kiwipete Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Well after a couple of years without the octagonal tank I built, the good lady has convinced me to make another, but BIGGER :bounce: Here is a picture of the old one i had. http://s195.photobucket.com/albums/z218 ... ure030.jpg The new one will replace this tank. 46x46x92cm http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z218 ... 1260763982 Now for the new tank. I am thinking of the base being 80cm high, 60cm wide and the tank itself 100cm high. The cabinet top will simply lift off for access. Yes it's going to be rather big, but it is to be a feature tank too that'll sit nicely in a the corner of the lounge. I will be beefing up the floor boards so it doesn't go through it. :oops: This corner of the room has windows on both sides too so I will need to think carefully of what background I am to have in it to give shade from the sun. Lighting is going to be another issue too, but there are some nice round fluorescent lights on the market. Or maybe I go for halogen. a black light would be nice to have at night too. Would 10mm glass be sufficient or should I look at something thicker? Maybe black glass for the back to act as shade from the sun? Is there any added bracing I need to think about? Might get a FX5 filter for it too as it will make draining water easier, dunno how im going to add water, I will need a stepladder. Want a spray bar on top and another hose running directly in the tank forcing water down. This will be a project well after new year so I am open for anny ideas, suggestions and criticisms. Oh, I forgot to say that I will plant the tank and use water from the old one, let the plants establish themselves then transfer my fish. Thinking coarse white sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted December 14, 2009 Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 because its so deep the lighting could be an issue for plants perhaps a 70w MH would be better or at least a few 2ft VHO t5 tubes. the circular tubes would be near impossible to find in a higher colour temperature so you would pretty much be stuck with a yellowish light(halogen would be the same) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted December 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 because its so deep the lighting could be an issue for plants perhaps a 70w MH would be better or at least a few 2ft VHO t5 tubes. the circular tubes would be near impossible to find in a higher colour temperature so you would pretty much be stuck with a yellowish light(halogen would be the same) Yes, good points, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted December 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 Would 10mm glass be suitable for a tank of this size or should I look at a thinner glass? What bracing should I do around the top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted January 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 I have decided to scrap this idea because there is too greater chance of the panels separating with the water pressure. I am however going to look at a large corner tank with 3 faces to the front. A little hard to describe but imagine a triangle with the two back sides being equal in length. The front panel will be something like a bay window is with the centre panel being twice the length of the outer panels. Make scene? I think this will give a better surface area, will not be as high and be easier to brace. Dimensions I am thinking of are something along the lines of 600 x 600 at the back and 300 x 500 x 300 in the front and 600 high. I need to draw it out on a large sheet of cardboard to see if the dimensions are balanced looking. Glass will be 10mm thick and tinted at the back to prevent light entering through the corner windows it will be against. I also want to make a nice polystyrene rock wall for the back too. Possibly black substrate. Can anyone see any issues with this design? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 The light wont get through the polystyrene backing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted January 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 True, but I thought any water between the poly back and the glass will get green very quickly indeed and be visible from outside the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 paint the glass on the outside then it wont happen also black paints got to look better than poly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted January 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 paint the glass on the outside then it wont happen also black paints got to look better than poly Thanks but I think I will go for black glass, will look better from the other side of the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugz Posted January 24, 2010 Report Share Posted January 24, 2010 I've been thinking about that shape(corner pentagon), have a good corner for one. Don't think I would risk doing one myself but may get one made. Good tool here for working out liters, http://reef.diesyst.com/volcalc/volcalc.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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