Large peninsula mounted reefs - show me yours

karimwassef

karimwassef

Active member
I'm considering a peninsula mounted in-wall reef - 8' x 4' x 2' deep. Against the wall, one 4' section lies embedded. Then three glass wall 8' + 4' + 8' are available to view.

This is more ambitious than my current 8' x 32" x 27" deep, flush in-wall tank.

Before I go further, I am wondering who else has a large peninsula and how you did it. What challenges did you overcome and how?

So... Show me yours?

Here is my current in-wall

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/E2612D52-E6DA-4A9D-A184-1721AB75D0CC-368-0000004F1DC873B7_zps1183ebb2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/E2612D52-E6DA-4A9D-A184-1721AB75D0CC-368-0000004F1DC873B7_zps1183ebb2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E2612D52-E6DA-4A9D-A184-1721AB75D0CC-368-0000004F1DC873B7_zps1183ebb2.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/11C73C95-F047-4A15-BD8F-42F0DBD523B0_zpszkjbooiv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/11C73C95-F047-4A15-BD8F-42F0DBD523B0_zpszkjbooiv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 11C73C95-F047-4A15-BD8F-42F0DBD523B0_zpszkjbooiv.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/karimwassef/media/EBD9B98B-7144-4868-B131-160AD15151E6_zpsa3lbrphv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t496/karimwassef/EBD9B98B-7144-4868-B131-160AD15151E6_zpsa3lbrphv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo EBD9B98B-7144-4868-B131-160AD15151E6_zpsa3lbrphv.jpg"/></a>
 
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Although my peninsula is not large at only 120g, I love it. In my opinion it needs to make sense for the location in your house. As an example, we use it as a room divider. It's not merely protruding randomly from a wall.

Challenge is getting sufficient flow throughout the tank without cluttering up the three-sided view with poweheads. I ended up going with a CL because I didn't want to see any PH's. Only recently I did end up adding a Gyre to the wall end to suppliment.

Aquascaping can be tricky too since it has to look good from all sides and again maintain good flow throughout. I played with mine for quite a while before getting it semi-decent.

It is a lot of glass to keep cleaned (especially with 8' sides) but if you stay on top of it, it's really not that bad. It's a great excuse to look at your tank everyday, at least for a few minutes.

Judging by the pics of your in-wall (which looks great) you'll be fine. These are of course just my opinions.
 
Love our pennisula. I can't see myself ever going back to a conventional setup. Agreed main challenges are flow and rock scape. Dimensions are 84x24x24

Here's a older pic showing how it works as a divider between family room and kitchen.
IMAG1392_zpsb00a2fa7.jpg


Here a more recent FTS
3D16B1D1-5080-495C-851B-E743AA00C745_zpske3oswlx.jpg
 
I'm looking at this as a room divider.

I would like to have the only access be from the 4' section on the other side of the wall.

That means that the areas above and below the tank need to be sealed walls...

Is that even possible??

I was thinking of installing a catwalk above the tank on a raceway. Then I'd walk over the tank to access it inside the wall.

Has anyone done this?
 
This is a 230 that is 84 inches long. The hardest thing I have found is getting adequate flow. We are in reboot mode, which means it won't look like this much longer as we are stripping it and starting over. One thing that has help is the Gyre 150, which I am considering a second one as well. I have built new rock structures as well, and have new Tropic Eden reef flakes sand going it.

 
here is mine, 2 years ago"¦ The corals have change a bit pour the overall set up is the same.
 

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Thanks!

If you could go back to when you first set it up, would you still go peninsula, go conventional or try for full island?

Thanks.
 
I think peninsulas are really cool tanks, they just have their own set of challenges. I will also be installing Radions and a Lifereef sump, skimmer, and fuge as well. The one thing I would absolutely change is having a custom sump built for my space, since it is so tight, and in accessible. I went with one of Jeff's cookie cutter sumps, while it is a great sump, I just wish I would have put more thought into it now. I could have something that is more functional and uses my available space much better.
 
79chopperdr said:
Love our pennisula. I can't see myself ever going back to a conventional setup. Agreed main challenges are flow and rock scape. Dimensions are 84x24x24

Here's a older pic showing how it works as a divider between family room and kitchen.
IMAG1392_zpsb00a2fa7.jpg


Here a more recent FTS
3D16B1D1-5080-495C-851B-E743AA00C745_zpske3oswlx.jpg
Click to expand...

Beautiful tank, can you tell us more about it?
 
59a0e4ca6955488b88acb1ce0cbb78d5.jpg


This is a crappy picture of an even crappier looking tank right now. I have not put much effort into it because we will be moving it in 2 weeks to redo the flooring and ceilings in our house then moving it back and giving the tank a makeover. Mine separates two rooms.

Like others said, flow is always an issue. Even when I think I got it good, my sand gets blown everywhere. Or there seems to be a dead spot. I'd say aquascaping and flow go hand in hand on a peninsula. So you really have to put a lot of thought into it. I'd also say being able to access only one end would be bad. I had a canopy on mine that I could only get access on one long side and it sucked. Being able to get all around the tank is so much better. All in all I think they just take a little more planning and maybe a little more cleaning of glass. But to me they mange the best looking tanks. Hope this helps.
 


Here is my 6ft 280gal. It has an external overflow on the end against the wall. There is nothing better than being able to walk around to see what's going on on the other side. I will never go back to a classic tank. Flow was a bit challenging. I ended up going with a maxpect gyre on one end and 2 wp40's, along with the 2 returns, on the other end. It gave me good flow and the gyre is a lot less obnoxious than 2 powerheads. Please excuse the un-trimmed stand. It is a work in progress.:D
 
Thank you all. I appreciate you sharing. Please keep it coming.

Finland, I think it's gorgeous and the growth is outstanding.
 
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