Recs for tank in the office?

[EmasCterE]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking of setting up a tank on my desk at work and I was hoping for some recommendations. I *wish* to drill the tank and set it up with a sump under the table to keep things clean on the table.

Does anyone have recommendations as to what set-ups I can use? I've been out of the nano scene for a while now but I'm really excited about getting back into it. I still have two old 7G MiniBows sitting in the garage

I'd like something under 15Gs and can drill into if possible. I'll most likely make my own hood b/c I love MHs (gotta lower temps so another reason to have a sump). All I really need is a tank because I plan on populating it with my tank at home.

 

[smy168]

have you thought about one of the "complete" systems like a Pod or Cube?

 

[aural]

you could get a small custom glass or acrylic tank for not too much money and make it any size you want. then there would be no problems with drilling. check out ninjafish's thread on his custom cube that he has at work that is plumbed through the desk. it is very insperational.

 

[EmasCterE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6872132#post6872132 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aural
you could get a small custom glass or acrylic tank for not too much money and make it any size you want. then there would be no problems with drilling. check out ninjafish's thread on his custom cube that he has at work that is plumbed through the desk. it is very insperational.

Thanks guys. Care to post a link of this? I can't seem to search right now. The search feature on this site is such a let down.

 

[EmasCterE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6871810#post6871810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smy168
have you thought about one of the "complete" systems like a Pod or Cube?

With a basic search on the web, I see that these are "new" additions to the nano reef world that wasn't available when I had my nanoreef 3 years ago. Sorry for the noob question but what is the difference between the two? They both look like they are approx 10G cubes w/ 2G sumps in the back for return pumps, heaters, etc.

 

[aural]

here is ninjafish's diary - a very interesting read
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=707234

 

[EmasCterE]

Thank you aural!

Definitely an interesting read. What really surprises me is how he drilled his return and drain on the bottom of the tank like that. I would imagine that sand would creep down there over time. Also, I wonder if that is enough circulation in the tank. I really like the halogen lamp he converted into a MH tho. That's really sweet. I wish he discussed more how he did that. I'm guessing that's in the write up of his first 2G tank.

 

[BeachBoy]

the cubes are very nice, but for a desk I'd want a 360 degrees view

so a custom tank with sump under the desk would be better.. and since it's an office (not there night and weekends), the added benefits of having a way bigger water volume with a good sump would probably be a good advantage.

Regards,
E.

 

[EmasCterE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6871810#post6871810 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by smy168
have you thought about one of the "complete" systems like a Pod or Cube?

Is it possible to drill either one of these tanks? If so, can they be drilled from the bottom or side?

 

[BeachBoy]

I would not touch a JBJ with a drill

there is a recent thread about it

Regards,
E.

 

[EmasCterE]

Thanks. I'm just looking for "easier" solutions than going to a custom builder.

Ideally, if I was able to get like a 12-18" inch cube made and create a 20G sump below the desk. That would be awesome. The 12" cube still seems a bit small once you start putting things in there.

I just came to realize what I think is odd about cubes. Since you want to be able to see the tank from all angles, you actually have less space for live rock and more real estate for corals. The live rock basically needs to be stacked up in the middle leaving enough room around the perimeter to clean the glass/put corals. I'm guessing that the way live rock is stacked in that manner in the middle is with carefully drilling and short rods or some sort of putty. But is that small amount of live rock enough to substain the system's biological filtration?

 

[BeachBoy]

check his layout: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=707234

towards teh last pages you can see it with LR and bed

really awesome looking IMO

Regards,
E.