chimera Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 i have a 4 foot tank i use as a refugium for my reef tank. the glass for the overflow is on an angle at the back left corner. problem is, the top of the overflow (and hence the water level) is quite high. the water level is only a few mm from the top of the tank (this tank used to be my main tank and the flow rate into it alot less but the flow rate into it now is about 3 times as much hence the water level sits higher) soooo.... my question is, is it possible and if so, how can i cut the glass on the overflow without actually removing it? (want to cut about 5mm off to drop the water level) is it too risky to try it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Dremel and a ceramic tile bit. There's heaps on Reefcentral about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 I agree with Ira, dremal it out. Will take hours and hours but can easily be done. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted November 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 I've tried to talk myself into getting a dremel and dremelling a hole in my sump for the float valve. But...I don't have the nerve since if I DO break the sump I have to tear the whole tank down to replace it. So...Heatgun, some acrylic and heaps of silicone to waterproof it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kim Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 the best man to talk to is dave from hollywood fish farm , Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AW Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 3rd vote for the dremel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodle Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I cut to holes in my tank last night for overflows and it was as easy as. Used the method they explain on reefcentral but had an industrial die grinder from work and a pack of daimond cutting bits i brought off ebay for $17nz landed. Took all of an hour to cut two 26mm holes. Just use lots of water to keep the daimonds cool or the glass starts to chip a little. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Nodle - Pics? Did you have trouble starting the hole? Any tips? How thick was the glass? Piemania Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodle Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Hi Pies the glass was 10mm and i started the holes with a ball head cutter, going around the inside of the hole i was cutting out slowly wearing throught the glass. This part took the longest as being 10mm thick its a long way through, so i turned the tank over and started coming at it from the other side when the shank on the ball head cutter was starting to hit the glass. You dont want this to happen as the glass just chips of in big hunks, lucky for me it was on the inside of the hole that the shank hit, a chip about 12mm round by about 6mm deep went flying from the inside of the hole. Once the two sides of the hole where about .5-1mm from connecting i gave the glass a small tap with the back of the die grinder spanner and out poped the center. Note use lots of water and when you think theres to much water on there add some more as the bits will chip the glass if it gets to dry. Once i had the center of the hole out i used a round tube bit and cleaned the inside of the hole up until the hole was the right size. Like i say easy as. will post some pics of the hole and the bits tonight for you. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Cheers sounds like excellent advice! Don't suppose you want to come to Wellington and do a hole for me? Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted November 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 or fly up to auckland and cut my overflow for me? :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodle Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Could be a good trip to pick up some frags. Dam my tank not being setup and i don't think the missis will be to happy if i tell her that we can't go away at Christmas because i have to set my tank up and fly up north a couple of times. Sorry guys but will let you know when im up north again for work and ill have to come around and see your reefs. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan_from_nz Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 how do glass blowers heat glass up without it cracking? surely you could use some sort of oxy accetelene cutting bit to get a nice fast cut. or a laser that has a spectrum designed to cut glass (maybe impossable as the laser would go straight through) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodle Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Ok finaly have some pics up on a host. The first one is of the die grinder i used to make the holes The second pic is of the diamond bits i used to cut the holes the one on the right is the ball head that i started the hole with and the one on the left is the one that was used to make the hole the right size This is a pic of the second hole i did still not enough water as i had a small chip on the side of the hole but luckily it was on the outside of the glass. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodle Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Ok sorry about the small pics think i stuffed up and used the link to the thumb rather than the pic itself :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted November 20, 2004 Report Share Posted November 20, 2004 I use a 21'' screen too, damn those are some small pictures! hehehe Looks like a good setup, what a godsend being able to cut your own holes reliably. Well done. If your ever in Wellington do sing out, always welcome people over to chat fish for a bit Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 Chim. I had the same prob with a tank, called the cat door man to come & he cut 10mm off the top of overflow then i used a comb to set the level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted November 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 what was the damage to get that done steve? it would save me the dollars on buying all the tools to do it - hopefully its not too expensive?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 Getting old maybe $40 cash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 I'd like to see a glass cutter remove 5mm of glass from a glued overflow though. Pics. I think you may need to cut more off Chimera. Id dremmal it off if you only want a little shaved out. Pie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted November 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 maybe i'll go 10mm or even 20mm then... and add a comb like steve suggests? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pies Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Yah I would just clip out a bigger bit then make a comb out of plastic or whatever. Thats the problem with glass, fairly unforgiving. I don't like acrilic tanks, but an accrilic sump would be awesome. Hrmmm I need a hole here *zip* done Piemania Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 thats wot we did he ran a line across with a glass cutter then snapped it with pliers....looked easy but i'd rather him than me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted November 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 yeah might see what i can do myself im sure i've got a diamond cutter somewhere... if i screw it up i'll take the whole bit of glass out and replace with acrylic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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