Tank location

[Butch01]

So I have a room that's got a large north facing window. My choices would be to put the tank (hoping for either a 120 or a 160 gallon) perpendicular to the window wall, with the small end of the tank facing the window, or on the back wall opposite the window, with the full width of the tank facing the window, but a good distance back in the room (it's about 16 feet).

Will it make much difference? The side wall, with the tank end-on to the windows would be more aesthetically pleasing, as the tank would be the first thing you see when you enter the room.

Ideas?

Thanks!

Butch

 

[Sinn Sage]

You don't want direct sunlight into your tank or you will go crazy with unwanted growth of things you do not want to grow.

 

[Butch01]

Unles some major astronomical event happens, there will never be any *direct* sun in the room. The only windows are northfacing. My basic question is, is it better to have the small end of the tank facing the window, but closer to it, or the broad side of the tank facing the window, but further away. Aesthetically, the former is more desirable. Either way, the closest the glass will be to the window is about 6', but no direct light.

 

[Sinn Sage]

It is whatever works for you.

The big issue is how you are going to run the hardware and pipes.

I look at ease of maintenance and then look at construct-ability, and finally lookspretty.

 

[Butch01]

I'm considering a CADLights Artisan AIO system. As long as I have electricity I should be good. As far as water, there is none in that end of the house, so I'll have to run hoses or whatever to do water changes, etc.

 

[anthonys51]

6 feet 16 feet doesnt matter unless your the winder is built with plastic and there is a huge draft. I have a tank 2 feet away from a window and it does just fine, even gets a little sunlight in the morning, but only on half the tank. i dont notice algae growing on that half, so a little sunlight imo doesnt do any-harm even if your tank did get direct sunlight

 

[heathlindner25]

You don't want direct sunlight into your tank or you will go crazy with unwanted growth of things you do not want to grow.

Not true, this tank is sitting directly in front of a window.

 

[anthonys51]

very nice tank. gsp growing like crazy looks nice

 

[Butch01]

6 feet 16 feet doesnt matter unless your the winder is built with plastic and there is a huge draft.

Well we're talking about southern Arizona here, so drafts aren't really that big an issue for 99% of the year. In fact, I'm almost sure I'll have to run a chiller, since I'm not one to air condition my house down to sub-arctic temperatures. Have to get it up and running and see where it balances out. I tend to keep my a/c set at 78-80 even in the hottest part of the summer. I may end up higher than that in Arizona when it's 110 outside.

Good to know about your tank in front of the window. Given my geography, I think I should be okay with it on the wall opposite the entry to the room. What I envision will be really visually stunning!

Stay tuned. Not moving out there until after the first of the year, and need some time to get settled and get a few things done to the house before I take the plunge on a tank.

Thanks for the thoughts.

B

 

[anthonys51]

Well we're talking about southern Arizona here, so drafts aren't really that big an issue for 99% of the year. In fact, I'm almost sure I'll have to run a chiller, since I'm not one to air condition my house down to sub-arctic temperatures. Have to get it up and running and see where it balances out. I tend to keep my a/c set at 78-80 even in the hottest part of the summer. I may end up higher than that in Arizona when it's 110 outside.

Good to know about your tank in front of the window. Given my geography, I think I should be okay with it on the wall opposite the entry to the room. What I envision will be really visually stunning!

Stay tuned. Not moving out there until after the first of the year, and need some time to get settled and get a few things done to the house before I take the plunge on a tank.

Thanks for the thoughts.

B

yes if you keep your house at 78-80 you will need a chiller and fans to cool your tank. i keep my house at 75 and my water still gets up to 80 when the light are on

 

[Ron Reefman]

Butch, take all this advise with a grain of salt and remember this old adage, "If you ask 10 people in this hobby a question, you'll get 15 different answers!"

One of the fun and frustrating parts of this hobby is there are so many ways you can be successful or a total failure.

My opinion, a north facing window in AZ... if it's bright (likely) then it COULD be an issue. Be prepared to add a curtain if it is.

As for your house temp, I live in SW Florida and we keep our place at 80F when we run the A/C (6+ months of the year) and my 200g system runs at 80F as well. I do have a chiller hooked up, but it only runs if the tank gets over 80F. That does happen at times if the house gets opened up for some reason. And it's a good safety feature for times when things go wrong, like when the A/C fails (it happens).

 

[billdogg]

Butch, take all this advise with a grain of salt and remember this old adage, "If you ask 10 people in this hobby a question, you'll get 15 different answers!"

One of the fun and frustrating parts of this hobby is there are so many ways you can be successful or a total failure.

My opinion, a north facing window in AZ... if it's bright (likely) then it COULD be an issue. Be prepared to add a curtain if it is.

As for your house temp, I live in SW Florida and we keep our place at 80F when we run the A/C (6+ months of the year) and my 200g system runs at 80F as well. I do have a chiller hooked up, but it only runs if the tank gets over 80F. That does happen at times if the house gets opened up for some reason. And it's a good safety feature for times when things go wrong, like when the A/C fails (it happens).

And go-round it's my turn to agree with Ron! The need for a chiller will be determined as much by your choice of lights and return pump as anything. If you go LED and something external you probably won't need it at all. If you use Halide and a Mag24, you'd need a chiller in Alaska:hmm4:

As far as where to place the tank - put it where you will like it the best and then go from there. A curtain is a good idea in any case - nosey neighbors and all.....

 

[Butch01]

Thanks guys. Appreciate the inputs. I need to actually get moved into the house so I can see how the light falls in the room. Right now it has vertical blinds (which I hate), so that will be replaced with something. Good to know I may not need to run the chiller 24/7. I plan on LED lighting, so hopefully that will help matters. If I put it where I'm thinking, as I say, it will be a really beautiful entrance to the room. At least in my mind it will be

I'm sure I'll have another 350,000 or so questions once I get closer to actually setting up a tank!

 

[Butch01]

BTW, what kind of return pumps add the least heat? I'm thinking an external one that's not submerged in the sump, right?