TylerS
Active Member
My tank is going along a walkway and due to space and aesthetic restrictions the front wall can be about 36 inches from the wall max. This leaves me with 2 options. I'm doing a custom tank so dimensions and overflow setup can be whatever I want.
Options:
1. Have internal overflows and drainpipes going through the bottom of the tank and put the tank back very close to the wall. Maybe leave just enough space for cables and the backside of magnets etc, about 0.5 to 1". The LFS saltwater manager mentioned he has a customer who siliconed his tunze powerheads to the back wall to do this. Then I could have a tank about 35" from front to back but I'd probably have 2 overflow boxes sticking into the tank by 4-6 inches. I would have access to outlets through the tank stand in the back and I plan to hang lights from the ceiling so I think it's feasible.
2. Have an external overflow(s) or ghost overflow type setup and keep the back wall of the tank 3 to 4" from the wall. This makes the tank about 32 inches from font to back max and there would be no overflow box in the tank (or minimal box just at the top). I would have freedom to use whatever powerhead and light mounts I want and space to hide equipment and cables.
What would you guys and gals do? Have overflow boxes in the tank and put up with some restrictions on powerheads and lighting options to have the tank 4 inches wider from front to back, or have external overflow and fairly standard setup with a 32" front to back tank? I'm leaning toward option 2.
Options:
1. Have internal overflows and drainpipes going through the bottom of the tank and put the tank back very close to the wall. Maybe leave just enough space for cables and the backside of magnets etc, about 0.5 to 1". The LFS saltwater manager mentioned he has a customer who siliconed his tunze powerheads to the back wall to do this. Then I could have a tank about 35" from front to back but I'd probably have 2 overflow boxes sticking into the tank by 4-6 inches. I would have access to outlets through the tank stand in the back and I plan to hang lights from the ceiling so I think it's feasible.
2. Have an external overflow(s) or ghost overflow type setup and keep the back wall of the tank 3 to 4" from the wall. This makes the tank about 32 inches from font to back max and there would be no overflow box in the tank (or minimal box just at the top). I would have freedom to use whatever powerhead and light mounts I want and space to hide equipment and cables.
What would you guys and gals do? Have overflow boxes in the tank and put up with some restrictions on powerheads and lighting options to have the tank 4 inches wider from front to back, or have external overflow and fairly standard setup with a 32" front to back tank? I'm leaning toward option 2.
