220 Setup

[Melifluonze]

Ok... Looks like I'm going to take a deep dive. My 90 turned into the live rock repository for my 220! (I tripped over one and stubbed my toe... so I had to take it in...)

So here come the questions...

The 220 dimensions are 72 X 24 X 30. It will be straddled across (running the length of) a set of stairs across an opening from the kitchen to the sunroom, about 10 feet wide. The sunroom has a concrete pad, and the stairs rest upon the foundation, so no problems supporting the weight.

My question is, if the optimum viewing side is to be the sunroom, what height do you think this tank should be at? I'm thinking about having a small counter on that side so my cats can watch "Cat TV", and maybe be able to sit at it for breakfast in the sunroom... So I was going to go with 30" off the sunroom floor, which ends up being only about 18" off the kitchen floor, since the kitchen is about 12" higher than the sunroom.

It feels too low to the ground on the kitchen side, but if I lift it up higher, then it will be awkward to view in the sunroom, right?

I think I will have to reach into the tank from the kitchen side to be able to reach the bottom, so I also don't want to raise it too high.

Sump will be in the basement. All of it. Going to do a siphon of my own design across one whole edge of the tank, so that should be interesting as well. I'm looking to run about 1000 - 1200 GPH through the sump down two pipes from the overflow and back through a few returns.

Just some initial thoughts.

This will be the new home to Belgium Waffle's and Magdelin's live rock! (Thank you so much, guys, for the help and stories, and the rock is awesome!)

Thoughts?

 

[RyanEG]

My 180 is on either a 40" or 42" stand and I can't imagine having it lower. a 30" stand is just too short for my tastes.

 

[Sweet]

When there is company you will be standing and showing them around and when you are by yourself you might be sitting in the sunroom and checking the fish tank. When you are sitting your eye height has to be looking at the bottom 1/3 of the tank(At least its is for TV and I did the same with my tank) When you are standing in front you don't have to bend too low to enjoy it.

Bottom line is what ever you prefere


Good Luck tommorrow night RyanEG

-Sweet

 

[low riderr]

look in coral mag. march/april edition there is an article on a tank that is in the wall but only like a foot off the floor and it looks good

 

[belgian_waffleman]

Thanks!

A look down tank may not be a bad idea, personally I like the taller stand. A low tank will be easy to work in.

good luck with the build!

Waffleman

 

[toddmh]

My tanks are 24" deep..So i made my stands 30"..Perfect height for me..

 

[mr86mister]

IMO I like tanks nice and high up so I don't have to bend down to look into them. But I'm 6'2 so that might just be me....lol.

 

[Melifluonze]

Well... I'm looking at 48" off the floor on the sunroom side, which puts it at about 34" off the floor in the kitchen. This puts my eyes in the upper middle of the tank in the sunroom when standing, but I'm 6'2" as well... so maybe not so good for anyone that's shorter!

I've got the stand partially built and it looks so high next to the 90 gallon tank (on a standard stand). Would be cool to be able to just stand up straight and stare in though...

If every decision is this tough, I'll be fit to be tied in a few weeks!

 

[Tonynlo]

I built my in wall stand at 35" off the floor. The tank is 22" tall and I've never been happier. If you are in Rochester, you are welcome to come over and poke around. I chose the height based on the couch that sits in front of the display.

 

[Melifluonze]

Thanks for all the input. It looks like I'm going to try and compromise by setting the height of the stand at 44". That should put me at the upper part of the tank while standing. It also allows me to add a counter we can sit at in the morning and watch the fish on the sunroom side. The kitchen side ends up at 30" high... a little low, but it will be 60" high to the top of the tank, so I think its ok... I'll also have more of a chance of accessing the tank at that height (30" is very high to reach the bottom in!).

I'll post some pics when I get somewhere.

 

[jfl14609]

I cant remember but I think my 210 is like 40 in off the ground i am in the brockport area if you want to try to judge the height

 

[Melifluonze]

Alright. Height is set at 44".

I've added some pics, but I'm not sure how to embed them right in the message yet... You can see my 90 with all of my rock piled in it, patiently waiting for the big one! I found a spot in the wall where I can drill through between to joists for the piping to the basement sump. There's a pic of the 2 X 4 drilled, screwed, and glued frame. Also one with the top on. It's going to be maple, but I'm not a professional carpenter, so it's more about supporting the tank and the tank itself, rather than the beauty of the stand (heh...).

I bought the tank, and it's a monster. It's a bit older, so it does not have a tempered bottom. I think it weighs over 400 lbs! I can't lift it, so it sits in the back of my truck. It took 5 people to put it there... *scratches head...

 

[magdelan]

It's looking great! I can't wait to see more. Maybe I'm wrong but two people can move a 180g. Is a 220g that much heavier?

 

[jfl14609]

we used 4 people to move the tank into place and had like 6 to get it home. 2 could do it but trust me you want 4 its a heavy one and the last thing you want is someone getting hurt or breaking the tank

 

[Haffs09]

Looks great! With your stand that high, you'll need to ensure you beef up it for lateral support (front to back of the tank). I used the same template as you for my stand. It's only 30" tall, but when I filled my tank up, I was able to rock it just a little when pushing on it front to back. I anchored it to my wall (see post #56 http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1831347&page=3)

In your case, a solid sheet of plywood on the ends may be sufficient. If more support is needed, you can tie your middle uprights (front to back together) together and you should be all set. Keep it up!

 

[Melifluonze]

Yup, plywood on at least one of the ends, plus I will be building cabinets inside the stand, so there will be a ton of support. I'm going to try not to screw it to the wall, but I did think about it!

Going to use maple board on the front and back, to match the kitchen.

220 is definitely a 4 person tank, but I did see two hulking guys lift it while I was buying it... WOW!!!

Now I realize what a whimp I really am!:eek2:

 

[tent boy]

Those cats are looking for something.

 

[Melifluonze]

Yeah, they're looking for fish... Fish are coming.

Going to get the 220 drilled now at ABC. I figure all the works will be at one end (closest to the wall) but, I'm not sure where to drill.

Any ideas on this? Do I drill two holes at the top end of the end glass, or should I drill one down low and one up high, offset?

I figure one down low would be good for the overflow/drain, and I can run pipe up as far as I want to create the drain. I was going to offset the return and put it up high so I can run a pipe down one side of the tank and have multiple outlets.

That sound about right?

 

[Melifluonze]

Ooooh, boy! Surprise, surprise!

The tank dimensions are (from frame to frame) 85" X 24" X 26".

Not sure who makes it, or what the capacity actually is! The ABC guys said 230 gallon... Anyone know what this thing really is? The glass is thick and the bottom glass is even thicker! It has three braces.

I had a hole drilled in the side for the drain today, and I picked up a drilled 120 for the sump and a drilled 30 for the refugium.

Man, I'm lucky I made the stand 90" long! :hmm4:

 

[Capt_Cully]

So its a 7 footer? Only ever seen one other factory 7' tank and I'm pretty sure it was an Oceanic.