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Drilling glass (1 Viewer)

2name

2name

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2011
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Location
Minneapolis
Hi all,

I'm preparing to start my first reef tank, and I've slowly been convinced that my plan for overflow (siphon overflow box) may be a horrible idea. Here's my issue, I have a glass tank with a tempered bottom (55 gal), so no drilling the bottom. I've been trying to research the Herbie overflow method, but I have no idea whether it will work going through the back of the tank as opposed to the bottom (not to mention my overall lack of handiness that makes me nervous about drilling glass in the first place). Is this possible? If so, does anyone have good links to another thread (I looked, didn't see one) or another website that has good step-by-step instructions with pictures?

I'd really like to use the tank I have. Not so much because I can't afford to buy another (I can), but I bought it second-hand from a coworker who's so damned excited to see what I'm doing with her old (gently-used) tank and I don't want to disappoint her. In the end, I may just bite the bullet and buy a pre-drilled tank (though I'm kinda stuck to the 55-gal size due to the fact that (1) I've bought all my other equipment to accommodate that size and (2) it's about as large as I can go in the room I'm putting it in.). So if it's not possible for me to drill through the side, if you know anyone who's got a drilled 55-gal sitting around, let me kno :biggrin:
 
2name said:
Hi all,

I'm preparing to start my first reef tank, and I've slowly been convinced that my plan for overflow (siphon overflow box) may be a horrible idea. Here's my issue, I have a glass tank with a tempered bottom (55 gal), so no drilling the bottom. I've been trying to research the Herbie overflow method, but I have no idea whether it will work going through the back of the tank as opposed to the bottom (not to mention my overall lack of handiness that makes me nervous about drilling glass in the first place). Is this possible? If so, does anyone have good links to another thread (I looked, didn't see one) or another website that has good step-by-step instructions with pictures?

I'd really like to use the tank I have. Not so much because I can't afford to buy another (I can), but I bought it second-hand from a coworker who's so damned excited to see what I'm doing with her old (gently-used) tank and I don't want to disappoint her. In the end, I may just bite the bullet and buy a pre-drilled tank (though I'm kinda stuck to the 55-gal size due to the fact that (1) I've bought all my other equipment to accommodate that size and (2) it's about as large as I can go in the room I'm putting it in.). So if it's not possible for me to drill through the side, if you know anyone who's got a drilled 55-gal sitting around, let me kno :biggrin:
Click to expand...

No herbie in the side of the tank but there is a way to make a more silent overflow when drilling in the side (I don't remember what the term was for this.)

Good luck, and again, feel free to ask if you have anymore questions! It sounds like you are set on the 55 gallon, so best of luck to you! If you DO end up getting a tank drilled in the bottom with an overflow, I can send you the herbie directions.
 
I guess a follow up question I have is whether dual overflow boxes (provided I have the space) will make the set-up safer. In my mind, if one clogs or the siphon breaks, and I have another overflow that can independently handle the load, wouldn't that make the risk of flooding a lot lower?

Edit: I understand this will not solve the noise problems associated with this type of overflow, but will it reduce risk of flooding?
 
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I second the bean animal overflow. I have that on my 54 gallon corner tank and love it. drilled it myself as well. never been even close to a flood, and the overflow is completely silent.
 
Curious why no Herbie if drilled through the side?


My preference is the Herbie style. The beananimal is overkill and too many holes, but works just as nicely

The overflow box is very important if drilling through the bottom, in your case this isnt an option. so when drilling through the back/side... use a smaller box if you'd like the herbie method or use two drains, with one being always submerged and the other at high water level. each drain should be able to handle the ENTIRE flow from your return pump
 
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I run a herbie I drilled through the side of my tank. I wouldn't have minded making it a bean animal at all, but I couldn't fit another hole in the overflow I put in. Either method works great and drilling is far easier than I ever would have thought.
 
same here, I have herbie through the side. U just need one internal overflow box with two holes drilled. One lower than the other. The lower one will be the main one and the higher one will be for back up. U can add a 90 degree elbow to the higher hole so that the water lvl inside the box can be higher. U will also need a ball/gate valve to control the amount of water through the main one. U want the same amount of flow down the main pipe as the water being pumped up.

If it was me, I would buy a drilled 75 gal from here if you can find one. It would be cheaper than drilling your tank & buying the plumbing parts. At the same time the 75 is the same length as the 55 but wider and you would like it more.
 
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Over the back overflow box?? It's not if it fails its when it fails! I just had a 120 gal tank drilled yesterday at something fishy in Richfield for $40.00 thru the side. It works fine other then you have to space it away from the wall to allow room for bulkhead and elbow fittings. Tanks tight against the wall are going to wreck the sheetrock over time anyway. I'm just going to elbow up on the inside of the tank with a stand pipe with mine but I know Something Fishy will build you an overflow box too. Price on that?? Good luck with the build.
 
I recently drilled my tank while it was up and running it was somewhat hard. It took two people a spray bottle, a steady hand and a drill with a diamond drill bit. It actually took me about ten minutes to drill through. But we were going extremely slow and the tank was up right.

If you did it DIY i would lay it down put a ring of plumbers putty around the spot you want to drill out and fill it with water to make a puddle. Thats how the recomended way to do it is.
 
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