So, after all my research, all my reading, all my investigating... I screwed up.

My tank is fabulous, but the drainage is becoming an issue. See, what I missed was that when you put a drainage tube in you should put a slit in a sponge and insert the end of the tube into it, then lay it in the bottom of the tank and cover it with your rocks (or your false bottom) so that the sponge filters. My tank is (from the bottom): river rocks, four layers of screen, potting soil, coco fibre, live plants and frogs. I thought I had it all wonderful until I read about the sponge. Sure enough, my water is starting to trickle from my drainage tube. Drat.

A dismantle is in the future. I have a friend who is a glazier and he has offered to drill my tank for me. I'm going to put a drainage hole on the side right down by the bottom and silicone a tube into it that will drain right into a bucket. I'm doing this in May, so I have time to figure everything out.

Does anyone have any advice for me in regards to filtering or silicone or drilling or anything? Is there anything I should know before I embark on this new adventure? Where do you recommend the hole be? Should it be right at the bottom of the side or should I leave a little space?

I debated long and hard about whether to do the rocks or a false bottom last time, and went with the rocks for aesthetic purposes. Now is my time to change this if I wished to, but actually, I really like the look of the rocks. However, if you have any input as to why I should change from rocks, now is the time!


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Any and all input is welcome. Thanks in advance!