly of ten gallon tanks. I already have purchased the tanks and built the rack itself, but I am worried about drilling the tanks because I have heard that ten gallon tanks specifically are difficult to drill without cracking. Something about the thin glass they use maybe. I have ordered the diamond bit and all the bulkheads, but I'm hoping all this wasnt a waste of money.

Anyway, I guess I just want to know whether anyone has some personal experience that can debunk the "myth" (hopefully) that you can't drill a ten gallon tank.

mille239 · 04/21/2008, 07:46 AM

I just did a 10 gallon this weekend. I had no problem at all, just go slowly and use plenty of water to keep the bit cool. I drill all mine using a roto-zip, and their tile cutting bit, and have never had a tank crack on me yet.

good luck.

LobsterOfJustice · 04/21/2008, 07:54 AM

Whew, looks like I'm not $150 in the hole!

Any idea what brand it was? Mine are Top Fin which I'm a little worried are "el cheapo".

mille239 · 04/21/2008, 08:31 AM

Mine was an oldie, but I think it was Krislin or something like that.... worst case scenario, if you accidently crack one, you're only out like 10 bucks. I'm confident you shall succeed though.

fishysteve · 04/21/2008, 08:31 AM

I drilled my AGA 10 gal about 6 months ago. I did crack the first one, but then I practiced on it a little. I had no problems after a few practice holes.

nauticac4 · 04/21/2008, 08:41 AM

put something behind where you are drilling like a srap of 2x4 and lightly clamp it in place. Thats how I have drilled thin tanks and have only broken 1.

mille239 · 04/21/2008, 09:03 AM

Mine was an oldie, but I think it was Krislin or something like that.... worst case scenario, if you accidently crack one, you're only out like 10 bucks. I'm confident you shall succeed though.

LobsterOfJustice · 04/21/2008, 11:34 AM

Thanks guys. These will be the first tanks I have drilled. My girlfriend wasn't the most supportive either ("wait, YOU'RE drilling the tanks?!").

I really am not worried about drilling the 20H that is also on the rack. Its not the drilling itself that worries me, just the fact that I had heard 10's couldnt be done. I feel much better now

What I was thinking is worst case scenario, I cant drill any of the ten gallons, and I'm out the tanks, lumber, and weekend it took to build the rack setup. But it sounds like I should be alright.

Twz · 04/21/2008, 11:50 AM

Never drilled a 10 but i have trill about seven 5 gallon tanks and about three 2.5 gallon tanks.

04/21/2008, 07:32 AM	#1
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Anyone drilled a 10g tank? Hello all, I am setting up a breeding rack which consists mostly of ten gallon tanks. I already have purchased the tanks and built the rack itself, but I am worried about drilling the tanks because I have heard that ten gallon tanks specifically are difficult to drill without cracking. Something about the thin glass they use maybe. I have ordered the diamond bit and all the bulkheads, but I'm hoping all this wasnt a waste of money. Anyway, I guess I just want to know whether anyone has some personal experience that can debunk the "myth" (hopefully) that you can't drill a ten gallon tank. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/21/2008, 07:46 AM	#2
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	I just did a 10 gallon this weekend. I had no problem at all, just go slowly and use plenty of water to keep the bit cool. I drill all mine using a roto-zip, and their tile cutting bit, and have never had a tank crack on me yet. good luck. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/21/2008, 07:54 AM	#3
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Whew, looks like I'm not $150 in the hole! Any idea what brand it was? Mine are Top Fin which I'm a little worried are "el cheapo". __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

04/21/2008, 08:31 AM	#4
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Mine was an oldie, but I think it was Krislin or something like that.... worst case scenario, if you accidently crack one, you're only out like 10 bucks. I'm confident you shall succeed though. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/21/2008, 08:31 AM	#5
fishysteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,804	I drilled my AGA 10 gal about 6 months ago. I did crack the first one, but then I practiced on it a little. I had no problems after a few practice holes. __________________ On a break

04/21/2008, 08:41 AM	#6
nauticac4 Baby Fish Wrangler Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,237	put something behind where you are drilling like a srap of 2x4 and lightly clamp it in place. Thats how I have drilled thin tanks and have only broken 1. __________________ Put Wings on it and Let it Fly!!! PBITAWA !!! Current Tank Info: 180 Cube 3x3x3. 29Gallon Sump 20 Gallon Fuge (1) Lumenarc Reflector w. 250W ARO Ballast and - Modded GS1 Skimmer - Eheim 1262 Return - Vortech MP40W and Swirler Stein

04/21/2008, 09:03 AM	#7
mille239 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Harrison Twp., MI Posts: 1,644	Mine was an oldie, but I think it was Krislin or something like that.... worst case scenario, if you accidently crack one, you're only out like 10 bucks. I'm confident you shall succeed though. __________________ -Blair Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the creation of this post, though a significant number of electrons may have been inconvenienced. Current Tank Info: 120 SPS reef in progress, 120 mixed reef, currently being completely rebuilt)

04/21/2008, 11:34 AM	#8
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Thanks guys. These will be the first tanks I have drilled. My girlfriend wasn't the most supportive either ("wait, YOU'RE drilling the tanks?!"). I really am not worried about drilling the 20H that is also on the rack. Its not the drilling itself that worries me, just the fact that I had heard 10's couldnt be done. I feel much better now What I was thinking is worst case scenario, I cant drill any of the ten gallons, and I'm out the tanks, lumber, and weekend it took to build the rack setup. But it sounds like I should be alright. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles Last edited by LobsterOfJustice; 04/21/2008 at 11:56 AM.

04/21/2008, 11:50 AM	#9
Twz Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Edmonton Posts: 628	Never drilled a 10 but i have trill about seven 5 gallon tanks and about three 2.5 gallon tanks.