Caverndiver

I just bought a used D.A.S. aquarium that has a built in filter system in it. I would like to pull all of it out and use just the overflow part and drill the bottom. Does anyone know if the bottom glass on this type tank is Tempered?
I read somewhere that some tanks have tempered glass on the bottom and the LFS around here won't drill tempered.

Thanks!

harpua2002

I'm not at all familiar with the aquarium or brand that you are talking about, but I do know that the major brand aquariums have tempered glass on the bottom. To be safe, have you considered getting the back drilled? I think you'd still be able to use the overflow if you did.

Caverndiver

I have thought about drilling the back however, I was trying to keep all the plumbing under the tank. If I have to drill the back guess it won't be too bad.

agsansoo

Safer to contact the tank manufacture to be sure.

cerianthus

I have drilled many tempered glass using playdoh, antifreeze and diamond tip drill on hand held drill (not on a drill press, pretty hard to put whole tank on the drill press) w/o problem. 10G was bit tricky though (I think I cracked couple of 10G but not bigger tank before getting hang of glass drilling).

Rather than drilling in the back (still need few inches from the wall to apply plumbing), should drill 2 holes on the bottom and use internal filter box as Reef Ready Pre-filter, provided enough room for 2 holes (one drain,1" Bulkhead and one return, 3/4" bulkhead to return).

As agansoo said, contact mfr for info and have local glass shop drill them for you when possible.

agsansoo

Your a brave man !

cerianthus

When other options were not avail, I had to improvise. Dont know the exact number but at least drilled few hundred 33G L (2 holes per tank) for colleagues plus other tanks until RR were avail. Most of breeders and Wholesalers I know do have rows and rows of tanks.
Bit concerned at first but once get hang of it, it is no big deal, Just need steady hand/wrist, IMO.

locoyo386

Is this really possible? I thought all tempered glass was not drillable and it would shatter if attempted to do so.

aquarist48

Hello. This thread is a bit old but to answer your question Loco, My 155g had a tempered glass bottom and it was predrilled. So, it can be done but it must be more difficult or need a special tool compared to regular glass. Not to mention finding someone to do it.
Ken

locoyo386

I know they make tempered glass with holes already on the glass, just did not know it could be drillled or cut. I thought that the way tempered glass works, one could not alter it once its set.

p.s. I knew the post was old, but that comment caught my attention and was hoping that the person that posted it would comment on it.