Drains and glass tanks?
- Thread starter popcan666
- Start date
popcan666
New Member
A chameleon, (either jackson or panther) and real potted plants and tree. using a mist king system
Chadbot
New Member
If you were feeling handy, you could try drilling a hole in the center of the glass at the bottom of the cage and then putting a raised second floor (plastic/pvc/abc sitting on a 1/2" riser) in the bottom that angles into that hole
You'd need to make sure of a few things first though.
1) The glass can't be tempered glass or safety glass
2) You need special bits for glass (buy them at a hardware store)
3) You need to go slowly and keep drilling slightly larger & larger holes to avoid breaking the glass.
I'm sure there are good tutorials on the internet on how to drill glass.
You'd need to make sure of a few things first though.
1) The glass can't be tempered glass or safety glass
2) You need special bits for glass (buy them at a hardware store)
3) You need to go slowly and keep drilling slightly larger & larger holes to avoid breaking the glass.
I'm sure there are good tutorials on the internet on how to drill glass.
Chester222
New Member
yes that is.
although a few thoughts on drilling glass since i do it all the time for aquariums..correct about tempered glass--it cannot be drilled. usually only the bottom pane is tempered so all the sides can be drilled. check first, though. second, diamond tipped drill bits are not easy to come by--large enough ones to fit a bulkhead are not in any of my local hardware stores. find them online: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...its/45-mm-diamond-coated-glass-drill-bit.html. last, look up tutorials on youtube, you DO NOT want to drill a small hole and progressively make it bigger (plus this would require multiple expensive bits), you just want to drill one hole. start slow and put no more pressure than the natural weight of the drill..do it in the bathtub if possible so the water can wash away the glass particulate and keep them from flying in your eyes.
although a few thoughts on drilling glass since i do it all the time for aquariums..correct about tempered glass--it cannot be drilled. usually only the bottom pane is tempered so all the sides can be drilled. check first, though. second, diamond tipped drill bits are not easy to come by--large enough ones to fit a bulkhead are not in any of my local hardware stores. find them online: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...its/45-mm-diamond-coated-glass-drill-bit.html. last, look up tutorials on youtube, you DO NOT want to drill a small hole and progressively make it bigger (plus this would require multiple expensive bits), you just want to drill one hole. start slow and put no more pressure than the natural weight of the drill..do it in the bathtub if possible so the water can wash away the glass particulate and keep them from flying in your eyes.
xanthoman
Avid Member
lol, about 2 years ago, i posted a tutorial thread on how to drill the bottom of a glas exo-terra and everybody said what do you want to do that for?
anyway i used a carbide spear tipped glass drill, sometime reffered to as a tile drill they look like little spears
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://toolsandmore.us/ProductImages/shopfox3/fox010508/D3731.jpg&imgrefurl=http://toolsandmore.us/steelexd3731-6pcglasscuttingdrillbits.aspx&usg=__9HK7219_8b5uIa3JTLokCSoATYQ=&h=300&w=287&sz=20&hl=en&start=15&sig2=bGN0T3wi4Szw4lFNStxYfw&zoom=1&tbnid=GMGLUuf--7SO2M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=111&ei=EjfiTsDTC8js2QWZkeWwBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dglass%2Bdrill%2Bbit%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1
their good for holes up to about 3/4", takes about 5 minutes actually with this type of drill starting a small hole and making it bigger is just what they do ( a little different than a diamond core bit) they run from about $5-15 each at hd depending on size. like marty says they do make several types of bulkhead fittings, the problem i find with them is they all stick up into the tank at least an 1/8", which isnt helpful if you are trying to drain the tank dry.but thats a nice fitting if thats not an issue. if you want a flush mount you can just drill a hole that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the drain hose you want to use then you can just insert with some silicone till its flush with the inside. just as a guess i would say thats probably about 7/16" for a 1/4"inside diam vinyl tube.
there is no tempered glass in an exoterra, i have drilled several. if you want a hole over 5/8 you are probably better off using a diamond core bit like the ones pictured at the reef place.
whatever bit you use you wear a mask, they both produce fine airborne glass dust which is a hazard for silicosis. a spray bottle can also be used.
already looked for the previous post but wasnt in my post history so i will see if i can find it in the archives.
i think it was post #32 of this thread https://www.chameleonforums.com/exoterra-enclosures-what-your-opinion-35948/
other things to consider; core bits leave cleaner holes but are more expensive
a bulkhead fitting will require a larger hole.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/exoterra-enclosures-what-your-opinion-35948/
anyway i used a carbide spear tipped glass drill, sometime reffered to as a tile drill they look like little spears
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://toolsandmore.us/ProductImages/shopfox3/fox010508/D3731.jpg&imgrefurl=http://toolsandmore.us/steelexd3731-6pcglasscuttingdrillbits.aspx&usg=__9HK7219_8b5uIa3JTLokCSoATYQ=&h=300&w=287&sz=20&hl=en&start=15&sig2=bGN0T3wi4Szw4lFNStxYfw&zoom=1&tbnid=GMGLUuf--7SO2M:&tbnh=116&tbnw=111&ei=EjfiTsDTC8js2QWZkeWwBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dglass%2Bdrill%2Bbit%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1
their good for holes up to about 3/4", takes about 5 minutes actually with this type of drill starting a small hole and making it bigger is just what they do ( a little different than a diamond core bit) they run from about $5-15 each at hd depending on size. like marty says they do make several types of bulkhead fittings, the problem i find with them is they all stick up into the tank at least an 1/8", which isnt helpful if you are trying to drain the tank dry.but thats a nice fitting if thats not an issue. if you want a flush mount you can just drill a hole that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the drain hose you want to use then you can just insert with some silicone till its flush with the inside. just as a guess i would say thats probably about 7/16" for a 1/4"inside diam vinyl tube.
there is no tempered glass in an exoterra, i have drilled several. if you want a hole over 5/8 you are probably better off using a diamond core bit like the ones pictured at the reef place.
whatever bit you use you wear a mask, they both produce fine airborne glass dust which is a hazard for silicosis. a spray bottle can also be used.
already looked for the previous post but wasnt in my post history so i will see if i can find it in the archives.
i think it was post #32 of this thread https://www.chameleonforums.com/exoterra-enclosures-what-your-opinion-35948/
other things to consider; core bits leave cleaner holes but are more expensive
a bulkhead fitting will require a larger hole.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/exoterra-enclosures-what-your-opinion-35948/
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