Large Tank, Lack of Room???

[JohnA1078]

Hello everyone. This is my first post here. I haven't had a tank setup in a while (due to moving twice in the past year), but am finally settled in where I know I'll be for a long time so I'd like to get a new tank going.

This time around I'd like to do it on a large scale, 300-500 gallons. I have the room for the tank itself with no problem. The only thing is I would like to place the tank in a main area of the house, i.e. living room and don't have a way to do a sump or external skimmer in another room or down in the basement.

I guess my actual question is can a tank of this size be done with everything interal and/or within the stand. All the setups I have seen of this size have large external skimmers and large sumps/refugiums in another location or next to the tank if the nature of the display allows for it.

Any advice?

 

[madrefkepr]

You could build a really, really tall stand :wink:

 

[madrefkepr]

I do know someone with a 300 gallon tank and everything is in the stand. The stand is a little higher than most I've seen, and it is very cramped. I get the privelege :roll: of helping him move it in the spring, when his new house is done. I've never heard him complain of any problems with the setup he has now, but he says he can't wait to plumb everything to the basement.

 

[Anonymous]

Perhaps you could go with a slightly smaller tank and use the saved room for a special built stand and canopy and cabinet unit. Does that make sense?

 

[Anonymous]

You are way out of my league........I hope to get there someday. I am so jealous. :evil:

 

[Alpha]

I have a 78" x 24" x 30" (deep) tanks in my living room. As a result "She who must be obeyed" demanded

that every thing is neatly stowed in cabinet.

I got the cabinet made 34" high (interior measurement) and I have been able to squeeze in a sump with sufficient capcity to store filters and a large skimmer) as well as an auto top ut system and a small refugium.

I have no water as of yet :roll: but hey its a work in progress.

Basically it can be done it just takes a bit thought and careful planning as well as nimble fingers

Best of luck

Alpha :wink:

 

[beerbaron]

you could move the tank away from the wall and put the skimmer behind it.
HTH

 

[JohnA1078]

I'm more in Alpha's situation where everything mush look neat and clean. I'm wondering if two shorter skimmers running side by side would be as effective as a larger one. Anyone have any idea about this?

 

[Bron-yr-aur]

I am Skimmerless and sumpless. Nothing but several powerheads, A TON of live rock, a DEEP sandbed with tons of life, and a low bioload coupled with reg. water changes is the trick.

 

[aliendomain]

If you have a 300 to 500 Gal tank the space under the stand will be considerable. The post from JohnA1078 is what I would suggest. There are even some downdrapht skimmers out there that have two to four stacks built into one skimmer. Have fun filling that tank :wink:

 

[mountainbiker619]

John,

check out the pics of GT's tank. He managed to have everything either under or benind the stand.
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22418

 

[buff1]

You could put the sump/refugium under the tank, then plumb over to an armoir or something that stands immediately adjacent to the aquarium to place your top off water, skimmer, chiller, or whatever. It would simply give you more room than you have under the tank.

 

[Jeff Hood]

Try Kevinpo's sight. His tank is 500 gallons and most of everything is under the tank.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~kpockell/

Send him some questions. He is a great guy and very helpfull.

Jeff

 

[Anonymous]

My head is spinnin..........woweeeeeee! That is real nice. I wonder how much work has to be put into something like that. :twisted:

 

[kevinpo]

Thanks for the kudos Jeff my friend
All equipment is under the tank. Here is a picture I took today. I haven't been able to finish the cabinetry since I lost my job but I will someday.
Like Jeff says, anything I can do to prevent you from making the mistakes I did let me know. The dimensions are 96"L x 33"Tall x 44" front to back. It has a sump/refugium capacity of 145 gal but I only run 95 gal to allow for power outages. This first picture gives you some sense of scale

Regards,
Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

Holy Crapola!!!!!! 8O

 

[wasabi]

i designed my stand first, and as i built it it kept growing. it started out to be a 200 and i ended up with a 335. i changed it's dimensions more than once. it now is a 66"Lx48"w x24"h i built my stand with a 10 inch border all the way around the tank(except the back). this feature has been a lifesaver, it's great for leaning on, and tankgazing, and a must when you need to reach the bottom middle of the tank also great to rest anything your working on the tank with. i have plenty of room for two 75 gallon tanks(sump and refugium) dual calcium reactor,20 pound CO2, 3 t-4 pumps,a five gallon skimmer waste bucket and any odds and ends i need. i have a single built in overflow with 2 2.5 inch drains. tank was built out of 3/4 inch acrylic. i have 4 400 watt halides 10k without any supplemental lighting.hths

Curt

 

[JohnA1078]

Thanks everyone for the input and photos. Unlike my previous attempts I want to research everything beforehand and do it properly from the start. Anyone who has tried to "fix as you go" knows what I mean

Has anyone had any experience with the following?

http://www.superskimmer.com/filter_syst ... mplete.htm

Seems to be designed to fit everything under the tank which is exactly what I need. They make ETSS skimmers (included in the systems) which I have seen some good comments on. Going to give them a call monday and price out a whole setup. Hope I won't be blown over

 

[mountainbiker619]

John,

check out this link also. This is the web page of my LFS, they are awsome and very helpfull.
http://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/site/go ... AE5A494E1B

 

[kevinpo]

John,
Have this guy give you a quote. He will send you a 3D design with your quote and will custom build to the dimensions you need for a better price than off the shelf units.
http://www.icehouse.net/reef/

Regards,
Kevin