Looking for some suggestions on a new tank

MJAnderson

MJAnderson

Premium Member
My winter project will be finishing my family room off, including some built in bookshelves. I was originally planning to put a 120g in there as part of the built-in and I bought the equipment on my 72g with that in mind. But I'm getting sucked into the bigger is better train of thought. The wall I have to work with is 75" wide but I think a 72" tank would be too much of a squeeze, so I'm thinking about a 60" tank. I'm trying to decide if making it 60x30x24 or 60x30x30 would make it difficult to light. I will have a basement sump, so MH are an option since it's cooler down there. Any thoughts? I'm 6 months from buying it, but I'm working on design of the built-ins over the next few weeks.
 
I would get the 30" high and keep softies on the bottom. If you can use MH (at least 250w), you should have no problem with that depth!
 
I'd like to lend a hand or at least check out the finished product. I flushed in a 4.5 ft home theater rack with a glass door. That was fun. I bet building a 120 into the wall will be fun. build a picture frame around the edge to finish it off.
 
It's not really an inwall, more like this:

52802DSCF1748__Custom_.JPG


I have a fireplace in the middle of 2 large blank walls, each 6' from wall to fireplace brick. One 6' will will be my tank, the other bookshelves.
 
What are your draw backs from the taller tank?

You can always place the corals higher in the tank. If I had the option, I would definitely go with the taller tank. IMO taller tanks make the tank appear to be "larger" than they really are. But, if you're looking to cut some cost... go with the shorter version, that will be a very nice tank too!

It's a win-win either way.
 
Hmm? I wonder how the brick from your fireplace will affect the temp of your tank? Chiller? Soot/smoke in the air? I know my condo is so air tight, if I switch on the bathroom exhaust vent, it draws smoke into my livingroom. I bet it'll look nice. Be careful of heat and contaminants though.
 
Well the fireplace has glass doors, but the heat is a concern. That was one of the reasons for the 60" and not the 72" as the 60" will have some dead space between it and the brick.

MH are good for a 2'x2' area I thought. What do you do with a 5' tank? I thought of going

T5Actinic --- MH --- T5White-T5Actinic-T5White--- MH ---T5Actinic
 
Interesting fixture. Thanks Kevin. I know the new ATI fixture will come in 60" as will a new Elos. I guess a 5' tank is more common in Europe.
 
those elos fixtures are beautifull sounds like a nice tank what if you put some insulation in beetween the fireplace and the tank that way you worry less
 
Take a temp reading of the wall, start a fire, take another temp reading of the wall. You'd hate to do all the work and end up not being able to use your fireplace. Maybe a good heatilator and an auxilary fan over your sump to use when the fireplace is blazing will suffice. Maybe invest in a temp alarm. My 2 cents.
 
With all the lighting you won't need to light a fire. Just get one of those videos of the fire blazing and then throw a flat screen tv into the firebox area. Warm living room and ambiance too :D
 
If 60 is you limit I would go 60x36x30 for 280 gallons. I think depth is always better than height in a reeftank. More room for creative aquascaping and you can avoid the typical rock wall.
 
I think 2 of the Sunlight Supply Lumen Max 3 Pendants would do it for you they have about a 3x3 coverage and work great
 
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