Drilling a Tank

Discussion in 'Fish Tank Brands and Kits' started by GoToSleep, Aug 23, 2008.

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  1. GoToSleep

    GoToSleep Torch Coral

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    Well I heard something interesting today. I'm looking at getting a MarineLand 6'x3' 300gal tank which they have recently started carrying as a stock tank (not custom, so big savings). Unfortunately, it comes standard drilled with overflows in both back corners and I'm planning a peninsula set-up now that reading Otty's tank thread has ruined me for anything more mundane. Anyway, I was talking with LFS owner and wondered aloud if MarineLand would sell an undrilled tank at stock tank cost. LFS said that we could not drill it ourselves because the bottom is tempered:confused::eek::confused:. How can this be? I always assumed that if a tank had been drilled, you knew that the glass was not tempered and you should be able to drill it yourself if you needed some more holes. LFS claims that Marineland drills the tank bottoms and then tempers the glass after the fact. If I can get direct confirmation of this from MarineLand, I'll update here. In the mean time, it's just one more thing to make me nervous about drilling a tank (Otty's got me thinking closed loop and OM4, too)
     
    GoToSleep, Aug 23, 2008
    GoToSleep, Aug 23, 2008
    #1

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  2. Otty

    Otty Giant Squid

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    Don't drill the bottom then just do the sides towards the bottom. I have a Perfecto tank and the bottom is tempered on it so I just drilled the sides.
     
    Otty, Aug 23, 2008
    Otty, Aug 23, 2008
    #2
  3. GoToSleep

    GoToSleep Torch Coral

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    Scott,
    I can't remember. Are all of your holes throught the side?
     
    GoToSleep, Aug 23, 2008
    GoToSleep, Aug 23, 2008
    #3
  4. ReefPlayground

    ReefPlayground 3reef Sponsor

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    I believe your LFS is accurate regarding how marineland drills its holes. All-Glass / Oceanic does the same thing if I recall correctly
     
    ReefPlayground, Aug 24, 2008
    ReefPlayground, Aug 24, 2008
    #4
  5. Otty

    Otty Giant Squid

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    Yep all 8 of them.
     
    Otty, Aug 24, 2008
    Otty, Aug 24, 2008
    #5
  6. KOgle

    KOgle Zoanthid

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    Psh, 8 holes... ::)
     
    KOgle, Aug 25, 2008
    KOgle, Aug 25, 2008
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  7. Tangster

    Tangster 3reef Sponsor

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    Was it Joe over at F/W that said that ? What happens at the factory they pour the glass in a mold with the holes casted into it then pour the bottom then they cool and then heat and temper it . But Nope Tempered glass is not drllable go through the sides Oceanaics had tanks with un tempered bottom panes /panels
     
    Tangster, Aug 25, 2008
    Tangster, Aug 25, 2008
    #7
  8. glampka

    glampka Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Some manufacturers use tempered glass even for the walls. I just scored a used 55 that a neighbor was throwing out - warning tag on the bottom of the tank - Do not drill - all glass is tmepered.
     
    glampka, Aug 25, 2008
    glampka, Aug 25, 2008
    #8
  9. ReefSparky

    ReefSparky Super Moderator

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    I could be wrong, but I've never seen a tank with all panes tempered. It's simply not necessary.

    Are you sure you weren't reading a label saying that the glass was tempered with the All Glass company name on it? :)
     
    ReefSparky, Aug 25, 2008
    ReefSparky, Aug 25, 2008
    #9
  10. Iraf

    Iraf Snowflake Eel

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    ive seen some of the cheaper brands use tempered glass all the way around, dunno why but ive seen weirder stuff that makes no sense at all before to
     
    Iraf, Aug 25, 2008
    Iraf, Aug 25, 2008
    #10
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