I had four holes to drill in each tank, for a total of 12 holes. I made a template out of 3/4' plywood scrap shelving I had left over. Nothing fancy. I cut it to 46 inches—just enough to fit the length of the aquarium between the plastic trim.

The plywood was a perfect fit! I drilled out the holes exactly where I wanted my plumbing to be, using the plywood as a template. Then, I used my diamond drill bit hole saw as a guide to cut the holes in the glass. Drilling very slowly—about 15 minutes per hole—ensured smooth results with no cracks, chips, or splinters.

I also used a water hose to gently pour water onto the glass during drilling. The result? No cracked glass, and the holes came out perfect. While I was at it, I painted the bottom and back glass panes black for a polished look.

Safety Note: I used electrical tape to seal the prongs of my extension cord, preventing water from getting in as the water drained onto the concrete.