What to do with 2x - 36"L x 30"W x 17.25T & 4" side holes?

[M@]

I just picked up two 36" L x 30" w x 17.25 t all glass tanks with 1 5/8" drains and 4" drains on the side and I'm trying to figure out how to set them up. My finances are really slim at the moment so this is going to be a really slow built but that is probably a good a thing (only been reef keeping for 7 months).

Since the 4" holes are on opposite sides of each tank I was thinking about connecting them with a 90 degree connector. It's either that or just connecting them together in a straight line. The only thing with the 90 degree idea is I can't think of a good way to hide the returns. I'm planning on doing a center overflow on both tanks.

I would really appreciate any plumbing/layout advice, I've been reading a lot but definitely still have a lot to learn. Ahhhh the fun begins!

Here are a couple of pics of the tanks (no digi cam tonight) and a few I threw together with google sketchup. The first step is definitely to clean these bad boys up. I look forward to hearing all your ideas!

 

[M@]

Here are the sketchup mmages I put together. If you haven't used Google skethup it's awesome. I downloaded it today and had my fish room setup in less than 30 minutes.

 

[M@]

I'm thinking I might just put them together in the middle

 

[crash519]

I like the back wall idea the best. You could do an SPS tank and a softy tank and not really have to worry about chemical warfare. Location specific tanks (Fiji, Red Sea, Australian, etc..) would be cool as well, although the fish could migrate between the two tanks.

 

[M@]

Thanks for the feedback, location specific would definitely be cool. I'm still debating on the back wall or in the middle. I like the idea of the middle so that I can see more sides of the tank. I was thinking about doing the middle of the room with an open top.

Any thoughts on running the return lines back into the 4" in connector drains?

 

[Wes]

i think the attached layout would be cool. use the empty corner for plumbing and wires and more roomm for a larger sump/fuge.

definately going to be interesting being able to have 2 linked systems like this that fish can travel between but easy for seperate coral species etc...

one thing that may be interesting is to finnd some 4" clear PVC to connnect the tanks so you can see in the tube between them and do the wall tank but seperated 6-8 inches.

good luck, keep us informed.

 

[Guest]

i like the connected in the center...you could do one a reef tank and the next a display refugium...if you put them in a L make that would look weird with an empty space in the back plus how would you get back there if the seal springs a leak..move the tanks to the center of the roof then you do a a viewing of 3 sides

you could even put them on one stand and if you dont like the sight of the 4"pipe have wood insert go up and across to make it look like the stand is splitting the tank this would make a great room divider

 

[M@]

Thanks Wes, that is definitely one of the layout options. I think I'll put all the options together and let the fiance make the final deciscion, now I just need to figure out how to spend money on the tank instead of saving for a wedding. :sad:

http://www.craftics.com/products.cfm?Category=33 <---- clear acrylic tubing that should fit perfectly too conntect the tanks!

One reason I keep leaning towards having the tanks run down the center of the room is because I am thinking about setting up the aquascape in a mountain shape around the center overflow. Then I could do could connect the tanks with a decent length of the clear acrylic tube allowing viewing on 7 of the 8 sides. So many options!

 

[M@]

@kuyatwo wrote:

That's a great idea too, if I do it that way I could hide the return lines in the center divider also. I think I will draw that up tonight. Good thing I have a lot of time to think while I save my pennies.

 

[Guest]

all in one stand is the way to go to if you decide to use the holes on the bottom the tank...you would have everything in one big stand not two small stands...it would let you have a pretty big refugium underneath the tank and room to play with equipment...if you go an L i think you would be fighting for space in two seperate stands

 

[M@]

@kuyatwo wrote:

Very good points, I've been struggling with the two tank scenario and the single stand really does clear up a lot issues for equipment plumbing etc... The clear tube is a cool though but it would probably be more of a pain to keep clean than it would be worth to never see a fish swim through.

M@

 

[M@]

A couple of sketch's with one stand. This could definitely work.

 

[Wes]

i like it centereed in the room, that would be my ideal tank of any size, directly in the center.

 

[Guest]

i like center of the room...leave the middle stand portion as a seperate piece so you can lift it off....that would be a good place to hide cords from koralias, vortecs, or tunzes as that is where i would place them

if you go center speak to gary maxwell (gmax) as his tank is in the middle of his living room...he might have some pointers as how he might of did things different or things he was glad he did

 

[M@]

@kuyatwo wrote:

Thanks I will definitely hit up gmax. I think I'm going to sell my motorcycle so I can afford my lights. :?

 

[jawdubb]

I have been following this thread some, and I have so say I like and would love to have the capability to do the one centered in the room. Just my $.02

 

[M@]

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm 99% sure I'm going to put it in the center. My fiancee's response was "I would like it against the wall but it is your room" so despite knowing what she really wants I'm go to do it anyway! Especially if I have to sell my motorcycle to make it happen.

Any thoughts on how big of a space I need between the two tanks? I was thinking 9 inches should be enough. Anything I else I need to put in between the tanks beside the returns?

M@