Need help with AGA tank.

I'm certainly not drilling the bottom with knowing, but the tank is 14 years old this month. Maybe AGA did things different back then, and I guess I won't know until I call them and confirm. But I agree, the bottom should definitely not be drilled unless AGA says it's safe.

 

In the late 90's AGA did make a tank those dimensions. I believe it was an 85g tank. The FS I managed at the time sold quite a few of them. But all the ones we sold had two braces on the top. Were your's cut? It's a safe bet that the bottom is tempered. I've contacted AGA in the past(when the were still owned by the two brothers) and they weren't too helpful in my situation but it's worth a try, give them a ring and ask.

Matt

 

THANKS! You are exactly right, it has 2 braces on the top (which are still intact), and if you subtract the glass thickness from the external dimensions, it's about 85 gallons. That's probably the most information I'm going to find on this subject for now, so I guess I need to put a call into AGA.

 

I can pretty much guarantee that the bottom is tempered on that tank.

I have had much older AGA tanks that were tempered on the bottom, and smaller than that tank you have.

You would be much better off drilling the side or back anyway. With 12" of floor space on that tank, I can't see why you would waste any more by drilling the bottom.

 

If it's any help, I called aqueon a few weeks ago about my AGA 150 to find out about tempering. They just told me that they couldn't tell me that with any certainty and so said nothing lol. So I would have to have a glass shop check it out. Most glass shops can check it easily if you have a way to get it to them.

There are other tricks, like polarized glasses, or looking for a ripple effect, and I can try and guide you through those if you wanna PM me, or I'm sure there is lots of info on line, but then again this isn't a sure way to find out. Glass shop is.

Best of luck
Jake

 

I agree. I don't want to give up any floor space if I don't need to. I was just hoping to do some trick drains and returns, but it looks like it just wasn't meant to be. I'll probably install three 1" bulkheads with small individual weered boxes and stick to my original idea of using a halo style return manifold.

I too know a number of those tricks, but nothing quite beats knowing for a fact one way or another. I've pretty much given up drilling the bottom, but I appreciate the offer.