Make your own overflow

[irish02bk]

Does anybody out here drill or make your own oveflows. I'm thinking about drilling my own current 55g on the bottom of the tank and adding a overflow.

couple questions:
How difficult is it to drill a tank.
where can i buy an overflow and what needs to be done to install it silicon to use etc.

More or less general knowledge from people that have drilled their own tank. I'm gonna be getting a 75g rr soon and once that is set up i figured i could experiment on my 55g.

[clownnut]

dont drill the bottom of the tank, unless the tank manufacturer told you, you can do so.
usually the bottom of the tank is tempered glass.
Bob, reefmania can build you a overflow box.

[crayonbreaker]

Not hard to drill a tank at all it just takes some time you have to make sure it is not tempered though...

Over flows you can make your own out of acrylic or have some one on here make you one there are a few people that do custom work on here...

To install you use silicon to adhere it to the glass for the most part any silicon will work as long as it is additive free....

Over all it would not be hard to modify your current tank but is it worth the time if you are just going to be changing it out any ways...

Take a look at bulkreefsupply for the bit it takes like 2-3 days to get here and they for the most part have the best price or you can go and pick it up if you want as well...

Lastly as far as what plumbing to use look in to derso stand pipes if you are going to drill the bottom....


good luck:beerchug:

[Payne]

http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9071

[wolrey]

Ocean Devotion sells premade overflow boxes. Just drill a hole in the back of your tank (making sure it isn't tempered) and then silicone it in.

[lizmomdad]

why not just drill the tank and plumb it to a sump below?

[morty]

Like was said, bottoms of almost all tanks are tempered glass and will shatter if you try to drill them. Sides of almost all tanks are untempered (if you want to be 100% sure you can contact the mfgr). Personally I would only use silicone glue that says it's for aquarium use, Dap makes one that is available at most hardware stores.

You might want to consider doing the dual drain method (Herbie drain). It is a lot more quiet, no trickling noise from pipe. Do a site search for Herbie and you should find info on it.

[irish02bk]

Thanks for the info, i'm guessing its tempered on the bottome since its an old AGA....

I do want to do the herbie drain.

Could one drill the back of the aquarium close to the bottom and still do the herbie method or does that have to be drilled on the bottom of the tank?

[morty]

You could drill two holes on the back, you just have to make sure the overflow box will fit over both bulkheads when installed. If it's possible to offset the holes a little (instead of one right above the other), it might make it easier to make the plumbing not stick out from the back of the tank as much (drian pipes could be side by side)

[storrisch]

Shoot me a PM if you need help drilling. I have done a bunch of other tanks for members on here.