Would a 6x2x2 180 be too much for this space?

[DaveB]

So take a look at my pictures below and let me know if I'm just trying to rationalize buying a big tank with a nice stand.

I think the 4 foot wide 55g tank fits the area very well but I may have found a deal on a 180 with the same style stand and canopy, and I am looking to upgrade my 90g tank to a 6 footer.

The initial plan was to just get the biggest 72x18 inch footprint tank I could find and put it in the bedroom past the foot of the bed where my 55g cichlid tank resides. I bought a nice solid oak dresser on Craigslist and it'll hold a tank that size nicely.

Anyway, part of me wants to just leave the cichlids where they are, shift this current 55 in the nice stand across the room into the kitchen, and put a giant 180 where this 55 sits. The attached pics show the spot it's in and how it relates to the fireplace. Am I crazy? From wall to counter is 75 inches, and because the 55 has a HOB filter it comes out 18" from the wall. So the 180 would come out another 7 or so inches and fill that entire space. Would that be totally ridiculous?

 

[dmopar74]

your 55 is only 12 wide, so a 180 gonna be another 12" out. i'd do it, but my whole house would be filled with tanks if the wife would let me.

 

[greenterra]

Personally, I would be worried about the excess heat from the fire place causing dramatic temperature fluctuations.The 180 gal would be a lot closer and more exposed to the heat.Though you could use a heat shield on that side of the tank but that could look unsightly.If you don't use the fire place,then answer is a definite yes.

 

[Joey47]

as long as you could get to that switch right there, you'll be fine.

 

[ani-mal-lvr]

Just do it!!!!
You wont have the "voids" then. (either side of the 55)

 

[DaveB]

Greenterra, that's an excellent observation and something I wouldn't have ever thought of. And it's funny you mention that because my 90 is actually having aggression issues with a GT because ambient heat makes that tank very hot. In this case, though, the fireplace lets gas leak into the room so it doesn't get used anyway. Actually right now the fireplace is blocked by a shelf that holds up the new 50" plasma screen, which does a fine job heating the room by itself, actually. That heat isn't really a concern. (The TV is going to be wall mounted as soon as we wire it next week though.)

The 55's stand is 13.5" deep and it's 5.5 from the wall now because of the filter. The big one would have canisters and thus theoretically would be able to be only about an inch from the wall. So it wouldn't stick out too much more. But it would definitely be farther out than the fireplace cutout, and I worry that it'd look weird that a tank that deep would be an inch and a half from the counter overhang.

What I ought to do is just sell the dresser I just bought, build little shelves for clothes into the stand, and put it down by the foot of the bed. Then when we buy a place I can still have access to two matching tanks. (I actually had a line on a great deal for another exact copy of the 55g setup, but I wasn't able to pick it up on time - how cool would that fish room be, with a 180 centerpiece and two 55g tanks flanking it, all in matching stands/canopies?) Unfortunately, buying is not going to happen for another year at least.

I wish this place just had a wall that was bigger than 6 uninterrupted feet. The only ones in the whole place like that are the only place for the couch and the wall with the bed.

 

[koop171]

so whats that outlet too ? is it important ? and i think you go for it i'm putting two 125s in an L shape in a room that is about 10X10 if that. so i say go big lol buy it lol buy it u know u want to and if u can't set it up for a little bit then you at least have it there when you are ready

 

[DaveB]

Well I'm not sure I have quite enough cash to be buying and storing monster tanks. I'll still need to buy another big one if I do that.

The outlet is just for the tank itself, and that switch above it is for the two lights above the fireplace in the ceiling that never ever get used. So there's no issue with that at all.

 

[koop171]

i would do some hard looking on craigslist u can find some good deals on big tanks there around me i found a 8" acrlyic for like 200$ (i didn't buy it but the price was nice)

 

[DaveB]

That's what I've been doing. I check CL 2-3 times a day. That's where I found this 180. It's a good enough deal that I'm trying to rationalize it even though it's a little too big.