Just drilled my tank-- help!

EMorabeet · 07/22/2012, 09:32 PM

I finally got the courage to drill my tank, and I am scared that I messed up. I can't put pictures up tonight, I will in the morning. First of all, the hole itself isn't completely straight. Its slightly angled for a small portion of it. Also, when I was finished a bunch of the glass around the bottom of the hole chipped off.

I am totally freaking out.

-Emily

joelbegt · 07/22/2012, 09:38 PM

Shelling where the bit breaks through is common when hand drilling. If you used the correct bit the hole will have wiggle room for the bulkhead to seal the chip even if the hole isn't 100% straight.

Only one way to see if it seals.

joelbegt · 07/22/2012, 09:39 PM

Worst case drill it one size bigger if it is an issue.

EMorabeet · 07/22/2012, 09:45 PM

I haven't even had an aquarium before, so I am worried that I won't be able to know if the seal will work properly. I will try to put up pictures asap.

And I guess I could drill a bigger hole if I needed to. Thanks!

Musing.Dog · 07/22/2012, 10:58 PM

You will know if the seal doesn't work because it will leak. The gaskets can cover up quite a bit. The pictures will probably show though.

cmantis · 07/23/2012, 12:10 AM

I wouldn't freak out. I just drilled 8 holes in my two 40g breeders. I had the same thing happened with the slight angle and some chipping.

EMorabeet · 07/23/2012, 11:19 AM

Here is the core from the hole I drilled. I drilled from the outside of the tank in, so the slightly angled part is on the outside glass, and the chips are on the inside. After looking around some, I realize that this is a common issue people run into when drilling their tank, and nothing that a little silicone can't solve (if there are even any problems with the seal in the first place) but I tend stick on the safe side, and will probably take some preventative measures when plumbing.

Thanks everyone for your help

photo.jpg

2photo.jpg

3photo.jpg

EMorabeet · 07/23/2012, 11:24 AM

Here is the hole in the aquarium itself.

4photo.jpg

Kyuss · 07/23/2012, 11:28 AM

Looks fine to me. I drilled my 150g that has a 5/8" back panel and it turned out similar to yours. No issues with leaking. Just make sure you put the gasket on the inside.

Digitalelectric · 07/23/2012, 11:29 AM

Not sure I would have put the hole so close to the edge personally, but I tend to be overly paranoid. You can see if there are wider rubber gaskets to cover more surface area. Otherwise take it out to the driveway (flat part of the driveway) and fillerup. Easiest way to find out.

bluewater921 · 07/23/2012, 11:33 AM

looks fine .. the rubber gasket will cover most of the scratches on it .. trust me i drill tanks all the time . you always have a 3/4 of inch of play with the rubber gasket and if you dont feel right get another one and put one on the top and one on the bottom and that will stop any kinds of leaks ..

jaymoney2 · 07/23/2012, 11:37 AM

Looks like it should seal up with normal gaskets and not cause you any issues.

just remember to put silicone grease on the gasket, and put it on the same side of the tank as the flared part of the bulk head.

my holes look the same and haven't leaked or had any salt creep in the year and a half the tank has been up

EMorabeet · 07/23/2012, 11:50 AM

I drilled the hole so close to the edge because I am doing a corner overflow. That picture might be deceiving because my tank is euro braced on the bottom with I would say about 1.5" strips of glass all around.

EMorabeet · 07/23/2012, 11:54 AM

In other words, the edge in the picture is actually the edge of the eurobrace, and probably 1.5" from that is the edge of the tank.

bluewater921 · 07/23/2012, 11:55 AM

EM you will be ok .. just beware when you put it on the stand you wont have much play room for that ..

EMorabeet · 07/23/2012, 02:23 PM

Here is another picture of the hole, showing its true location.

5photo.jpg

robs.mark · 07/23/2012, 02:43 PM

Looks fine, you may need to cut the edge off the bulkhead though as they are quiet big..

LobsterOfJustice · 07/23/2012, 04:33 PM

Looks fine to me.

goettner · 07/23/2012, 05:32 PM

Looks fine to me too.Don't you have a bulkhead to try it.I bought my bulkheads before I drilled the holes.Being a smartass now.Good luck, Pete

Pumpkin Bear · 07/23/2012, 07:20 PM

Mine had an angle and some chipping too. I don't like it but what can you do? The bulkhead covers and reinforces it anyway. I wouldn't worry about it.

EMorabeet · 07/23/2012, 07:36 PM

Ok. I did have my bulkhead prior to drilling, but I am really just worried about major leaks. I haven't done any of this before so I just want to make sure I am not going to wreck this completely. Thanks everyone for helping me out! I am now in the process of building a stand, so well see how that goes!

ssgtgonzo · 07/23/2012, 07:39 PM

You are fine. I've drilled lots of tanks and had this happen until I started duct taping the inside where the hole is being drilled

07/22/2012, 09:32 PM	#1
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	Just drilled my tank-- help! I finally got the courage to drill my tank, and I am scared that I messed up. I can't put pictures up tonight, I will in the morning. First of all, the hole itself isn't completely straight. Its slightly angled for a small portion of it. Also, when I was finished a bunch of the glass around the bottom of the hole chipped off. I am totally freaking out. -Emily

