DIY - Projects & Ideas • cutting acrylic top?

[54zamboni]

i have a 5'x2'x18" acrylic tank, i believe it is clarity plus. it has a center overflow and 2 large openings centered on the top. i'm using a wet/dry with 40l as the sump, and the back of the tank is drilled in 2 places up near the top for the returns from the sump. i'd like to add an aquaclear, or at least a canister filter, but there are no smaller openings cut out on the top for even the canister intakes/outputs, much less hanging an aquaclear. is it possible to cut/drill openings in the top of the tank without completely emptying the tank? what i'm thinking is to just drop the water level down a few inches and hold something under the cuts to catch the falling debris . . .

[fishyfishyfishy]

I did that on mine. Just floated some paper towels under the area and drilled two additional holes right through the top with a hole saw.

I added a micron polishing canister to my 450g as well, but I just plumbed it in and out of the sump. This provides plenty of polished water for the main circulation pump to send back to the tank.