Replacing the bottom pane of glass on my 55 gal tank

I'm wanting to replace the bottom pane of glass in my 55 gallon tank so I can drill a hole for overflow. I was debating between using lexan or replacing it with glass. Glass is expensive and hard to drill. I was told that they would drill the hole in the glass then fire it to temper the glass after the hole is drilled (expensive). Lexan is a poly-carbonite that is slightly cheaper, and its easier to drill. I can use a regular hole saw to cut through it. But I'm wondering about using Lexan on a glass aquarium. Will it bond? What do I use to bond it to the glass? Is there a better way than changing the glass? Or should I just use the PVC Overflow that is discussed in another thread?

 

Just drill the rear of the tank or buy a new one the cost of replacing that pane will be more then a new tank.. Is it marked tempered bottom ?

 

It is marked Tempered bottom. Do you mean drill the back pane that stand vertically? Is that tempered?

 

Lexan is very nice to work with but I would be wary trying to bond the two together. Glass bonds very well to itself with the aquarium silicone and the plexiglass bonds/melts to itself really good with the cement (made my own 26 gallon sump with baffles) but to mix the two especially on the bottom may be asking for a big mess.
I just bought a 90 gallon with a built in overflow and pre-drilled for 350 which I thought was a pretty good deal brand new -- plus it gave me a reason to upgrade to a nice cherry wood stand and replace my 72 gallon with a little be bigger tank. Plus I didn't like the bow in the bow front.

 

Really??? I'll never buy a square tank again if I can help it! I LOVE the bow fronted kinds!

 

why noy just drill the glass you have now? most LFS do that when you pay them to. Id also be wary trying to cut it by yourself without "special" equipment. like tangster said, you could and i would buy a new one because you can get them RR (reef ready), that come with overflows and pre-drilled. Its just too much of a risk to DIY a tank bottom IMO.
Bobby K.

 

Yes drill the rear near the bottom on the what will be back glass about 3 inches in and 3 inch up then you installed a vertical overflow like a reef ready system and then a street 90 into the new bulkhead and then the stand pipe. The glass on the sides and ends are seldom tempered if so they mark them as a rule if you know the brand name I can tell you for sure with a little more certainty . But I had Perfecto to tell me a tank I had was not tempered and it was .. If its perfecto I'd not think of putting a drill to it..

 

If I may put my 2 cents, I agree with tangster. Your better off getting a new one then later to find that all of your live stock is on the floor and you now have an indoor salt water swimming pool. Besides, maybe you can use this opportunity to up grade to a bigger tank. Luna

 

And use the 55g as a sump!

 

Hey, my DIPLAY tank's a 55!!

That would make me feel very inadequate. ;D