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-   -   Took the dremel and built an external overflow with fish still in the tank (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=534878)

Stile2 02/22/2005 10:13 PM

Took the dremel and built an external overflow with fish still in the tank
 
This past weekend I got some diamond tipped dremel bits and went to work on my 29 Galllon. I would like to credit Tunjee with his thread Project External Glass Overflow and Steve68 with his thread 50 gallon breeder external overflow without seeing how they did this and the fact that they had the nerve to do this I would have never tried.

The one major difference between their efforts and mine was that my tank was already setup and I was not prepared to tear it down to do this. So I took out about 4-5" of water (pretty normal water change) and went to town with my animals still in the tank!!

I will post pictures of the steps.
Here is my first attempt at using the dremel on glass. The drain through the bottom of the external overflow.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/cuttinghole.jpg

This is my first posting of a photo, so I am trying it out before posting the rest.

Keith

webpolk 02/22/2005 10:16 PM

Oops.

Sorry

webpolk 02/22/2005 10:18 PM

Double

Looking forward to more.

Steve

Stile2 02/22/2005 10:31 PM

Thanks for showing me how to do that. I am working on more photos.

Keith

webpolk 02/22/2005 10:32 PM

Np. I wasnt sure if I showed you, or if you figured it out, so I changed my post.

Steve

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:16 PM

So now that Steve has shown me how to post photos here we go.

Here is my original DIY overflow. My first attempt at acrylic work, man was it ugly.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow...aloverflow.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:22 PM

Here a shot of building the external box. I cut little jigs out of blocks of wood to make sure the box was level and square.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/Buildingbox.jpg
and Siliconed the top on.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/gluingbox.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:25 PM

I cut off the plastic lip on the tank. I only cut off enough to fir the overflow in between, since I wanted to keep the lip to support a glass top. I live near the desert so evaporation is a concern.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/cutoffplastic.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:29 PM

I took out about 4-5" of water (pretty normal water change) and duct taped on an old cloth diaper to soak up the RO water I sprayed on the cool the dremel bit. And went to town!
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/holesbegun.jpg

Here is my son trying to play video games while I was dremeling to tank.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow...yingtoplay.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:33 PM

I forgot, here is how I layed out the holes. I went with individual holes because I thought that the remaining glass would be stronger.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/layingoutholes.jpg

Here is a picture showing the animals still in the tank. Surprisingly none of my animals even seemed to notice me doing this.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/animalsstillin.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:36 PM

So after many hours of dremeling (is that a word?) the holes are done!
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/holesdone.jpg

and I strapped on a stand to get the overflow box at the right level.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/stand.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:40 PM

After a quick test fit I siliconed the overflow to the tank and strapped it on.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/strapped.jpg

I waited overnight!


Meanwhile I built a Durso Standpipe and painted it Black with Krylon Fusion paint.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/dursopainted.jpg

Stile2 02/22/2005 11:45 PM

The next evening I plumbed the overflow to the sump. And I did a water test with new saltwater, because I was sure it was not going to leak and did want to use FW and then have to siphon out the FW. And then started up the pump.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow/finished.jpg

Any comments or question welcome!!

Definately the best Mod I have done to the tank so far!!:D :D

Keith

sde219 02/23/2005 12:50 AM

Great thread. Excellent job chronicling this project. Great work - wanna come do my 40 breeder for me?

Clown-lover 02/23/2005 04:14 AM

You got some balls dude ;) Nice job

minus_13 02/23/2005 07:37 AM

Yo... when you drilled the glass, did you have the dremel on the highest setting? Please tell us your drilling technique.

Stile2 02/23/2005 10:21 AM

I used an snake extension on the dremel, so the vibration wouldn't be so bad and holding even a dremel for hours can seem like a hundred pounds. I used the dremel on the highest speed with a spray bottle of RO water, use way more water than you think necessary, if the glass glows red you are in danger of cracking the glass. I started by drawing the holes on the glass with a Sharpie marker and using a ball tip diamond dremel bit (part #7103)to make a groove around the outline of the holes. Then with the same bit I started at the top of each hole and made an 1/8" slot all the way through the glass. I did this on every hole, so I wouldn't have to keep changing bits, I only had one dremel. After I was done with all 24 small slots I changed bits to a tapered bit (part # 7134) and again using lots of water, I started at the slot and going slowly in and out (almost like a file) made my way around the groove to complete the hole. I found that I had to do some final grinding of each hole to make it smooth and take off any bumps. I was really surprised how easy it was. What really shocked and pleased me was that my animals did not even react to any of this. I expected my clam to close up but he didn't. My maroon clown did swim up near the surface to check out what I was doing. I wish I had gotten a picture of that.

Keith

Carl_in_Florida 02/23/2005 12:08 PM

WOW! Great job. Where does your water level wind up?

carl

Stile2 02/23/2005 01:42 PM

I cut my holes about 3/16" below the bottom of the plastic lip. Right now with my return pump, Rio 1100 (not big enough!) the water level is right at the bottom of the plastic lip. When I upgrade to a Quiet One 3000 it should be between 1/8 and 1/4" above the bottom of the plastic lip.

Keith

Carl_in_Florida 02/23/2005 01:45 PM

If it is above the plastic lip then it would not actually skim the surface anymore, right?

Carl

Stile2 02/23/2005 01:55 PM

The plastic lip on the inside of the tank only goes into the tank 3/16", I am talking about the outside plastic lip. The water level is 1/2" below the inside plastic lip. Definately skimminig the surface. If it weren't I would be really bummed.


I'll take a picture of the water level from inside and outside tonight when I get home.

Keith

Carl_in_Florida 02/23/2005 02:03 PM

cool, I really like this mod. great job and i look forward to the pic.

Carl

Stile2 02/24/2005 07:44 AM

Here are a couple of pictures to clarify where the water level turned out to be.
From the outside of the tank
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow...waterlevel.jpg

From Inside the tank.
http://reeftank.zenmods.com/Overflow...waterlevel.jpg

I plan to upgrade my return pump from the current Rio 1100 to a Quiet One 3000. You can tell from the Outside Picture that the slots are not being fully used. I figure that the water will raise about a quarter of an inch when I put in the bigger pump.

Keith

Carl_in_Florida 02/24/2005 09:16 AM

That is perfect. Great job!
Put up photos when you get the new pump.
Carl

sjm817 02/24/2005 11:24 AM

Nice!

How well does the silicone bond the acrylic to the glass? I've heard that silicone doesn't stick that well to acrylic.

I'd love to do the same to the back wall of my 90G.


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