My First [BIG] Tank

[Undermost]

Hey Guys, iv got an idea about a tank but the raw materials/forces involved in its construction seem pretty hefty so i'm just looking for advice. The measurement for the following shelf is 330cm x 36cm wide and can make the tank any height really, what would be optimal? All help very welcome.

 

[JoeTurner14]

As I was discussing with you the other day, I think we should try and extend the flat platform at least another 20cm to give the tank a larger footprint. That way the tank will be bigger and allow you to keep better fish (in theory )

Heightwise, I wouldn't go past 24" for cleaning reasons (harder to reach the bottom)

Filtration 2 X Fx5's??

 

[Undermost]

Only problem being, the diagonal ia actually part of the roof of the other part of the house. and since its only plywood chucking on an extra 20cm may comprimise structure integrety?

 

[JoeTurner14]

OR remove the top of the flat layer, and build in an extended platform. There's tons of designs in the DIY thread that we could base the build on and Im sure it would be sturdy enough if we did it properly??

Any further ideas on stocking??!!

 

[Undermost]

Stocking being the fish? still no idea, just big and colourfull, will have to get this tank built first tho

 

[notanatheist]

Definitely more width! Length is fine but 36cm width will keep you down to small schooling fish, no monsters! And height becomes an issue because of pressure. Thicker materials on limited space leave your internal volume constrained.

 

[instantthc]

For Americans


Length 330 centimeters = 129.92126 inches = 10.82677 Feet

Width 36 centimeters = 14.1732283 inches

I'm not sure what you mean by shelf. If your talking about a tank size my pipe dream would be a 6ft Long By 24" Wide By 36" Tall.

182.88 cm Long By 60.96 cm 91.44 cm

 

[Undermost]

@Non atheist: how high do you reckon i could go before pressure becomes an issue?

@instanthhc: By shelf i meant, thats what it was used for before i had this idea, kind of just used to store stuff on it, although nothing as heavy as a fish tank.

Also having had a look at it, the side profile shape is made of 2 bits of plywood so extending it would be possible, however, the flat surface is atm made of one width of plywood, would adding a second peice to edxtend width comprimise structural integretey?

 

[JoeTurner14]

that's good then, we'll get some designs from the DIY forum to extend the stand. When do you wanna start?? Maybe this weekend we could look at plans and work out what we're going to need to build the stand??

 

[JoeTurner14]

Got a quote from an aquarium design company today, I gave them these dimensions:
303cm long x 50cm high x 45cm wide, and for manufacture and delivery, they're aking for £1050 for the complete package!!. This would be an all glass tank with furnishings, I'm finding out if they include anything else in the package (lighting units etc?). At the moment I think this price is very steep, and they say they won't carry it up any stairs, so if we did go ahead with it we'd have to get a crew of guys to come and try and ship it upstairs...

Here's their website: http://www.uniqueinterior.co.uk/ (based in edinburgh btw)

It's obviously up to you on what you decide, but I think we should look into other companies, or alternative solutions before any decisions are made.

Thoughts everyone??