tank orientation

[salt creepette]

i hate craning my neck around to see what's going on in the back of my tank. (i.e. where is that darn crab I bought yesterday that scurried to the back of the rock??)

I was thinking of, instead of putting the 'back' to the wall, if I put the smaller 'side' of the tank to the wall, so that I could view my tank's front and back easily. the tank would have to be situated as sort of a mini room divider, which could be kind of weird, but with the right furniture arrangement, wouldnt be too bad. my question is, would it be feasible to do this, with all the plumbing and the equipment hanging off the tank and stuff?

my current tank is 30 inches long, 18 inches wide and 24 inches tall. it has a wooden stand (which would have to be modified cuz having the open back exposed would be ugly) and canopy. I currently have no sump. I have a cpr bak pak skimmer and a millenium 3000 power filter. I could fit one or the other on the side that would be facing the wall, but not both. the tank is stocked so its not feasible to have it torn down and drilled for a sump at this point.

any bright ideas how to have both sides viewable in this situation?

also, when I upgrade my tank to a much larger 125 gallon, I want to have the same type of setup (small side to the wall, both large sides viewable), so even if i cant do it now, I'd still like ideas how to do it in the future.

If I didnt explain myself well, feel free to ask questions...

[gregt]

My 180 is like this and I know at least one other person that has a tank like this. (spanky)



You just have to figure out how to get all the plumbing down the side against the wall. Spanky built a cabinet that sits between the tank and the wall about 2 feet long that houses his skimmer, etc....

[yardboy]

greg, I guess that's why you're administrator! That is too cool, the way you rotated your tank like that!
I've often fantasized about a large cube, viewable all around with the overflow in the middle, but I'd have to build a special house with the right space! Easier would be a room divider like that!
Very nice.

[salt creepette]

...or how about a room where the tank goes alllll the way around the perimiter of the room, like a big square doughnut. THAT is my dream tank! who wants to build it for me??

[gregt]

This is how my current tank (pictured above rotating) is arranged:


This is what I'm going to do next (just came up with this last night):

[salt creepette]

is that second tank BIGGER?

[gregt]

Just a tad. I'm thinking 300 gal. right now, but haven't decided for certain yet.

[Casey]

300 is that all Im savn for the 1000 mark

[CAT]

Looks good Greg, except you forgot to leave room on each side for a comfy armchair.

My bright idea re seeing behind the rock... How about a mirror behind the tank?

[gregt]

Cat, to give you scale, that new tank is 8 feet long. There's more than enough room for comfy chairs.

[Spanky]

Salt,

Fixing the back of the cabinet is easy. Look around salvage yards for some shutters, hang them like doors. The hood, you can just cut a board to fit the length and hinge it. If you're handy, you can make a cabinet to fit between the tank and the wall to house more equipment.

[salt creepette]

yeah but since for now i have hang on equipment i can only fit either my filter or my skimmer on the one small side (the side that would be against the wall). I SUPPOSE....i could just ditch my millenium 3000 dual filter, since I have the protien skimmer and live rock and crushed coral. But I kinda like it. what do you think, can I live without it?

[salt creepette]

WOW, CAT, i never thot of the mirror idea!!!! you are a genious!!!!!!!! do you think it would drive the fish nuts, though, with the reflection and seeing 'other' fish?

[CAT]

I've seen other tanks with mirrors on the back. Gives the tank lots of depth. I imagine the fish could get used to it. Sure would keep them occupied though