85 glass

[Vandy5]

i have an 85 glass tank now that i would like to turn into salt does anyone know about price or difficulty on drilling it for an overflow??

[TowBoater]

Is it tempered or not? Price wise, in a grand total sum for the whole s/w tank if you are wanting it to be a reef, you are looking in several grand but if you do it like most, you buy a bit here and a bit there. I have over 4 grand into my 55g but not all at one time, it is spread out over a years time.

[Halelorf]

A very conservative estimate is $50 per gallon. So a base of around $5,000 would be going into that tank and most likely the actual price would be higher. As for drilling you can buy a hang on back overflow to go to a sump or here is a video link where the guy shows how to make a simple sump and demonstrates drilling glass around the 6:00 mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxnugJGiT3o

[cocoa_pleco]

halelorf hit it. also, tempered tanks cannot be drilled, you would need a overflow

[jimpierce]

overflows are pretty easy to make or not too expensive to buy. My 40g tank is about 6 months old (3 moths in a 30g then swapped out to a 40g) and I'm at between $1000 and $1500.

[cocoa_pleco]

forgot to add that my 55g is at about $5100 now ($300 for a 55g starter kit, about $2000 for 230lbs of LR, $600 on lighting, $200 on a skimmer, $1000 in corals, $600 in fish, $400 on powerheads, heaters, other misc. equipment)

[Vandy5]

im not worried about overall. i know it cost alot ha. i have a 55 now stocked but it was drilled. and how can i tell if its tempered or if i can or what not.

[cocoa_pleco]

im not worried about overall. i know it cost alot ha. i have a 55 now stocked but it was drilled. and how can i tell if its tempered or if i can or what not.

usually there is a sticker on the tank saying "WARNING: TEMPERED GLASS, DO NOT DRILL", i know my 55g has that sticker on the bottom of the tank and on the upper lip

[Vandy5]

so if i cant drill it. how else can i do it? could i get some links or pics maybe. cause i wanna do and under tank sump

[cocoa_pleco]

you would need one of these babies, a overflow. Basically it just sits on the back like a HOB and water goes through hoses to your sump

http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Wet-Dry-Reef-Sump-Pre-Filter-Overflow-Box_W0QQitemZ200181676294QQihZ010QQcategoryZ46310Q QrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp163 8Q2em118Q2el1247

[spudbuds]

The bank of the tank is likely not tempered. You can drill the back and do a calfo style overflow. I'm not a big fan of the siphon overflows, but they can work. The calfo style seems like it doesn't take as much room as a traditional overflow as well.

- Bill

[cocoa_pleco]

yeah, like spud said, check to see if the back is tempered, i know mine is since it has the warning on the bottom panel and side panels

[Tigerbarb]

An external canister filter is pretty much like a sump, just more compact and more pricey. If you can afford one of those it might be easier than building a sump.

[spudbuds]

I disagree. There are many advantages to having a sump that a canister filter can not provide (added water volume, a place for equipment, a place for a refugium). The list goes on and on. A canister filter can be useful on a SW tank, but it's not a replacement for a sump.

- Bill

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, a canister isnt a replacement, mainly because you cant have lighting in a canister, livestock, you cant hook up a skimmer, keep your heater in it, etc.

[Tigerbarb]

Never thought of that.

I heard that pet stores will usually arrange drilling in glass aquariums. Where did you get your 85g tank? Do you think it would be possible to take it back to the store and ask if they can drill the bottom?