This might be a little longer and will "venture" into other areas that might fit better into the DIY or plant section of this forum - but instead of making seperate posts i thought i try to make just one in here.
Basically what i am thinking about doing is to do is build a larger piece of (living room) furniture and incorporate 2 tanks into it. There isnt much like it out there but i found something to give you an idea what i am talking about:
An example from another page.
What i was thinking about was using 2 tanks in a corner of a room - so it looks like an L - but all integrated into one big piece of furniture with additional shelves above.
Because i want shelving above the canopy the top cant open upwards - but must have the door in the front and flips up.
So here are my questions:
1) in a canopy like that - how much room should i leave above the tank for easy maintenance ? 12 inches ? 10 ? more ?
2) Do people generally use glass tank covers in these canopies or not ? I want to minimise evaporation as much as possible.
3) Would it be better to get a light strip and set it on top of the glass lid or mount the lights into the top of the canopy - which would make them hang (whatever distance determined in question 1) above the tank. Would that work ?
4) I like the look of long tanks - mainly because in many higher tanks i looked at it seems like the top 1/4 is often empty or hard to tie into the aquascape. Would a 48x12 - 13 high be any good ? I do intend to have that tank heavily planted... but i am wondering if a higher tank (16 or 18) would be better for that. Shouldnt it be easier to light a tank thats not as deep ?
Maybe someone that has experience with long shallow tanks could give me some ideas of what to expect.
I have a few more Qs concerning the lighting but i dont want to ask them untill someone comments on the tank itself so i can figure out if i'll go with a 13 deep or deeper and can plan the rest of the furniture around that.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
Basically what i am thinking about doing is to do is build a larger piece of (living room) furniture and incorporate 2 tanks into it. There isnt much like it out there but i found something to give you an idea what i am talking about:
An example from another page.
What i was thinking about was using 2 tanks in a corner of a room - so it looks like an L - but all integrated into one big piece of furniture with additional shelves above.
Because i want shelving above the canopy the top cant open upwards - but must have the door in the front and flips up.
So here are my questions:
1) in a canopy like that - how much room should i leave above the tank for easy maintenance ? 12 inches ? 10 ? more ?
2) Do people generally use glass tank covers in these canopies or not ? I want to minimise evaporation as much as possible.
3) Would it be better to get a light strip and set it on top of the glass lid or mount the lights into the top of the canopy - which would make them hang (whatever distance determined in question 1) above the tank. Would that work ?
4) I like the look of long tanks - mainly because in many higher tanks i looked at it seems like the top 1/4 is often empty or hard to tie into the aquascape. Would a 48x12 - 13 high be any good ? I do intend to have that tank heavily planted... but i am wondering if a higher tank (16 or 18) would be better for that. Shouldnt it be easier to light a tank thats not as deep ?
Maybe someone that has experience with long shallow tanks could give me some ideas of what to expect.
I have a few more Qs concerning the lighting but i dont want to ask them untill someone comments on the tank itself so i can figure out if i'll go with a 13 deep or deeper and can plan the rest of the furniture around that.
Any ideas would be appreciated.
