To Drill or not to Drill?
 

Background:
I am converting a 50 gallon bowfront into an orchid tank. I plan to have all of my orchids mounted and above the substrate (3" V2 NEHERP). There will be jewel orchids, ferns, goldfish plants...whatever else I decide to try in the substrate. This substrate was selected because I think it will be particularly fast drying.

The Point:
So, I wasn't planning to drill this originally. Just carefully balance the moisture with my Mistking system and (if all else fails) suck up any excess water. HOWEVER, I realize I will probably be drilling 9/16" holes for the mist nozzles in the lid of my tank anyway...should I go ahead, take the chance and drill the tank as well? It is currently bare bottom.

If I did...what size bit would I need?

I would not. It seriously affects the glass strength.

Works for me!

---------- Post added at 07:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:13 PM ----------

Do you think I should get acrylic instead of glass for the lid , then? I worry it would bow under heat…but if it is 5 or 6mm it probably wouldn’t, maybe?

Depending upon the tank, some of them use tempered glass (I’d check with the manufacturer), so any attempt to drill them would result in breakage. If it’s not, a diamond drill bit, when used under water, will give the cleanest cut - just take it slow.

How big the hole should be is really up to you, but I’d recommend a false bottom under the substrate so there is room for excess water to collect, then silicone a barbed connector in the hole so you can use flexible vinyl tubing to take it away.

I would go with polycarbonate over acrylic for the top (usplastic.com is a decent source of plastics), or you could have a local glass shop do the drilling for you, so they take the breakage risk.

Yes, my guess would be a 50 gal bow front would more than likely be tempered glass. I would also do the false bottom as Ray indicates. So much easier to plan ahead than go back and fix after it's set up.

In my experience, for a terrarium of only plants, a mist king system is entirely unnecessary and the excess water droplets promote disease. Foggers are much better route if your humidity is dropping.

if you require a hole, the lid is the obvious choice as Ray points out.