07/23/2012, 11:33 AM	#11
bluewater921 Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: melbourne fla Posts: 605	looks fine .. the rubber gasket will cover most of the scratches on it .. trust me i drill tanks all the time . you always have a 3/4 of inch of play with the rubber gasket and if you dont feel right get another one and put one on the top and one on the bottom and that will stop any kinds of leaks .. __________________ if i was a fish i would play on the reef & swim in the surf Current Tank Info: 180 in the wall reef

07/23/2012, 11:37 AM	#12
jaymoney2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Roxborough, PA Posts: 50	Looks like it should seal up with normal gaskets and not cause you any issues. just remember to put silicone grease on the gasket, and put it on the same side of the tank as the flared part of the bulk head. my holes look the same and haven't leaked or had any salt creep in the year and a half the tank has been up __________________ Bare Bottom, 65g FOWLR, GlaHos overflow, Reef Octopus skimmer, ApexLite, MP40w, 20L sump

07/23/2012, 11:55 AM	#15
bluewater921 Registered Member. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: melbourne fla Posts: 605	EM you will be ok .. just beware when you put it on the stand you wont have much play room for that .. __________________ if i was a fish i would play on the reef & swim in the surf Current Tank Info: 180 in the wall reef

07/23/2012, 02:43 PM	#17
robs.mark Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 1,461	Looks fine, you may need to cut the edge off the bulkhead though as they are quiet big.. __________________ knowledge is power! Current Tank Info: Lagoon

07/22/2012, 09:38 PM	#2
joelbegt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dayton, Oh Posts: 115	Shelling where the bit breaks through is common when hand drilling. If you used the correct bit the hole will have wiggle room for the bulkhead to seal the chip even if the hole isn't 100% straight. Only one way to see if it seals.

07/22/2012, 09:39 PM	#3
joelbegt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Dayton, Oh Posts: 115	Worst case drill it one size bigger if it is an issue.

07/22/2012, 09:45 PM	#4
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	I haven't even had an aquarium before, so I am worried that I won't be able to know if the seal will work properly. I will try to put up pictures asap. And I guess I could drill a bigger hole if I needed to. Thanks!

07/22/2012, 10:58 PM	#5
Musing.Dog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Arizona, US Posts: 231	You will know if the seal doesn't work because it will leak. The gaskets can cover up quite a bit. The pictures will probably show though.

07/23/2012, 12:10 AM	#6
cmantis Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: NYC / Philly Posts: 227	I wouldn't freak out. I just drilled 8 holes in my two 40g breeders. I had the same thing happened with the slight angle and some chipping.

07/23/2012, 11:19 AM	#7
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	Here is the core from the hole I drilled. I drilled from the outside of the tank in, so the slightly angled part is on the outside glass, and the chips are on the inside. After looking around some, I realize that this is a common issue people run into when drilling their tank, and nothing that a little silicone can't solve (if there are even any problems with the seal in the first place) but I tend stick on the safe side, and will probably take some preventative measures when plumbing. Thanks everyone for your help photo.jpg 2photo.jpg 3photo.jpg

07/23/2012, 11:24 AM	#8
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	Here is the hole in the aquarium itself. 4photo.jpg

07/23/2012, 11:28 AM	#9
Kyuss Megistered Rember Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 470	Looks fine to me. I drilled my 150g that has a 5/8" back panel and it turned out similar to yours. No issues with leaking. Just make sure you put the gasket on the inside.

07/23/2012, 11:29 AM	#10
Digitalelectric Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 422	Not sure I would have put the hole so close to the edge personally, but I tend to be overly paranoid. You can see if there are wider rubber gaskets to cover more surface area. Otherwise take it out to the driveway (flat part of the driveway) and fillerup. Easiest way to find out.

07/23/2012, 11:50 AM	#13
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	I drilled the hole so close to the edge because I am doing a corner overflow. That picture might be deceiving because my tank is euro braced on the bottom with I would say about 1.5" strips of glass all around.

07/23/2012, 11:54 AM	#14
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	In other words, the edge in the picture is actually the edge of the eurobrace, and probably 1.5" from that is the edge of the tank.

07/23/2012, 02:23 PM	#16
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	Here is another picture of the hole, showing its true location. 5photo.jpg

07/23/2012, 04:33 PM	#18
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Looks fine to me. __________________ 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

07/23/2012, 05:32 PM	#19
goettner Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Grand Rapids,MI Posts: 69	Looks fine to me too.Don't you have a bulkhead to try it.I bought my bulkheads before I drilled the holes.Being a smartass now.Good luck, Pete

07/23/2012, 07:20 PM	#20
Pumpkin Bear Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 21	Mine had an angle and some chipping too. I don't like it but what can you do? The bulkhead covers and reinforces it anyway. I wouldn't worry about it.

07/23/2012, 07:36 PM	#21
EMorabeet Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 17	Ok. I did have my bulkhead prior to drilling, but I am really just worried about major leaks. I haven't done any of this before so I just want to make sure I am not going to wreck this completely. Thanks everyone for helping me out! I am now in the process of building a stand, so well see how that goes!

07/23/2012, 07:39 PM	#22
ssgtgonzo Entacmaea Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: columbus, ohio Posts: 387	You are fine. I've drilled lots of tanks and had this happen until I started duct taping the inside where the hole is being drilled