Suggestions on Tank set up..

[Arie]

Hey all,

I've finally taken the plunge and bought a bigger tank. As much as I enjoy my 5 gallon nano, I want to put things in there that just wouldn't have the appropriate room.

So, I went ahead and on total impulse bought a bowfront tank. I'm not even sure what the gallon size is, but it was a really freakin sweet price from someone in the paper who was moving...

(30 1/2" across flat part, 20 1/2" tall, 11" deep. I checked various 'calculations' online and came up with 30 gallon)

I also have the stand to go with it...

(31" across, 27" tall - no shelves inside of door)

So now for the rambling of questions....

-I would like to get the tank drilled to allow for plumbing and a fuge underneath the display tank... Would a 10 gallon be sufficient for the 'fuge or should I use a 30 gallon long (if it will fit). I know that the more water you get the easier it is to take care of it the tank and manage it, but is a 30 display and 30 fuge overkill?

-Question that probably sounds dumb o) I bought a protein skimmer used online about a year ago. I've since forgotten what the make/model is and can't find the instructions. Is there a general website that would give me an idea of htf to put it together?

-The tank will be on a hardwood 'floating' floor that lays over concrete, so I'm not really worried about the weight. However, should I invest in the pads that go under the tank and under the stand to reduce 'stressing' the floor, or are these a waste of time/space/money?

I'm sure I'll have more questions/comments along the way, but this is probably enough to get my imagination going. It will be atleast 3 weeks before I set up the tank as I'm preparing to move, so I have lots of time for suggestions and ideas.

Thanks!

 

[Sk8r]

You're probably ok just setting it on the floor. Use a carpenters spirit level to be sure it's level, and use it AS you fill, to be sure you're not sagging.

I'd go for the 30 sump/fuge if at all possible. That will give you a 10-20g fuge, and 20 is better. you can externally mount a skimmer---just be careful of leaks and overflow.

Be careful drilling: try to find out brand of tank and figure where you've got tempered glass, which will shatter if you try to drill. Most commonly, it's the bottom. SOmetimes sides are also.

skimmers pretty easy: there's a collection cup atop a column or inside a shell, you attach a pump and hose to it, and it either spills directly into your sump or has an outflow hose that goes into your sump; the collection cup has to be accessible for weekly (or daily) emptying.

 

[Arie]

Thanks for the quick response...

I was planning on bringing the tank to the LFS, where they will drill it for me. I guess I'm too chicken sh*t to try it myself. The LFS told me they'd do it for about 50 bucks. Does this seem worth it, or no?

I think I'm going to have to look for a pretty basic diagram of how i want the tank set up before I drill anything and before I put the tank in it's final spot. I've been reading for over a year and had the nano for 6 months or so, but I'm still scared to get my feet wet

Also - the tank was set up for FW, so it comes with the typical hood for it with the cut out for the strip light. Should I just use this set up and get a decent light to sit on the hood, or would it be less frustrating and more cost effective (in the long run) to just bite the bullet and get a really good light from the get go?

 

[Arie]

Anyone else have a suggestion or comment?