View Full Version : Drilling tank or HOB Overflow
JamesHolt
03/28/2015, 07:12 PM
I bought a 180 gallon and a 125 gallon tank. One of them is gonna be for my Oscar, the other for me to build a reef tank.
The problem is, the 180 isnt drilled, and thats the one I want to use for saltwater..
Is there a way to tell if it is tempered or not without breaking it??
It is a Marineland tank..
I have tried the polarizing filter trick but I cant get it to change any..
The glass is 1/2 thick so just drilling and crossing my fingers is out of the question, it would cost more than I paid for the tank to replace a panel..
Can I just use a HOB overflow for a tank this size???
Are they reliable enough??
mmittlesteadt
03/28/2015, 08:46 PM
I would prefer drilling the tank, but I would either call or e-mail Marineland and ask them directly. They will know which panels are tempered, if any.
mandarin_goby
03/28/2015, 08:51 PM
My Lifereef HOB overflow has been foolproof, I highly recommend it. They make a double box for larger tanks.
http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html
stingeragent
03/28/2015, 09:39 PM
What issue are you having doing the polarized test? Stick a laptop in the tank. Get some 3d polarized glass, and as you rotate them it will either have lines, or go solid black (solid black means its not tempered). I bought a 40 breeder a few weeks ago, and the petco kid didn't know if the whole thing was tempered or just the bottom which had a tempered sticker. Did that test on the sides and bottom and worked like a charm. The 3d glasses I used are for my passive 3d tv, but those disposable ones you get at any 3d movie should be the same.
JamesHolt
03/28/2015, 10:28 PM
The issue is my light source, (maybe)I am using my phone and I dont think the screen is polarized (really old crappy phone). It never goes black it just dims a little..
I havent used my galaxy tablet in a few months so it is charging now..(I know it has correct screen)
I have a email in to Marineland but havent heard back from them..
I looked at the Lifereef Overflows, If it is tempered I will just use one of those, or mount the sump above DT and pump to it (like I do with my current Oscar tank, sump level is always the same DT level goes down when evap happens)
JamesHolt
03/29/2015, 02:07 AM
OK I figured it out, the screen on my phone and on my tablets have the "Gorilla Glass" so it throws the test off...
Had to put an old laptop back together to check it (was the only one I have with a plain screen)...
It shows that it isnt tempered, so I will be drilling this one when I get started on it... :thumbsup:
stingeragent
03/31/2015, 06:44 PM
Nice, yea I was gonna say you gotta use a laptop screen. I tried my phone also in the store before I bought it and it didn't work,lol.
BigCountry74
03/31/2015, 07:54 PM
marineland? should be drillable. if the one you want to use for reef is empty i would say drill it. its not hard. u need a diamond bit from the local hardware store, and a water hose (to keep the glass cool) while you drill etc. just go slow. let the bit do the work. u will be amazed how easy it is :d
JamesHolt
03/31/2015, 09:12 PM
marineland? should be drillable. if the one you want to use for reef is empty i would say drill it. its not hard. u need a diamond bit from the local hardware store, and a water hose (to keep the glass cool) while you drill etc. just go slow. let the bit do the work. u will be amazed how easy it is :d
Drilled them before, just couldnt get the test to work right.. I will have to order the bit, biggest one in stock around here is 37mm (3/4 bulkhead)..
Gonna do the "ghost" type so I will need to get a bit for 2" and then one for the siphons
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