elusive_fish Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hi all, I thought I'd start a topic to document a project that I'm part way through. It will also give me a good place to ask all my dumb questions and for some constructive feedback. My plan is to put a large fish tank in my cafe, something around 2300 x 600 x 600 (nominally 828 litres). The plan is to have it projecting out from the wall, with bar style seating on three sides. In order to stop people on opposite sides of the tank looking at each other I have been working on a carved poly feature that will run the length of the tank, in the middle. It has been carved with holes of various sizes running through diagonally, allowing fish to swim from one side to the other. Here is an early work-in-progress photo: It will be a malawi cichlid tank one way or another. A couple of options I am considering is: 1/ electric yellow and demasonis 2/ Male haps and peacocks Could I potentially do a combination there-of? Let me know what you think of my project plans ie feasibility, concerns, how much of a feature you would think it is etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 looks great so far. but where are the lights. where are the filter pipes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 putting something like that in the centre you may have issues with flow or the waste may not get sucked out & may settle around the "centre ground". If you have two filters you could set one up each side of the divider & then there's flow required around heaters etc. i would make cutouts along the bottom so it's less of a divider. i like you idea & hope you can get it working well, you could add a hood for lights etc & to stop people feeding the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elusive_fish Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 looks great so far. but where are the lights. where are the filter pipes? Obviously there will be lights of some kind... I'm just not sure if ill build into a canopy, sit simply on top or suspend from the ceiling. Plus I couldnt be bothered trying to draw them in sketch up As far as filtration goes, I was thinking of putting a sump underneath the main tank. Id imagine the inlet would be at one end of the tank, the outlet at the other creating a flow down the tank. The sump would also include the heaters to hide them. Would a large cannister filter, such as a fx5 also be worth considering? As for access, there will be doors built into the base cabinet. The tables will not be 'built in' as I need to be able to remove them to get better access to the tank for maintenance. I'd like to be able to 'lock' and 'unlock' the tables together - the exact mechanism I'm unsure of at the mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 i would have to say that a sealed hood is a must for that type of public area which would mean you would have to put the lights in it which won't be difficult. you will need to design the hood around the fittings you will be using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 It sounds very good but I would think that with a 'divider' down the middle you would need 2x fx5 filters. I run one on my 450 litre tank and while the flow is 'good' its not over the top for discus as it has to get around the drift wood at one corner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firenzenz Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I like the idea as a whole. My first point would that with the poly structure you have turned the tank into two long tanks that are effectively only 25cm wide if the poly is 100mm thick. Seems a shame to limit the open water space that much. I know the reasons for it but wouldn't a more broken reef structure do similar. This would also open up areas of the tank which might also make more harmonious feel. If you make such defined spaces then by definition the fight for ownership will be more defined. I also think clusters might have more natural look. I once decided to line rocks along back wall of tank with open space in front and all I did was make one space and the tank was never so out of balance as it was then. As for layout- would you have room to have the tank as a divider of two booths- would sort out people looking at each other if that is really a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
si_sphinx Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I can see that is gonna look really good. I'd visit just to see the fish, and i'd have to buy some food too :lol: Maybe you could have an outlet from a filter split to go either side of the wall. a good strong pump from the sump would work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 a couple cheap ebay waver makers + suspended lighting = no problem with flow or aeration and nice light ripples across the substrate. the hood needs not have a top on it just high enough so that people cant get at it with lockable access for you just remeber you want to be able to stick your hand in any holes just in case you have to recover a sick fish at some point but so far looking good good to see a big project like this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elusive_fish Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 My first point would that with the poly structure you have turned the tank into two long tanks that are effectively only 25cm wide if the poly is 100mm thick. I guess I could make the tank 80cm wide, which really would create more free swim space on either side. I cant imagine it would cost that much more either. Only thing the tank capacity is at 1104 litres at that point! biiiig tank. As for layout- would you have room to have the tank as a divider of two booths- would sort out people looking at each other if that is really a problem. Another creative thought... but in that arrangement no one is really looking at it. If im going to do this, I want to make it a real focal point out of it and maximise the number of people who can concurrently enjoy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elusive_fish Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 a couple cheap ebay waver makers + suspended lighting = no problem with flow or aeration and nice light ripples across the substrate. the hood needs not have a top on it just high enough so that people cant get at it with lockable access for you just remeber you want to be able to stick your hand in any holes just in case you have to recover a sick fish at some point but so far looking good good to see a big project like this So being a fellow chcher does that mean you are willing to help out a little with the design and implementation Could be some free coffee and breakfast in it for ya! haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 yea definatly i have a few ideas and have built a few hoods home ph i pmed you last week is not working though no dial tone for some reason cant get hold of vodafone either damn it so just txt me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 wavemakers may create issues with the silicon on tank 2 power heads angled downwards at each end may be better to increase flow and dead spots in tank with divider may be able to create circular current Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 I guess I could make the tank 80cm wide, which really would create more free swim space on either side. I cant imagine it would cost that much more either. Only thing the tank capacity is at 1104 litres at that point! biiiig tank. The big tank thing shouldn't be a problem, unless you're on a wooden floor? And you might be surprised in the extra cost for the width as it may mean goin up a thickness in glass. Fully worth it IMO, wide tanks look awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 going deeper would mean an increase in glass thickness going wider shouldn't affect it? you may need to go thicker anyway to increase the safety factor with it being in a public place and to cover any insurance issues in case of breakage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 It probably will for the base at least, maybe not the sides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ktttk Posted February 15, 2010 Report Share Posted February 15, 2010 Let me know if you intend to stock it with Dems. I might even have enough to fill up that entire tank! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 Let me know if you intend to stock it with Dems. I might even have enough to fill up that entire tank! ah stocking, red empress & frontosa! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matto Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 why don't you have two tanks side by side with a background in between? its just an idea lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 It is all looking good, I would be a bit iffy about the entire centre being divided off but you may be able to use this to put different types of fish in each side sharing the same water if you wanted to go that way? If you wanted to keep all the same kinds of fish I think it would be cool to make like a mountain range through the middle of the tank with maybe a few of them going really high or something like that but the majority of them having gaps on top? As for stocking you could do dems/yellows and one colony or multiple male peacocks.. Or haps you do have to watch the haps with the smaller fish as they do get big, it would however take years before they are big enough to eat dems etc.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxxnz Posted February 16, 2010 Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 :bounce: woow elusive_fish the set up looked so cool & interesting:bow: , good luck on the project! 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elusive_fish Posted February 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2010 I'm not sure if the pictures convey the 'divider' properly. Its not a solid wall as I modelled it in sketch-up, but it has many holes from one side to teh other. The bottom does have a number of holes cut through it, but I was hesitant cutting any more as I have to securely silicone the feature to the bottom of the tank and not risk it coming loose. They are often cut through diagonally, rather than directly through. This probably doesnt show up very well in the picture. The plan is the the poly feature will not stretch right from one end ot the other, but have about 7-10cm gap between the ends and the glass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melrick1 Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 I think it a great Idea! It will def be an awsum feature in your cafe!!!!!!!!!! The poly wall looks amazing aswell, will be great to see what the final product looks like, GOOD LUCK!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trace&steve Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 wow its gonna look wicked cant wait to see the end result :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricketman Posted February 18, 2010 Report Share Posted February 18, 2010 what about, as an idea. Staggering uprights along the length of the tank. Kinda like pillars. lots of water movement between them, and people still cant see straight through. throwing it out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.