How to Drill a Hole in a Glass Aquarium the Easy Way [DIY]

[@bimmerknut]

I just drilled (2) 60mm holes in my 80-gallon using a plywood template as you did to prevent the bit from traveling. I will say that using masking tape on the underside is probably the reason I had zero chipping at the point where the bit makes its final cut through the glass. It came out perfect. Just my observation and perhaps it will help you or someone else.

[@garylcarrier]

My experience drilling wood, or glass panels is always support the back side with wood or heavy tape. It certainly minimizes breakout or rough edges. I learned the hard way, and that type experience may be costly! Thanks for your video!

[@straightfifty4202]

Will do this while I drill, hopefully you saved me a headache 👍👍

[@brianaltmann613]

TIP: If you place duct tape or painters tape inside of the tank where you are drilling the hole, it will do two things. 1) prevent the cut out from falling once you’re done drilling...and....2) It will significantly reduce the inside edges of the hole from chipping and flaking

[@StevePolandAquatics]

Put a piece of duct tape (or two) on the underside of the glass to support the round piece as it falls out. You'll get a clean hole every time.

[@AquariumCoop]

+Steve Poland Cichlids I tried that method as well. I personally could never get a perfect hole. Thanks for the tip though. I can try it again. but I thoroughly tested different tapes and ways of taping it and none gave better results.

[@chemetron3826]

Might be worth to try clamping a piece of solid wood on the back

[@ShrimpinAintEz_com]

@@chemetron3826 my thought was well

[@spinefishaquatics3030]

@@chemetron3826 this seems like the solution

[@AquariumCoop]

*Do you enjoy DIY tips like this? Sign up for our e-newsletter to get our latest articles, videos, events, and more! **geni.us/NewAccount*

[@noodles74]

So to drill an aquarium we are going to need an aquarium pissing myself laughing.

[@deonmilliner9807]

I broke it ...😐

[@lightningdt1]

Cory, the best way to get a cleaner hole and less breakage is to put a piece of wood on the underside and use a clamp with rubber/plastic pads so the glass is supported.

[@cerafus521]

Hey Cory, I know this is an older video, but I find when I drill holes like that through wood that If I start on one side, and then finish up on the other, I don't get any splintering or break-offs. Have you tried that with glass? Just curious if would be any better. Especially when using the guide which of course would make it easier to line the drill up with the hole on both sides.

[@AquariumCoop]

I did try it, on smaller tanks you have to use a right angle drill. It does improve it slightly, but you have to be exact lining it up unlike wood which can be sanded etc if you are 1/32nd of an inch off

[@utalis47]

In the past they have been 99 cents on eBay,I just got my Amazon 25 pack and it works out to 64 cents each bit.great to have extra bits to practice with on scrap glass as the bits do wear out

[@rogerivy2919]

Buy a proper diamond glass bit so the glass wont chip, also put a strong gaffa or duct tape underneath the glass and the glass wont chip. using chinese diamond bit is not a diamond bit. when you use equipment only buy the best.

[@kevinf.5957]

Hey Cory how far from the sides do you recommend drilling? I would like to drill my tank

[@valulloa1046]

If you tape the other side when you finally cut through the glass it will not chip off the other side of the glass. :)

[@rollerkitbird]

Thats quite a lot of break out. I always use frog tape on the opposite side I'm drilling from and never have break out👍🏼

[@roge_lelapin]

Watched it, get it, got it, tried it. SUCCESS. TANK YOU!

[@nathanhenderson5994]

Cory, thanks for the video!! To stop the breakout pre drill the back side slightly and then finish drilling from your original side. When drilling wood you will always get the same if you drill 100% from one side. To fix we do what I suggested, 10-15% from one side and then finish from the other.

[@-Gunnarsson-]

I drilled for 3 hours and I was still not thru. 😮

[@aaronle2398]

Hi, i have one inch bulkhead, what size of the diamond drill should i get to drill my 55 gallon tank please?

[@2tenaquatics]

Cory I am finally about ready to pull the trigger and drill my first tank. (20L) Just wanted to let you know that the link for the AMZN diamond hole saws is no longer working. I purchased one at Lowes but wanted to compare the size of both to make sure I had the right size.

[@AquariumCoop]

Thanks, just got it updated. Appreciate it.

[@kenziebrand3431]

Can you drill larger holes

[@RAZOR12334]

Why drill on top it should be at bottom to u can drain water.

