Planning to do a build, smaller than my initial goal but still bigger and better than the 20G I began the hobby with.
There are two spots in my living room that could work for a tank
Either the recessed back left corner or the right wall next to the entrance.
for the back left location, You’ll notice that I have a protruding windowsill and a protruding fireplace marked in blue, so the theoretical maximum tank footprint is about 42”x42”. This prevents me from using any of the common, popular models that are 4’ long. The biggest rectangular tank I’ve found that would fit in the space would be the Waterbox Infinia 125.3 at only 40.9” long. That has a display volume of 86 gallons.
(Alternatively, I could get a 93 square in that corner, but I’d have to cut my rug or something and the viewing angles would suck. So, while 93G square is the BIGGEST prefabricated tank that could fit in that nook, it’s the least ideal.)
If I were to instead put a tank on the right wall, I’d be looking at a 24”x24” footprint, so either a 60 gallon cube or, my preference, a 74 gallon tower.
so, the main two tanks I’m looking at are either the infinia 125.3 in the back left corner or the 74 gallon tower right as you enter the room.
I happen to think 30” of height could make for an interesting, atypical aqua scape, but I am aware that taller tanks are harder to clean. My current idea would be to have a deep sandbed and host jawfish and garden eels, so that the vertical element compliments the behavior of fish with burrows. That being said- I am also aware that a longer tank like the infinia gives more usable swimming space to active members of a tank like a small juvenile zebrasoma tang or centropyge angel.
I really am torn. I like the 74 because the vertical space is unusual (I made a drawing of what I think it could look like) and I can light it a bit more easily, but I like the 86 because it is a bit bigger, has more swimming room, and the plumbing for the drain lines seems to be a bit more intuitive.
There are two spots in my living room that could work for a tank
Either the recessed back left corner or the right wall next to the entrance.
for the back left location, You’ll notice that I have a protruding windowsill and a protruding fireplace marked in blue, so the theoretical maximum tank footprint is about 42”x42”. This prevents me from using any of the common, popular models that are 4’ long. The biggest rectangular tank I’ve found that would fit in the space would be the Waterbox Infinia 125.3 at only 40.9” long. That has a display volume of 86 gallons.
(Alternatively, I could get a 93 square in that corner, but I’d have to cut my rug or something and the viewing angles would suck. So, while 93G square is the BIGGEST prefabricated tank that could fit in that nook, it’s the least ideal.)
If I were to instead put a tank on the right wall, I’d be looking at a 24”x24” footprint, so either a 60 gallon cube or, my preference, a 74 gallon tower.
so, the main two tanks I’m looking at are either the infinia 125.3 in the back left corner or the 74 gallon tower right as you enter the room.
I happen to think 30” of height could make for an interesting, atypical aqua scape, but I am aware that taller tanks are harder to clean. My current idea would be to have a deep sandbed and host jawfish and garden eels, so that the vertical element compliments the behavior of fish with burrows. That being said- I am also aware that a longer tank like the infinia gives more usable swimming space to active members of a tank like a small juvenile zebrasoma tang or centropyge angel.
I really am torn. I like the 74 because the vertical space is unusual (I made a drawing of what I think it could look like) and I can light it a bit more easily, but I like the 86 because it is a bit bigger, has more swimming room, and the plumbing for the drain lines seems to be a bit more intuitive.
