Setting up a 75 gallon as partial room divider

[CarolynM]

I have a house with a lot of doors..so I have decided the best way to set up my future 75 or 90 g tank is as a partial room divider. 2 feet will back along a wall and the other 2 feet will stick out in the kitchen.

Due to this what would be the best way to set-up the tank. A drilled tank with plumbing in the corner on the wall? I was wondering if I could go with a tank drilled in the bottom with standpipe, and then a spraybar along the top with the plumbing running up one back corner to the hood? Would this be doable?

Or should I go with an overflow on one end? I've never used an overflow before -what are the pro's con's to their selection/use/installation?

Thanks all opinions gratefully accepted!

 

[DaveJ]

Well I would suggest you find a tank with either a single overflow on the side that is going to be in the wall or if you end up with one in the middle, plumb it back towards the wall.

I would put an access panel or mini door for access under the tank and put your equipment there. You want to make sure you have access to just about everything from up top though.

Not sure you would need the spray bar.. you could just go with standard loc-line for the feed and use powerheads for circulation.

I would definitely go reef-ready (drilled) over an overflow if you are buying a new tank. It will be less hassle and more reliable. If you do go overflow, make sure you get a lifereef overflow, they are the best out there and according to their site, they have never failed to restart siphon (no overflow of water). Reef ready would be more compact too since you won't have anything hanging off the tank etc.