Apartment dwellers

[Tankerblade]

Hello all, currently have a 29g tank I would like to turn into a salt wonder world. However being in an apartment limits what I can really do, at least I'm having a hard time envisioning everything

Plans for now is drill the 29g tank (have a set of glass cutting bits) for an overflow
10g glass tank sump with in sump protein skimmer (do need a short one since I only have about 18" of vertical space in my cabinet although not too sure the best way to set up a sump of this size...
Now the biggest issue I have is the ro system for water. As I would like a top off system I'm not sure how I'd make a suitable system to fit that bill...
Other then that, it's just research research and research for everything else

so just curious to see others apartment setup with no garage and see if I can apply it to my needs.

 

[trae]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>


I suggest a stand that will facilitate a sump and all the mini trimmings that come along with it. It can be done in an apartment. As for top off, I personally would not tackle that in an apt. I am sure there are others here that can give you top off advice tho. My only concern would be a leak by stuck valve while away.

 

[whiteshark]

I just moved to an apartment and basically the first thing I did was set up a tank lol. Maybe my build thread might be of some help?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2420434

 

[ReefPony]

Hello all, currently have a 29g tank I would like to turn into a salt wonder world. However being in an apartment limits what I can really do, at least I'm having a hard time envisioning everything

Plans for now is drill the 29g tank (have a set of glass cutting bits) for an overflow
10g glass tank sump with in sump protein skimmer (do need a short one since I only have about 18" of vertical space in my cabinet although not too sure the best way to set up a sump of this size...
Now the biggest issue I have is the ro system for water. As I would like a top off system I'm not sure how I'd make a suitable system to fit that bill...
Other then that, it's just research research and research for everything else

so just curious to see others apartment setup with no garage and see if I can apply it to my needs.

My tank was actually the first thing to get set up in my apartment once the furniture got moved in.

About the only thing you might want to do is see if your landlord has a size limit for aquariums. Due to weight, some places have a maximum size they allow.

My leasing office told me they didn't care since I'm on the ground floor and the flooring in every room except my bedrooms is vinyl "faux wood" with concrete underneath. but one of my friends was told no more than 50 gallons in his place. So, he ended up having a custom 50 gallon all-in-one made.

 

[Tankerblade]

I just moved to an apartment and basically the first thing I did was set up a tank lol. Maybe my build thread might be of some help?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2420434

Yes sir I have read yours, currently bookmarked!

My tank was actually the first thing to get set up in my apartment once the furniture got moved in.

About the only thing you might want to do is see if your landlord has a size limit for aquariums. Due to weight, some places have a maximum size they allow.

My leasing office told me they didn't care since I'm on the ground floor and the flooring in every room except my bedrooms is vinyl "faux wood" with concrete underneath. but one of my friends was told no more than 50 gallons in his place. So, he ended up having a custom 50 gallon all-in-one made.

Fortunately I'm on the bottom floor with concrete foundation underneath and max here is 100gal so I'm set there!

Right now the stand and tank fit very well. It was designed to put a ten gal tank underneath for quarantine, however it is a tight fit with enough room under that for other random equipment. But would entertain getting rid of the shelf if need be.

 

[Tankerblade]

Here is the current set up, like i said previously, directly underneath there is enough room for a 10g tank with hood and light it is a tight squeeze height wise, plenty of room to the sides and rear I believe the height inside is about 18" and the space underneath that shelf is another 10" just to give you guys a picture.

As for ro topoff water how about a tank type system where 10-15gal tank is stored separately and every few days hook up the hose to those tanks to keep them full. Kind similar to elmoc's set up?

*cant get a pic to work. Will get that up shortly

 

[Xavibear]

Is there room in your stand for an ato reservoir?

 

[Tankerblade]

Actually possibly.....if I go with a 10g sump I could put it behind it, and figure out a way to connect a hose to it for easy fill.

 

[Tankerblade]

For some reason I can't edit my post. Here's a better pic. Please excuse the mess

 

[DSMpunk]

Do you have laundry hookups? I bought a y splitter and hooked my RO up to that and the waste went down the drain with the other hose. Way more convenient than a faucet hookup.

 

[Tankerblade]

I do. However it's only big enough for the washer dryer. Granted would be fine if I threw a splitter on run it to the ro into a bucket fill up the top off, then stash everything in a cabinet

Out of curiosity what would be an opinion on two 10g tanks side by side for the sump?

 

[whiteshark]

IMO one 20 long would be better than two tens from a reliability and peace of mind stand point. Would also be easier to set up and maintain. That said, I've tossed around the idea of a couple smaller sumps as opposed to one larger one.

 

[Tankerblade]

I was actually just looking at the specs of a 20g long and the specs work out, so I might actually be able to fit one under there. It'll be tight, but possible. Will have to give that a try.

So plan is

Overflow to dual 3/4" pipes or 1 1" and a 3/4" safety drain
To sump through filter socks couple baffles to protein skimmer couple baffles through refugium baffles to return pump up to the top.

Throw the heater and other probes in the refugium, and the ato with a smaller tank behind the sump with a quick connect hose. T off the washer line to a portable ro system hook up all the lines create water and go to town. Have a few buckets for various other things and the basic system should be set.

Next is just to figure out all the specifics for inside the tank