Tank Size question
 

Hey all,

Im in the process of planning for a new tank but seem to have run in to a problem with my potential tank(or maybe no a problem at all). I had assumed that the space I would be placing the tank would be able to accommodate a 6ft tank, but it does not look like it will be very practical if I go ahead and do so. My ideal tank would be Ideal tank would be 72 x 30 x 24, here are some of the options I came up with, if you can think of any other please advise:

1. go 6ft and deal with the inconvenience of reaching behind the tank to adj thermostat and access light switch (why anyone would put these in the middle of the wall I have no clue)

2. Go 48" x 48" - if I go with a bigger cube, would that restrict the types of fish I could get as they won have as much room to swim? I really want a dam tang thing time around.

3. go 60" and maybe make the tank wider, or just leave it at 60 x 30. This might work, but I would have to re-measure everything to ensure I get my furniture in there also.

4. put tank upstairs. downside is i'm afraid if there is leak, i'll have two floors of dmg to deal with vs. one.

Thanks in advance.

Maybe get someone in to move the thermostat and light switch? ( how people set these switches up is a mystery to me, I have one that doesn't serve any fixture in the room, a mystery light switch )

If moving it upstairs be sure the floor can take the weight.

I tried as we are currently renovating. My guy took out the cap and looked at how the wiring was set up. He was like he would have to cut out the dry wall just to re-wire the two switches to the end of the wall.

as for upstairs, yea I'll have to look into that.

thanks rsisvixen

If you're doing renos already, dry wall repair is a pretty easy task for those guys!
I'd say move the switches and get what you want.

Are you renovating the whole house, or just upstairs?

just redoing floors, paint etc, nothing major. I'll ask my guy for a quote, hopefully he will do it.

thanks everyone

+1 Geoff.

You should be able to take off the two boxes (switch and thermostat) and fish the wires through to relocate them. You don't have to cut up a tonne of dry wall to achieve this. Any half decent electrician should be able to do it.

I would get the switches moved as well , id also only make the tank 20 tall , at 24 and 30 deep the back of the tank will be imposible to reach . At 24 on my tank I have to get my armpits wet if I drop something in the middle let alone the back.

Exactly, and while you're at it (if your floors are up) run an ethernet cable from the tank area to your router area. Also wouldn't hurt to run a couple dedicated 110V lines to the panel if possible.

You could also get an electrician, while they are moving stuff, to put in a dedicated outlet for the tank with a GFI and run it straight to your mains on its own circuit.

remote light switch & thermostat
 

just an idea but home depot extra have remote switches:idea:

Thanks for the great tips everyone. Im writing it all down, and showing it to my guy. hopefully he'll know what I mean cause I am so lost that I probably wont be able to translate I for him lol

if your doing floors there a good chance your doing the baseboards? cut drywall down low and drill the studs and get a 5 or 6" tall baseboard. no drywall repair and super easy to do.

+1
:biggrin:

That is brilliant. For all that matters you could just cut the drywall up an inch off the floor and run the lines in that gap. Just don't nail them when you reinstall the baseboards. Lol

Electricians are good. Just point at switches, say they can't be there. Let the pro figure it out :)

thats a cheating way to do it and not a very safe way. I DO NOT reccomend this. you will know its there but future homeowners will not. they change baseboards and start shorting circuits and the thermostat does nothing or goes bonkers.......... drill the center of the studs or if your near the edge put up a stricker plate and atleast its done properly.

also do not run line voltage and low voltage right parrallel to each other. you will have interference on the thermostat

My baseboards are all glued onto the wall
Is that a new thing? or the norm these days?

i did, he didnt want to do it. had to call in another guy. but problem solved. going with 6 ft tank.

thanks again everyone.

Glad it worked out :) I just did a kitchen reno, I just pointed a lot. Guy got it done!

:lol: If they changed the baseboards in the future they'd see the wiring, but I guess you guys are doing thermostats...we did the wiring for our surround sound speakers the way I mentioned. Future owners won't be inheriting our surround sound, so it's a non-issue.

Normally they are nailed on and then the visible edge is siliconed.
Chances are it's silicone not glue.

6 ft tank is a go....

now to wait on the sales :biggrin:

I've removed lots that were glued on. Not fun :)

I've heard that from lots of people. Must be a "homeowner special"
Current normal practice is using a brad nailer.

Ya, place, nail, seal top seam and corners. Some older houses have weird framing though, and hitting wood with the nails is random :)