How important is "family functionality" when it comes to your reef?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

All throughout the interwebs you can spy tons of crazy shaped, themed and placed aquariums. But when it comes to functionality most of them are not!

1. So how important is "family functionality" when it comes to your reef?

2. When setting up your reef tank what steps did you take to make sure that your reef was functional for you and your family?

3. What would you change to make your current set up more functional?



Vote Above for the tank you think is more functional.

A. Fireplace Tank

image via SeaVisions

B. Stair Tank

image via The Idea Room

C. Bed Tank

image via pasarant

D. Table Tank

coffee table aquarium

E. Cabinet Tank

image

 

[Jon Fishman]

“Cabinet Tank” is the only one that seems like it would be practical enough to maintain. And even that is pushing it.

 

[NewGoby]

I'm conflicted between the first (fireplace) and last (cabinet).

I feel like the first one is harder to keep at temp, if done properly & easier to screw up building, so i'd go with the last one in terms of difficulty.

But I like the look of the 1st way more, as it's more on 'eye-height'

 

[aabjones888]

The fireplace tank is the only one I could see where the whole family could see it all the time to enjoy and relax.

 

[vetteguy53081]

 

[ajhudson15]

mine is in our bedroom and my wife looks at it almost daily before bed and helps me keep an eye out for pests or other things I may not see

 

[Jholli90]

Cabinet would be the easiest to enjoy especially for children. But sitting on the floor staring into my tank might get uncomfortable.

 

[TVV]

Fire place, bed head and overhead board and cabinet are all great! not sure about the stairway one. Seems in the way.

Overall, if the fireplace is never used, that one would be most viewed.

 

[Michael Hull]

Kitchen/living room centerpiece is about as close as I'll get. And the door just to left of tank is attached garage where I'm building fish room/mixing station.

 

[CNDReef]

Picked fireplace because if you have the money for that setup you’re not doing the maintenance yourself lol

 

[BeejReef]

Those all look beautiful and outrageously hard to run.. lol.

Where is the flat surface near the tank for testing or acclimating?
I'm not kneeling on my bed to re-glue down a frag or upright a snail!

Not one of them is in a room remotely near a sink... or even near typical household plumbing!!

1) Family Function is very important. If they're not into it, my leash to pursue "Daddy's Fish" becomes a lot shorter, budget a lot smaller. Frankly, I'd probably tire of it myself if no once cared about it at all but me.

2) Steps taken - It's out of the way (dining room) and visible. It's near the table, so I can use that to test and maintain (provided I clean it). We have a drain for water changes and a pump from the SW station so I don't wreck the house as much. We have a step-ladder so the kids can help feed the fish.

3) Improvements needed - Should have gone the whole way and done a basement sump to keep kids prying hands out of the sump where electric and water interface.

 

[JLynn]

I mean they’re all pretty stupid ideas IMO. Just radically impractical. But I’d go for fireplace as long as the fireplace is just there for looks and never actual used to make a fire. It’s certainly the most practical in terms of viewing - you sit on the couch, you enjoy the tank. With the bed, it’s in the headboard, and you’re not gonna spend a lot of time sitting on your bed facing the headboard. (Plus just imagine the epic disaster if it ever broke in the middle of the night...) And do you really want to have to sit on the stairs or on the floor to view the other three? I don’t think so. But if I had to pick a second, I’d go with the stairs because sitting on stairs isn’t great, but it’s way better than sitting on the floor.

 

[LadyMac]

Fireplace looks nice. Would get too hot I’d imagine. Steps would be quite neat but probably be ignored soon. Cabinet, eh. It isn’t really something the family could enjoy unless you have an open floor plan. Table, clutter would cover the top. Plus I’ve seen these can trap heat and wouldn’t be good for a reef setting. Bed, maybe. Not to that extreme though.

 

[CC13]

I don't think any of the options are particularly functional, but I don't think its purpose is to be functional. I consider it a form of art almost, it brings beauty into the home if done correctly. The amount of money tanks cost, I wouldn't want my tank to be be integrated to be a 'functional' piece of the home.

 

[MnFish1]

I voted cabinet - But then I looked at all the choices - I cant imagine a 'family' with a staircase tank - first cleaning it would be difficult - second - one of my kids feet would be through it before it was ever filled with water:). Actually - I wish there was a choice - none of the above. My guess is that the owner of the fireplace tank has maintenance done:)

 

[tehmadreefer]

Its my hobby so family doesnt care about the tank. Would never get any type of bed, fireplace table, shelve tank regardless

 

[CC13]

Actually - I wish there was a choice - none of the above.

Its my hobby so family doesnt care about the tank. Would never get any type of bed, fireplace table, shelve tank regardless

+1

 

[Devaji]

well if we are going crazy I would do a U shaped tank in the living room/den/ my happy place with you are surrounded by tanks on 3 sides.

 

[Ruben's Reef]

Not on the Poll but I love an in-wall tanks.

 

[CC13]

Its my hobby so family doesnt care about the tank. Would never get any type of bed, fireplace table, shelve tank regardless

Not on the Poll but I love an in-wall tank.

Now THAT is beautiful.