ACBlinky
Premium Member
We just sold our 65g and we're starting to plan the new tank. I feel like I'm taking the next step in this hobby, building my first 'real' tank. I'm going to do a DIY sump, attempt my own plumbing (yikes!) and will be buying MH lights for the first time.
Today my husband came up with a brilliant idea, and it prompted me to start a thread for all my plans where, hopefully, I can get your comments and some help with this project.
First off, let me explain a bit about the layout of our apartment so the little drawing I did will make sense. We have a book nook that measures 50.5"L x 23"W x 82"H, basically a big indent in the wall designed for a shelf or entertainment centre. It's at the end of the front hall, where our living room begins. When you enter the apartment, the first thing you see is the right side wall of the nook, straight in front of you. Our new tank will be 48" long, and will fit tightly into the space. I'm concerned about venting heat from the lights, and thought about putting a small hole in the wall with a fan nearby to allow heat to escape. My hubby took it a step further, he wants to not only add two fans, but also make a cutout measuring about 14"W x 20"H so that rather than looking at a plain wall, the first thing you'll see when you enter is our reef, end-on. I'm completely on board, but wanted to see what you all thought.
I did a drawing up in Paint, just to show the general idea. Everything but the opening is pretty much drawn to scale.
The aquascape is going to be very open, with one large pillar/pile at least partially hiding the overflow, and a shorter section of rock on the right side. This will allow a clear view from one end of the tank to the other through the little window.
Here's the picture, opinions are most welcome.
I'm hoping to use this thread for other questions as well. We haven't bought anything yet - no lights, no tank, no stand, so everything's fairly up in the air. I'll take all the help I can get along the way, especially when it comes to the plumbing
Today my husband came up with a brilliant idea, and it prompted me to start a thread for all my plans where, hopefully, I can get your comments and some help with this project.
First off, let me explain a bit about the layout of our apartment so the little drawing I did will make sense. We have a book nook that measures 50.5"L x 23"W x 82"H, basically a big indent in the wall designed for a shelf or entertainment centre. It's at the end of the front hall, where our living room begins. When you enter the apartment, the first thing you see is the right side wall of the nook, straight in front of you. Our new tank will be 48" long, and will fit tightly into the space. I'm concerned about venting heat from the lights, and thought about putting a small hole in the wall with a fan nearby to allow heat to escape. My hubby took it a step further, he wants to not only add two fans, but also make a cutout measuring about 14"W x 20"H so that rather than looking at a plain wall, the first thing you'll see when you enter is our reef, end-on. I'm completely on board, but wanted to see what you all thought.
I did a drawing up in Paint, just to show the general idea. Everything but the opening is pretty much drawn to scale.
The aquascape is going to be very open, with one large pillar/pile at least partially hiding the overflow, and a shorter section of rock on the right side. This will allow a clear view from one end of the tank to the other through the little window.
Here's the picture, opinions are most welcome.
I'm hoping to use this thread for other questions as well. We haven't bought anything yet - no lights, no tank, no stand, so everything's fairly up in the air. I'll take all the help I can get along the way, especially when it comes to the plumbing
