Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! @#$%*!!!

[AbranV]

OMFG!

If anybody has read LilyPad's recent post about water features, you may have seen my comments on the issues I've been having.....

Problem solved. Had a stroke of genius today and got it working. I set it all up, gravel and decorations included. Beautiful, works like a charm. Next I dismantle the whole water feature and pull it out of the tank. Time to drill a hole in the back of the tank for the pump plug.

I marked the spot for my hole, masked it out for support, made a little water well to keep the bit cool.
Put on my safety glasses, just in case. Grab the drill, load a brand spanking new diamond bit. Raise the drill, start the hole, and.....

CRACK!

The whole back of the tank spider webs, and is ruined

The only silver lining to this little mishap was the foam background kept me from having to vacuum for the rest of the evening!

Just needed to vent a little,

Oops, almost forgot to ask. Does anybody know if PETCO is having their "dollar per gallon" sale anytime soon?

[AbranV]

Did I mention that I build custom furniture for a living? I've drilled hundreds of holes in glass. I've cut glass shelving, I've even melted and reshaped glass.

I have no idea how this happened. Anybody have any tips before I blow up another tank?

[LilyPad]

Oh I'm sorry, that beyond sucks! Petco just finished their dollar/gallon sale but has a 20% off coupon good through today. Most fish tanks can't be drilled though

[jarteta97]

Was it tempered glass?

[AbranV]

Yup, its was tempered glass. Big oversight on my part. I assumed it was plate, and would be able to drill it, people do it all of the time for sumps and stuff.

I guess I'm just lucky

[DigitalPunk]

If the whole side spider webbed than it was tempered glass. Typically if you crack regular glass it will be a single or a handful of crack that spread out from the center. Sounds like it might have been tempered glass base off your description.

If you are not sure if the glass you are about to drill is tempered contact the manufacturer and they can let you know.

[deranged chipmunk]

Oh I'm sorry, that beyond sucks! Petco just finished their dollar/gallon sale but has a 20% off coupon good through today. Most fish tanks can't be drilled though

The sides of most fish tanks can be drilled, only the bottoms are tempered on large tanks due to the weight involved.


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[deranged chipmunk]

It wasn't tempered glass if it spider webbed. Tempered glass will break up into small pieces (think broken car window), plate glass will throw spider webs (think bullet hole in a store window).


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

[AbranV]

It wasn't tempered glass if it spider webbed. Tempered glass will break up into small pieces (think broken car window), plate glass will throw spider webs (think bullet hole in a store window).


Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world ~ Nelson Mandela

It was tempered for sure. "Spider webbed" was the wrong word to describe it, shattered car windshield is perfect.

I hit the internet searching for a new tank and came across a thread on a fish forum. From what I read, certain companies use tempered glass and some don't.

FYI
In my journey to find a replacement, I came across PETCO's newest ad, and the have the Zilla 40B and 20L on sale for 50% off for Pals members. Couldn't talk the wifey into letting me bring a 40B home for $65, but I thought I'd pass the sale info along.