How to drill into glass?

[CPgrower]

Heyo!

Q along the road of the viv build. I just took a look at Josh's (J Teezy) build thread. He has a drain in the tank and the mister heads coming down from the top. I am doing a vert. 29 gallon and would love that drain. They did that at the zoo too. That would make my job so much easier. Also with the vert...it's glass on the top. So I would have to cut into the screen on the conversion front or in the top glass.

So my q: How do I drill into the tank glass without ending up with no tank? Lol.

Thanks!

Sarah

[DartEd]

I'm nervous about drilling glass but here's a thread from not long ago that may help you with it. http://www.frogforum.net/vivarium-te...tml#post161916

[flybyferns]

I agree-
My dart enclosures are drilled.
I had a glass guy do it for me .
Also, consider the cost of the drill bit.

[J Teezy]

if you are doing a vert build and don't want to drill for a misthead you could put in a screen at the top portion of the front like most do on vert builds and then use the screen top wedges MistKing Misting Systems by Jungle Hobbies Ltd and use it on that but then your mist nozzle would be on the front of the tank and not very attractive, If you are going for a display i would drill it but if just for like a breeder or you don't care that you will have a nozzle and tubing on the front of your tank then use the screen top wedge

[CPgrower]

Thanks, Josh, Ed and Lynn! I'm pretty sure the aquarium I am using would be the kind that crumbles. I figured the screen on the conversion front would be the only option too as far as misting tubes. That'll work. Thanks again!

[J Teezy]

My top things to have in a viv build

1. Mistking system
2. Drilled drains
3. Lights on timer

those three things make your life much more simple!

[Heatheranne]

I spoke with a glass cutter recently about this same topic. They said that so long as the glass is glass and not plexiglass, it can be drilled.

[J Teezy]

did you ask him the break rate on tempered glass though. Chances with drilling tempered glass is that is going to break. if you know its tempered, I wouldn't even attemp to drill it

[CPgrower]

My top things to have in a viv build

1. Mistking system
2. Drilled drains
3. Lights on timer

those three things make your life much more simple!

1. I have a monsoon mister plumbed into a 5 gallon bucket for now until I can get a mist king.
2. That is under debate as to if I can.
3. Always! :P (All my aquariums/greenhouse/hermit tank have timers)

Tempered concerns me too. I think aquariums these days are tempered. I am using an AGA most likely (Can't remember brand) 29gal. I was thinking of just using the tree as a hub for the pump with a door for access. I can always keep a drain tube curled up in the tree and pull it out through the access panel when it's time to drain.

[J Teezy]

or you could use something like this to hide drain lines or whatever. They are kind of pricey but look good

Heater Covers | Aquarium Tank Products | Universal Rocks hollow on the back so you could make it so you just put the drain line / siphon tube in it and pull it out the top when you want to siphon. I believe with fish tanks, that if they used tempered they do it on the bottom panel of glass and the rest is regular glass but don't quote me on that, I no longer use fish tanks for my vivs and the tanks i have built are all regular glass and i just have the guy who makes them drill them for me so that if it cracks its on him and he replaces it instead of me risking cracking it myself. At $10.00 a hole it's worth saving the worry of me doing it myself although i've drilled about 10+ holes in tanks and haven't cracked one yet (knock on wood)