Drilling New and Capping Old

Clownfish Chris · 02/24/2015, 06:50 PM

My office gave me a 120 gallon aquarium to set up as a reef. I have to move an existing 29 gallon mixed reef that has been set up for around 9months and incorporate it into the 120. I plan to use the 29 for a sump.

The bottom panel of the 120 has been drilled. There are two 1" holes halfway between the front and back panels each is about 1/3rd of the way to each end. I want to cap these holes and drill new ones near the pack panel and install an overflow. I have no problem drilling glass as I have done that before. My question is: Will I be causing concern for the bottom cracking by having too many holes, and how should I cap the existing holes? Also, does anyone have any advice on moving the 29 (15 miles away) and cycling the 120 (incorporation of live rock, sand, etc)?

thegrun · 02/24/2015, 08:39 PM

You can patch the old holes with a piece of glass and silicone. It is best to use glass the same thickness as the bottom for the patch. Here are the general guidelines for drilling glass, although I like to double the minimum spacing shown if space allows.
Holes must be minimum 4 x glass thickness to edge.
Minimum 6.5 times the glass thickness to a corner.
Minimum 4 glass thicknesses between holes.
Holes must not be less than glass thickness in diameter.
Hole must not be larger than 1/3 the glass panels narrowest dimension.

Clownfish Chris · 02/24/2015, 09:49 PM

Thanks thegrun. It sounds like I can drill 1.5" holes and use the scrap disks as patches.

02/24/2015, 06:50 PM	#1
Clownfish Chris Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 179	Drilling New and Capping Old My office gave me a 120 gallon aquarium to set up as a reef. I have to move an existing 29 gallon mixed reef that has been set up for around 9months and incorporate it into the 120. I plan to use the 29 for a sump. The bottom panel of the 120 has been drilled. There are two 1" holes halfway between the front and back panels each is about 1/3rd of the way to each end. I want to cap these holes and drill new ones near the pack panel and install an overflow. I have no problem drilling glass as I have done that before. My question is: Will I be causing concern for the bottom cracking by having too many holes, and how should I cap the existing holes? Also, does anyone have any advice on moving the 29 (15 miles away) and cycling the 120 (incorporation of live rock, sand, etc)?

02/24/2015, 08:39 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	You can patch the old holes with a piece of glass and silicone. It is best to use glass the same thickness as the bottom for the patch. Here are the general guidelines for drilling glass, although I like to double the minimum spacing shown if space allows. Holes must be minimum 4 x glass thickness to edge. Minimum 6.5 times the glass thickness to a corner. Minimum 4 glass thicknesses between holes. Holes must not be less than glass thickness in diameter. Hole must not be larger than 1/3 the glass panels narrowest dimension.

02/24/2015, 09:49 PM	#3
Clownfish Chris Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 179	Thanks thegrun. It sounds like I can drill 1.5" holes and use the scrap disks as patches.