See... that first tank is basically what I'm trying to accomplish... without a sump though. Very nice. Been thinking about purchasing another viparspectra for awhile now....This is my 75 gallon ensemble from Petsmart. I bought the Marineland with the full length cabinet where I could fit a sump.
This is my 65 gallon we are converting into a reef the day we filled it with water. Goldfish are being upgraded into a 150 gallon stock tank. Not worried about fitting a 30" tank in the 36" stand, but instead I'm worried the stand is too short inside for any equipment to be usable.
And my 47 gallon reef in progress (will be filled with rock, sand, and water hopefully this weekend). Will be running a Seachem Tidal75 and no skimmer or refugium. LPS and softie tank with regular water changes. We may add a HOB skimmer and a UV sterilizer down the road, but we will see how things play out. Built the stand to function as shelves for my aquarium books and shells I bring home from school in St Kitts, as well as an end table where my wife and I can set our drinks while we watch the aquariums and TV.