Trying to decide on footprint for 2000L tank.....

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Which Option?

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David R

David R

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Apr 26, 2005
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I've begun planning my next big tank even tho we don't take posession of our house for another week! And as usual I'm agonising over small differences in potential sizes. The room is 295cm across (and backs onto the garage, where the sump will be housed) and from the back wall to the window is 110cm. The room is about 4 metres long and there will be a couch in front of the tank (and maybe even a bar fridge :D ), the window receives almost no direct sunlight so that won't be a problem. At the moment I'm basing the volume off a 65cm height (I don't see the need to go any taller for the fish I'm keeping).

footprints.jpg


Option A is the metric equivilent of the standard 8x4' footprint, placed centrally across the wall with a gap of about 22cm on either side, not really wide enough to squeeze down, but more aesthetically pleasing for those who enjoy symmetry.

Option B is a longer and wider "panoramic" looking tank that goes wall to wall across the end of the room. Its a little narrow than the other two (and I do like wide tanks!) to avoid sticking out past the window, but nicely fits the available space. It would be difficult to get in there (altho I may get it made in-situ) and would mean I have to lean across the tank to get to the overflow, plumbing etc. It is also the smallest volume of the three (if small is the right way to describe an 1800L/460g+ tank!).

Option C is the largest, and slightly wider than Option A but placed close to the right hand wall to provide access down the left side, which would be handy for doing plumbing etc as I would put the overflow at the left rear.

It probably seems crazy to be agonising over such small differences in dimensions, but thats what I do! If it helps, the tank will be stocked with a mix of S. leucosticta, G. altifrons, Uaru a., plecs (L14 x4, L190 x2, L128, L81 etc), and a black arowana. Help me make up my mind!! :nilly:
 
I assume this is going to be a plywood job? I think it's really going to depend on how you plan to plumb the beast and the type of stand. You said that you'd be using a sump past the back wall into the garage - presumably that means pipes through the wall? If you have a tall stand you could conceivably crawl under it to fix pipes etc in the future but it might be a tight fit and end up being a pain in the arse and even worse if you spring a leak somewhere.

I love a really long tank so my heart wants to go with option B, but my head tells me that you may end up really wishing you didn't have to lay flat on the top of the tank just to reach something at the back. Plan A has better symmetry, but are you going to benefit more from two 20-odd centimetre gaps you can barely squeeze into or the 40-odd you'd get from Plan C....

Overall I think Plan B would look the best (for me anyway) but Plan C would be the most convenient for set up and maintenance.
 
Nope its most likely going to be all-glass (unless the price turns out to be crazy expensive! I know it won't be cheap though) on a steel stand. Stand is only going to be 45cm high so the tank is at the right height for viewing while seated, so crawling under won't really be much of an option. I was planning on leaving about 10cm at the back for access, but yeah the plumbing will be difficult and I'll want to get it right first time! (should be easy enough, have done plenty in the past) With Option C I'll make the overflow at the left end so I can use the access gap to get to the bulkheads etc, so that will be the easiest one to set up, the return will be easy enough to drill thru the wall and poke out just above the tank.
 
I think option b. Something about the panoramic view. i would maximize that.
but B and C are both good for me, 120w is definiately a plus especially for an aro!
 
Hey man. Youve got the same idea as me. Why dont you go with option B but go with a 2000l+. Dont make it all out of glass because youll suffer a mild stroke when they tell u the price..!! What im gonna do on my house is use the same volume but build it into the wall or in ur case ur garage wall.Dont use ply but brick & cement. What u can do is make ur base & tank just like a ply tank except out of brick. To keep it all square once youve put a skreed over the brick & for good insolution is on the bottom & sides of ur tank, cut ply & fit it on top of the brick. That way ur not limmited to the width & bredth of ur tank. Brick is a lot stronger than ply & once sealed ull never know the difference! This way ur only using one pane of glass for viewing & When u view ur tank itll look like a picture because it will be flush with the wall. 1 more + with that is that u wont have any noise frm pumps & sumps..because itll all be in the garage. Its all up 2 u man but thats what im gonna do.. Later boet.
 
Hey Mundy. I've thought long and hard about the DIY thing, altho putting the tank in the garage and having the viewing window where the wall is isn't an option because it would block the door going out the side of the garage and probably restrict the garage to one car. I had thought about doing it in concrete blocks also, but I think (for this size, at least) I would rather make it from timber so I can insulate it better. If I was going bigger (4000L+) I would be doing it with blocks for sure! I know the all-glass option isn't going to be cheap, but it will be the quickest and cleanest looking. All the sumps and pumps will be in the garage anyway as I'm planning on putting the plumbing through the wall.

I must admit, I have seem some pretty impressive builds here, and I'm still thinking about the DIY option, the biggest downside is the time it will take me to get finished!!
 
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