[@tylermullins9793]

If your hole is on the bottom and you have a power outage, return pump stops, all the water in aquarium will drain out. Overflowing your sump. With the hole, bulkhead, near the top it'll only drain an inch or so.

[@RAZOR12334]

@@tylermullins9793 Then how to change 1/4 water. Can u please help me with this.

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

And two hands on the drill to stop the wobble

[@kurtisstutzman7056]

I've found using drill press or a good, well balanced hand drill (best are pneumatic) with a jig or framework around it to hold it on the glass... Your hole saw has to stay at EXACTLY 90 degrees...! Your hands with a bubble level will always be shaky... Just my experience... Keep Rockin out Cory...!

[@ryanbrand3946]

Here's a tip, cut a shallow 1/4" groove from the hole in the template about an inch long, on the top side. Strap or attach an air line tube on the end of the groove and siphon water as you drill so you dont need to stop drilling to add water.

[@AquariumCoop]

That is a good tip. Thanks!

[@nathanfrohwein2755]

Hey Cory- What size of diamond coated holesaw do you use and what size bulk heads do you use?

[@nathanfrohwein2755]

Just kidding you have it in the description! Thanks!

[@smoll.miniatures]

Attach something to the back. Or drill a slightly smaller hole (just smaller than the final hole size, so that you are essentially grinding the remaining glass away rather than cutting out a disk.

[@BastianKevin666]

Poke a hole a third of the way up a water bottle with a needle. When you loosen the cap, water will come out of the pin hole. Also tape the back of the glass to help blow out. Thanks for the video.

[@NinjaSushi2]

"Man discovers Chinese product is garbage." Ah a refreshing headline.

[@kurtisstutzman7056]

Love y'all and the information/ knowledge you share with ME...! Thanks Cory...!

[@andyxox4168]

To stop the breakout try clamping another piece of (faced) wood on the back of the hole …

[@mattentitma8247]

Just drilled 3 holes & believe it or not - two of them were totally clean cut. As the tank is 525litres & holes had to be drilled to the bottom I had pressure to the glass from both sides & probably this was the main idea why it did not crack from the edge. For the third hole I did not stand on the bottom glass & did have several pieces tored apart from the edge of the hole.

[@peterhenriksen4083]

Thanks, your video have help me a lot. Best Regards from Peter in Denmark

[@ShrimpinAintEz_com]

What if your clamped another wood stencil to the bottom of the glass?

[@kevinpittman2325]

Just go to lowes and pick up an Irwin diamond hole saw

[@lynkpaul2171]

Just back up both sides of the glass with solid piece of wood and clamp it firm, so you won't get chipping off of the sides of the hole.

[@bluerider0988]

I bet if you clamped a board on the opposite side it wouldn't break out at all.

[@TheVonwalsh]

It actually is quite easy to drill glass without getting the jagged edge or chips. Put a piece of timber on the underside so your drilling from within the inside of the tank. No pressure or very little & just take your time & let the bit do the work. I just did for my first time & were perfect.

[@IagoPereira]

I would try clamping wood on both sides of the glass to try and get a better cut finish

[@njbaquatics4827]

The reason you getting that ship out is because it wants to fall away when the glass gets Finn if you put something on the other side of it to support it like another piece of wood that’s why the professionals don’t get blow out because they do on the bench before the tank is built the other option is to sit the tank on a flat piece of wood and do it from the inside out

[@shadowofthestarsdespair]

You need to support the back died of the glass with more wood so u can drill thre the glass in the wood so no break outs happen.

[@okiinu]

Try clamping another piece of wood to the underside, that might keep it from chipping.

[@AquariumCoop]

It doesn't, I've tried lots of different combinations, after drilling hundreds of tanks, you've tried everything you've ever seen suggested. Unfortunately I've never found a perfect hole. Whether it's a drill press, mineral oil, clamped from both sides, free hand, dawn dish soap, $100+ dollar diamond whole saws. etc.

[@okiinu]

I guess it's a good thing it ultimately doesn't matter then... Thanks for the great videos!

[@Joricano]

How do you determine where to drill the holes?

[@BasiltheBatlord377]

You look at the glass and think: "Hey! I should put a hole there!"

[@iant419]

Jesus, use a drill press!!! Or at least a portable jig drill!

[@AquariumCoop]

Have you ever done that? I own both and they both lead to broken tanks compared to this method.

