Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Contest #1 Nano

Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/index.php)

- Canreef Nano Tank Build Contest #1 (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=146)

- - Contest #1 Nano - New Rock Work (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=46197)

So my wife and I moved out of my parents guest house a few months ago and into the place we just built which is a really nice change.

However, I've been crazy busy doing house stuff both before and after the move which is why I haven't been on the site much... just incase you noticed and cared ahah

Anyway... given the building /moving process my tank was a little neglected before I ever left and even more so after I did.

Once we moved out of my parents guest house my little sister moved from the main house out to the guest house so I left my tank with her for a few months. She's been watching it for me... rather unsuccessfully.

I thought she could handle it for a few months but apparently not ahah. I haven't had a chance to move my tank over to the new place until last week but when I went to pick it up there wasn't a whole lot left. Kinda bad on my end to just leave it with her but that's just life sometimes.

Anyway, my wife isn't a huge fan of the tank to begin with so it's new home is the basement. Apparently, the new house is too nice for my my ugly tank to be allowed on the upper floors. ahah But in actuality I'm fine with that. Given the layout of the house the basement is really the best place for it anyway. However, with no flooring down there I decided it'd be better to get the tank up to a more viewable height.

I hope to get a bit more stock in it again but nothing too crazy or too soon given my current wallet situation.

Eventually, I'd like to put a 6' tank in the same spot. Under the stairs would be the fish room. Seems like a good use of what would otherwise be kinda useless space, and it's close to the future laundry room meaning I won't have to go too far for water or a drain.

Anyway, I've attached some pictures in case you care. Sorry the pictures are so crappy but I didn't feel like playing with the white balance or getting a tripod etc.

I'll post my basement floor plan later and get everyone's input on my plans for the future.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_1191.jpg

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_1192.jpg

Man that looks pretty sweet but I can't help but think it would look way better if it was just over 4 feet long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 490141)

Man that looks pretty sweet but I can't help but think it would look way better if it was just over 4 feet long.

The studs are at 21" spacing and there is a little more room on both sides. I think 4' is too short but we'll see...

I just scanned the builders drawing and drew over it in paint so it's not the greatest but let me know what you think of the plan.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...sementPlan.jpg

No thoughts? Anyone else have there fish room under the stairs?

The only real problem with your layout is visibility. You won't see it from your living space, it's pretty much in a hallway so really it's not much different from being hidden in a closet. I'd have a hard time enjoying a tank in that type of location.

I like this better

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/Plan.jpg

Tank might be a little big but the location works better even if the tank is not as wide.

Also with the fish room being rather small consider keeping the sump under the tank to free up some space in the room. This way you'll have more room for electrical, water change buckets, RO filter, and even a laundry sink.

Yeah I know what you're saying about the hallway location. I know it's not ideal but the house isn't that big so I need the space for other stuff like workout equipment or eventually the kids toys... very distant future ahah. Plus that tank you drew is HUGE ahah I know that space isn't that big but that's a big tank to fill it ahah

The size of the tank in the picture was kind of my idea of a joke but the location is still good.

You really gotta sit down and think about what you want from this tank, that is if you're actually going to do it. A 6 foot tank no matter how you do it is probably going to cost more than your TV or any piece of art work you put up. If all you're looking for is something to work on as a hobby in your spare time then location isn't that important but if your main goal is to ultimately have something nice to look at then location is key. The main thing I like about my tank is sitting back and looking at it, nothing else compares to how relaxing and beautiful it is to me. That's why when I put my tank up I didn't care that it was a little intrusive and took up living space. I just wanted it where I spend most of my time so I could actually enjoy the fruits of my labor. I think most reefers will agree.

If space is limited then reexamine the size of the tank. A four foot tank will fit better in more locations and ultimately take up less space. I think you have a lot more better options for placement than the hallway. You could even do an in wall setup like this:
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a174/sphelps/new.jpg
I'd bet this would better in every way. It doesn't take up living space, only storage which could be made up with a closet in the hallway or under the stairs. It's also close to the water heater which I believes means a floor drain is close. It's also be easier to light and maintain since it'll be closer to the 4 foot mark.

Something to think about at least.

Might have to re think my plan? Kinda weird to have the tank behind you 90% of the time and I did kinda like it in the hallway so future kids / nieces and nephews won't break it if playing mini stick hockey or something?

Quote:

Originally Posted by superduperwesman (Post 491285)

Well at least it would be in the room and it would depend on how the rest of the room is laid out. So are you going to have TV down there? I would think that would be just as likely to get broken. If you were that concerned though you could always use plastic or even tempered glass for additional impact strength. But you may be surprised how strong tanks can be, I remember some careless douche smashed a wii remote pretty darn hard against my old tank and it didn't break :wink:

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 491288)

Yeah I'd like to put a huge projector screen down there that rolls up behind the engineered beam that's down there. Another effective use of otherwise useless space :)

oh yeah ahah. I totally forgot about that. Man I hit that thing so hard I thought I broke my hand... but only broke the remote. Cost me $50 ahaha

Yeah that was pretty funny........ the hand I mean.

So now that I've got my tank over to my new place it's time to get it back in shape. So to start with I redid the rock work:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...n/DSC_0020.jpg

Oh and I also installed my r/o unit today :)

Anyone interested in some leather frags?

Leather is gone and has made some room in the tank :)

Thanks Greg!

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...man/FebFTS.jpg

Rock looks good, going to put some new stuff in?

Yeah I'm gonna start to get it full again. basically starting over as you can see.

Just looked over your whole thread. Love the stand, in the near future I think I might use the same idea.

Thanks! Feel free just don't use mdf :) Not my greatest selection ahah

Wow. Over two years and my clown fish is still alive in an often neglected 10 gallon...

Last month I finally moved my Blue Damsel to the display area of my sump and shut down the 10 gal. Funny how long these little tanks lasted.

Crap! I spoke too soon. I started a basement reno and came home to find my clown fish sucking the overflow and everything else looking like total crap so I decided to tear it down.

Its good finally I found a place where I can get lots of information about fish.I have bought an 20 x 10 x 12 aquarium but I dont know what fish I should buy and what are the precautions I should take regrading fish.