rainbody Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 I have two 1" bulkheads I would like to expand to 2" ones without draining the system. Is this even possible or should I find another means to increase outflow from the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afgun Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 Drilling your tank with it filled is definitely a risky proposition. At a minimum the water level has to be lowered below the BH. If you have tempered glass, forget about it. If not, it's possible, but you run the risk of getting debris in the running tank or worse, cracking/breaking even if not tempered (it happens, occasionally, from everything I've read). If your setup allows (both in the same overflow box), you might instead try converting one of your overflows to a full-siphon. If the overflows are in the same box, one could be your emergency and the other a full siphon. More flow that way. I believe it's called a Herbie style. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=344892 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneroller Posted February 21, 2010 Share Posted February 21, 2010 What's your current setup? Return pump, sump size, etc. Why do you need more outflow from your tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbody Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 As for the setup right now. Two overflows with an outflow and return in each. Its 1" outflows with 1" inflow( reduced to 3/4s for locline) in each overflow. Im going to take a look at that herbie deal. Have to say I am alittle lost on the idea and the physics of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneroller Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 What return pump(s) are you using? Seems two returns should be plenty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbody Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Im running a panworld 50pxx with a Y for both returns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prof Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Where is the hole you want to expand? If it is in the bottom it is probably in tempered glass and can not be enlarged. If it is in the back then cutting a new hole is possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbody Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share Posted February 22, 2010 Its an acrylic tank. The issue with redrilling the bottom section is the stand has a 1/2" sheet the whole tank sits on. So Id have to drill not only the larger hole for the larger bulkhead but a wider hole that would fit the bulkhead fittings. I doubt it would be easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prof Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Acrylic is easy to cut. Access is going to be your only problem. If you can get to it you can use a 3" hole saw to enlarge the plywood and then a 2" hole saw to cut the acrylic. Or whatever size holes you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbody Posted March 18, 2010 Author Share Posted March 18, 2010 Well I solved the problem. Took some thought but I got it. The Issue : Making a 1 1/4" hole into a 2" in the same spot. As most of us know that do our own mods, the drill bit requires a center hole for stability. I tried to put something behind it to drill into and before the hole to drill through. Both of which didnt work. I ended up taking that two part epoxy from coralife(green stick) and molding that into a brace across the middle of the 1 1/4" hole bisecting it. I kept the epoxy to a minimum knowing that if I kept it in the line I drew it would all be drilled out. The epoxy brace was abit heavy and started to sag so I add some addition support with q-tips because I couldnt find a toothpick. After about a day I removed the added support and drilled out the hole. The drill bit cut perfectly into the brace allowing a nice perfect 2" hole to be drilled right where a 1 1/4" hole use to be with none of that ugly grey epoxy around the hole. I just thought Id share this anyone who may run into the same issue. Hope it goes as easy for you as it did for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 An even easier way is to use 2 holesaws, place one the same size as the existing hole into the larger saw. Generally there is enough thread left in your mandrel to lock them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timfish Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Another way is to use a plywood "hole" made with a hole saw and tape it into the hole you're trying to make larger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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