Tank Design

[Kronk]

Two 2" holes drilled for closed loop intakes

depending on your pumps you would have to reduce those a ton.

Instead of a really tall tank ever think of stacking two inwall? if you do the spacing carefully and run some thick braces under the top one for safety it would look sweet.

[Parker]

I'm running darts for the closed loop they have two inch intakes... IF I go with the tall tank I don't think one dart would be enough. I have more then one so I may put them to use. One return, and two closed loops.. one for the top of the tank one for the bottom

Stacking tanks wouldn't be an option in my situation.

[albert_dao]

Don't do it man!!! I once maintained a 42" tall tank and it was A NIGHTMARE!

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Originally Posted by albert_dao

Don't do it man!!! I once maintained a 42" tall tank and it was A NIGHTMARE!

Albert I think I am maintaining that tank now. Big time pain to clean the glass next to the sand. I'm happy its not a bare bottom. 36" would be the highest in my opinion. 40" high would need some thick glass.
Kevin

[Parker]

Right now, if I stand flat on the floor I can put my arm over the top of the tank and down into it. Maintaining the 30" wouldn't be bad, I understand that the 40" would be quite a bit taller. Cleaning the bottom might not be a big deal. The tank would be recessed into the stand almost 3" with the sand bed below the top of the counter.. That gives me 37" above the counter top.

For those that haven't seen a picture, this is what I am replacing, I kind of agree with my wife, the tank does look a little squat in there.

[mark]

What are you doing for a hood?

Can see having a straight really tall hood (level with the top of the shelfs) just looking bulky but could you fill the height with shelfs or insets above the lights?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by mark

What are you doing for a hood?

Can see having a straight really tall hood (level with the top of the shelfs) just looking bulky but could you fill the height with shelfs or insets above the lights?

The riser and crown molding for the top of the book shelves still needs to be installed. I was going to build the canopy to match, riser and crown. Right now in the picture the doors on the corner cabinets are missing. When the corners got ordered they were a bit too tall, they had to cut them down. So now I have the two doors from the original hight. They are going to make perfect doors for the canopy 12" high and 36" long. They will open upwards toward the ceiling. I was going to make the canopy removable of course but the doors would be for every day chores, feeding etc.


I guess I'll just sit here and think about it! lol

[TJSlayer]

Yeah but depending on light and how deep it is it will probably look fine....

But hey it's your stuff and money set it up how you like or it will bug you...



Looking really nice so far.

TJ

[bassman]

Have you played around with your picture using Paint or some photo shop to try and give yourself some better ideas of how it will look?

If you have a straight on picture of your wall unit it is very easy to stretch the tank in the image. Might help you envision things.

I personally would make the tank as high as it needs to be to reach the bottom of the last shelf. The door(s) over the tank would be the same height as the last shelf space. Even that isn't going to leave you much room to get your body above the tank to get yours arms inside. With your lights in the way it's going to be even worse.

You may want to consider putting your lights on some kind of track system so you can slide them out into the room, opening up the entire top of your tank for access. Even some heavy duty drawer slides would work. Or if you have room in your ceiling you could have a lift system that would retract the lights up, out of the way.


As far as balancing the tank to the cabinets aesthetically it may be hard to do without making your tank longer as well as taller. I am picturing your tank being about 4' longer and once again up to the last shelf. I think the cabinets are making the tank look small.

Just my 2 cents.

[JDigital]

Something like this... up to the bottom shelf... bad photoshop, but gives you an idea..