Drilled tank?

[littlelil]

Is the purpose of a drilled tank for wires and filter tubes and stuff? Is it so that you can fit a hood on top without having to cut holes for the wires?

Do people ever drill holes at the bottom (side-bottom or bottom-bottom) for easier water changes? Or would the stress around the hole be too much?

I was thinking of doing that for one of my tanks. How would one plug that drilled hole at the bottom, if possible? How do you reinforce drilled holes (either at the top or the bottom)?

Can it be done on glass or acrylic?

Lillian

[Faerin]

Drilling tanks is generally done to install plumbing for a sump or a closed loop. Both glass (non-tempered) and acrylic can be drilled. There's no need to reinforce the holes, just try to keep them at least an inch or two away from the edges.

Drilling a hole for water changes would work fine, you would just need to attach a ball or gate valve to the bulkhead to control the flow (I'd suggest not putting it much lower than the amount of water you want to drain from the tank) ... though I'm not sure it would be any less effort than just using a siphon.

[porcupinepuffer]

drilling is done for waterflow reasons. not for routing wires. I wouldn't suggest trying to drill the bottom glass. Almost all glass aquariums are tempered on the bottom (for extra strength). Tempered glass cannot be drilled; It will just shatter to pieces.

[sniggir]

snd a pm to bitterman as he has his tanks drill and all plumed in for easy water changes.... altho I think he is just secretly getting ready to convert to the dark side.....mahmahMAHMAH....sry got a little out of control I am better now.. but ask him I am sure he could give you some pointers