Hole sawing tank stand

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seanh

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Feb 27, 2013
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London
I picked up a second hand 220 last year and it has served me well to date, however the stock are now getting to a size where I think more filtration would be adequate (currently using an fx6 and two sponge filters).

I have an fx4 sitting around that I would like to utilise, the problem is the tank stand only has pre-drilled holes in one side of the stand.

I'm not sure if this is possible but could I hole-saw the tank with it still being filled with water and fully functioning or would I need to break it down?

Also when hole-sawing does anyone have any advice other than to not saw too close to the edges (I was planning to replicate the hole sizes and distances that have already been drilled).

Any advice would be much appreciated
 
I know it's been done before, but not by me lol. As long as you're dousing the bit somehow to keep it cool, theres no reason it wouldn't work. In my mind theres no way to do it without getting dirty water all over the place....maybe rig up a drip pan to catch the water or throw down an abundance of towels.

If this is an acrylic tank this could potentially be easy because they are much easier to drill, acrylic doesnt heat up the bit so much as glass.

I'm taking for granted you already know the basic procedure for drilling glass...diamond bit, use a template to set your holes, douse with water when drilling to keep cool, and most importantly make sure beyond any doubt that the panel is not tempered.
 
Wait, are you wanting to drill the tank or just the stand? The title of your thread and the content are confusing me......
 
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Yeah, definitely some confusion in the wording here.

It sounds like he is asking about drilling a hole in a filled aquarium...and is being told to go right ahead! If the idea is to lower the water level in the tank and then drill a hole in the side near the top for a bulkhead or other fitting, then obviously this can be done; I've done it many times ...but I am somehow picturing the OP laying on the floor, carefully drilling up into the bottom of a filled tank...with predictable results.

Remember the old cartoons where the guy cuts a hole in the floor while standing in the middle of the circle he is cutting...? Yeah, like that...but much, much worse...:)

Video, please...complete with sound and commentary...:)
 
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Backfromthedead said:
I know it's been done before, but not by me lol. As long as you're dousing the bit somehow to keep it cool, theres no reason it wouldn't work. In my mind theres no way to do it without getting dirty water all over the place....maybe rig up a drip pan to catch the water or throw down an abundance of towels.

If this is an acrylic tank this could potentially be easy because they are much easier to drill, acrylic doesnt heat up the bit so much as glass.

I'm taking for granted you already know the basic procedure for drilling glass...diamond bit, use a template to set your holes, douse with water when drilling to keep cool, and most importantly make sure beyond any doubt that the panel is not tempered.
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robmcd said:
Wait, are you wanting to drill the tank or just the stand? The title of your thread and the content are confusing me......
Click to expand...
tlindsey said:
If I read it correctly OP wants to hole drill the aquarium.
Click to expand...
robmcd said:
That's what I read as well, but the title led me to believe that (he or she) wanted to drill the stand.
Click to expand...
jjohnwm said:
Yeah, definitely some confusion in the wording here.

It sounds like he is asking about drilling a hole in a filled aquarium...and is being told to go right ahead! If the idea is to lower the water level in the tank and then drill a hole in the side near the top for a bulkhead or other fitting, then obviously this can be done; I've done it many times ...but I am somehow picturing the OP laying on the floor, carefully drilling up into the bottom of a filled tank...with predictable results.

Remember the old cartoons where the guy cuts a hole in the floor while standing in the middle of the circle he is cutting...? Yeah, like that...but much, much worse...:)

Video, please...complete with sound and commentary...:)
Click to expand...
He's definitely looking to drill the stand and not the tank,

Personally I think if your gentle and let the drill do the work and not force the bit through you should be OK, is it solid wood or chipboard unit.
 
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This is the part that worries me; hopefully just a typo, and meant to say "stand"...

seanh said:
I'm not sure if this is possible but could I hole-saw the tank with it still being filled with water and fully functioning or would I need to break it down?
Click to expand...

Assuming it's just the stand, I would suggest setting the pilot bit so that it just barely protrudes beyond the edge of the hole-saw. Begin drilling, and as soon as the circular groove appears, stop drilling and remove the pilot bit completely. The hole saw will then fit into the groove that has been created so it won't need the pilot to keep it from wandering, so you can carefully complete the hole without having the protruding pilot bit slam into the glass when you break through. Is the tank already pre-drilled with a fitting at that point?

Or if you are talking about just creating a hole in the side somewhere, not against the tank...sure, just blast away. No worries in that case.
 
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Bbuckley said:
He's definitely looking to drill the stand and not the tank,

Personally I think if your gentle and let the drill do the work and not force the bit through you should be OK, is it solid wood or chipboard unit.
Click to expand...

What would drilling the stand accomplish in the way of installing an fx4? That would seem like a silly question to me.
 
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