#Glassfish bowl blog how to#
#Glassfish bowl blog install#

NOW you can slowly tilt the drill upright. Now that the bit’s caught into the glass apply a light, constant pressure. (You’ll know it’s working because you’ll hear a pretty horrible sound) Your goal is to press ONLY hard enough to keep the bit in place without the drill kicking out of your hand. You’re only looking for a small part of the bit to catch and start grinding. You want to keep it at an angle with the glass (don’t go straight up-and-down). Hold the drill bit inside the “pond” of freshwater you formed with the putty dam.

#Glassfish bowl blog how to#

Obviously, the first step in how to drill a glass aquarium (following your prep work) is to actually DRILL. Ready to learn how to drill a glass aquarium? You’ve practiced your breathing techniques? Haven’t had too much coffee? (Jittery hands on a power drill aren’t the best combination here) You double-checked all of your measurements? (Measure twice, cut ONCE) (Incidentally, preparing to drill a glass aquarium AWAY from children, pets, and significant others is also a good idea) And if a piece breaks wrong? You don’t want to have it fly toward your unprotected hands or face. Glass doesn’t always work the way people want. Even the pros out there (who you can turn to if you feel squeamish) don safety goggles and gloves when they drill holes in tanks for people. You ARE using a power tool and applying it to glass. This will also collect any other glass debris that results when you drill a glass aquarium.įinally, never neglect your safety equipment. Place newspaper, bubble wrap, or another disposable padding inside the tank to catch the glass when it breaks free.(Saltwater contains dissolved minerals that can interfere with the process) Fill the area inside the dam with cool FRESHWATER to lubricate and cool the drill bit.Smooth it out in a circle, a little larger than your drill bit. Create a dam around the drilling area with a small amount of plumber’s putty.You want to avoid any dirt, gravel, or other substances interfering with your drill. Pay special attention to the area you’re about to drill. Clean the glass aquarium – inside and out.It’ll save you some of the anxiety you may already feel. And take the time to make these preparations. So make sure you invest in proper safety equipment. Or – at the worst – you could find yourself making a trip to the hospital.ĭrilling a glass aquarium is loud and potentially messy. If you don’t take your time with the process, you will end up with a broken tank. You’re working with some dangerous materials (and I’m not only referring to the drill!). You need to make some initial preparations first. Obviously, you can’t rush straight into applying a drill bit to a tank – even if that sounds like the routine for how to drill a glass aquarium.

Hole Size 1/2 inch 1 and 1 /8 inch 3/4 inch 1 and 1/2 inch 1 inch 1 and 3/4 inch 1 and 1/2 inch 2 and 3/8 inch 2 inch 3 inch But if you want to provide the best possible care to your display tank (or manage some of the more specialized species out there), sump tanks will turn into your best friend.

#Glassfish bowl blog install#

You can install other filtration units and manage your water quality through daily or weekly water changes. And that’s where the drilling process comes in.ĭo you NEED to drill into your tank and install a bulkhead? Of course not.

The plastic seals a hole (in glass OR acrylic) to provide a waterproof conduit you can then connect to your canister or sump pipes. Of course, bulkheads don’t work unless you have a hole in which to insert them.

And while you’ve probably heard “bulkhead” mentioned in your favorite Tom Clancy submarine novel, it’s actually a simple piece of equipment. Because these systems require bulkheads to connect to the filtration. After all, isn’t the point of a tank to NOT have holes? And it is – unless you’re planning to use a sump tank or canister filter. Maybe you’re wondering why someone would even want to know how to drill a glass aquarium.