Buying a New Display tank advice

Hey everyone, I haven't posted here in over a year... Don't know if anyone remembers me lol

I am looking to finally setup a tank upstairs in my living room however it will be impossible to move a tank from the basement up so I have decided that I should setup a new tank and plum it to the basement.
All my previous tanks were pre drilled when I purchased them however I am wondering if anyone has bought a non drilled tank pre owned or brand new and had it drilled and if that is a better option or if it would be cheaper to just buy a reef ready tank. I am looking to purchase a 180G+ display tank for upstairs, and I have found a number of tanks that fit these requirements on kijiji although non of them are pre drilled.

Look forward to some input from the 3reef community

-Leigh

 

I have no experience with drilling a tank and only know that the glass cannot be tempered in order to drill it, But I know there are people on here that say it is really easy to drill them. So here is a bump for you

 

+1 with md.
Make sure you get a diamond tip drill bit. I just picked one up the other day for 1" holes and it was $45. Slow steady pressure and lots of water for lubricant.

 

http://www.3reef.com/threads/drilling-a-glass-aquarium.54340/

A good guide for drilling your own

 

Glass-holes.com has diamond hole saws for <$15.

 

ouch!

 

I have drilled a few tanks, although if going that big - I would say get a reef ready one.

 

My 3 cents,

The only problem with almost all RR tanks is:
It's only drilled thru the bottom, and has a relatively small area to 'surface skim' the water.
Then your best bet is some type of Herbie mod, or lots of noise, or both.

Drilling your own, and getting a longer, albeit ridiculously priced overflow box,
or simply building/fabbing your own large shelfs/boxes is a better way to go IMHO.

 

Drill your own, Glassholes is a great company to go with. Personally I would go this route.

 

I have drilled tanks up to 75 gallons and it is very easy. I have a 220 that i am (SLOOOOOOLY) getting ready to drill. The glass is 1/2 thick so it should be interesting to do. Like Todd said, the nice thing about drilling yourself is that you can do just what you want. For something that size, that will be plumbed to the basement, I would look at doing a bean animal overflow. Check out Todds build thread (my current hero) and you will get some good ideas. If you were closer Id hook you up with and extra 220 tank i have!