[@iant419]

@@AquariumCoop I actually have a giant milling machine with a programmable feed rate.

[@njbaquatics4827]

Just a little tip that I do I put a bit of Play-Doh on the back of the board it seems to help hold it in position without creating those pressure points you can also create a little bit of a sale around the area you’re cutting which seems to hold the water in a little bit better

[@alexjustin7886]

3:20

[@ADHDAquatics]

In your experience is it safe to cut the rim off of a fish tank

[@dallasward4825]

THX FOR YOUR VIDEO. NOW I KNOW HOW TO DO IT... MIAMI FL

[@anthonyromano5420]

Can you drill a tank in the bottom in the center and it not crack?

[@NinjaSushi2]

I want a dollar a gallon deal on 180 gallon and up.

[@patterdalezipsuzilil]

Best to use 2 hands so drill does not wobble😂😂😂😂😂

[@MofazzalHossain-gm6wh]

it's a very very helpful video

[@rosscumberledge5735]

If you use a pilot bit you dont need a guide.

[@davidyeung478]

Use a flat gasket of the correct size hole so that water does not leak out.

[@Ripsaw17]

You get what you pay for

[@ferrari_guy3570]

Thank You Cory!

[@amirulaishad3582]

Wht the size diamond hole saw for the thank 4ftx2ftx2ft sir???

[@juliusesarda]

It depends on how big the hole you want for that tank... It's up to you...

[@ronmann5810]

Thanks Corey great video!!!

[@MichaelsFishRoom]

Great Video Cory! I really like the follow up on the hole saw. This is one of my next projects for my fish room.

[@AquariumCoop]

+Michael Skurnik It's a game changer once you have drilled tanks :)

[@laughingc0w]

Great, easy to follow vid. Appreciate the explanations and tips. Thank you!! How do you know if your tank is tempered glass or not? I have an aqueon 20gal high. I threw away the sticker but know it’s glass

[@southjerseysound7340]

look at it through polarized glasses and you'll see a difference.

[@txic7330]

I got a free tank and it had two of those holes. I just wanted to know what they are for.

[@DaveNavarroSr]

Sump filters... water out / water in

[@johnterpack3940]

"Make sure it's not tempered"... okay. How? Our 75g came with the bulkheads in the floor and I really want to move them to the back. But just because the bottom has holes doesn't mean I can assume the back isn't tempered. I'm honestly tempted to replace the back glass with plywood so I know I can drill it.

[@mkreate36]

You can use some sunglasses. If you look at the back glass of your car, or your cell pho e and it looks funky, it means your sunglasses can identify tempered glass. Use those sunglasses to look at your tank and you should be able to tell. Especially if you have some sunglasses that so not identify (I think it is UV coating or something) and you compare the two.

[@johnterpack3940]

@@mkreate36 I found out about that trick after posting this comment. Still frustrating that nobody can bother mentioning it in these videos.

[@heuerfan]

Thanks for the video, whats your thought on drilling a 125 gallon currently running? My plan is to drain 75% of the water and slide the tank over so I can drill from the backside. Any tips on drilling vertically?

[@AquariumCoop]

It can be done, I just don't know I can advise it. I personally wouldn't drill a glass aquarium with water. I have done acrylic though.

[@TiredOfY]

I've done it before where I built an internal sump but there wasn't enough flow to keep up with the pump so the water would go over the main divider so I had to add more holes on the intake anyhow...make a circle with some type of permanent marker then use a rotary drill..the hole won't be perfect but then again..the glass wont break

[@aaronle2398]

Do you know the link on the ebay?

[@CrowntailHalfmoon]

Hi Cory The link for hole saw isn't working could u send link?

[@AquariumCoop]

amzn.to/2CRlk6H

[@CrowntailHalfmoon]

@@AquariumCoop Thank u How many holes u were able to drill before replacing bit

[@AquariumCoop]

I typically would drill about 6. I've gone as many as 15 or so with 1 bit though.

[@CrowntailHalfmoon]

@@AquariumCoop Gr8 thx you

[@moj0480]

excellent video.

[@AquariumCoop]

+moj0480 Thanks for watching.

[@aaronle2398]

Omg, i just order 3 of these from china.

[@roughriderdave]

I'm going to attempt cutting some 1" and 3/4" bulkhead holes in my 150g tall. I have had a hard time finding the 45mm hole saw. I thought it would be pretty common. Am I missing something?