Making the most of space..

T

Tetrastripe2

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Oct 4, 2009
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I have a 20"x20"x16" (LxDxH) space to work with, which tank would work best with this area?
A standard 10 gallon is 20"x10"x12" (LxDxH)
A 20 high is 24x12x16 (LxDxH)
The 20 high might work, I could just have trouble flipping my light switch (to my room) once I installed the hood. It would, however, be hanging of the edges 2" on both sides, do you think this would cause stability issues?
Do I have any other options as far as tanks go?
I'm planning on this being an FOWLR invert tank, the inhabitants being a mantis shrimp, hermit crabs, snails, and maybe a few shrimp (if the mantis doesn't kill them). Possibly a clownfish or something if I have enough space. Would this work, or would it be better to take the freshwater route?


*I didn't know where to post this, so feel free to move it if necesarry.*
 
Since it sounds like there would be an overhang of 4", I would get a 10G. Plus, you need the extra space above the tank to get your hands in when you have to.
 
I believe you meant to phrase that inhabitant list as "mantis shrimp and food." I'd imagine the mantis would make short work of everything listed there.

As far as the tank itself, unless you had something VERY rigid (we're talking more so than plywood here) to lay across the 20" surface to give you 24" wide support for the 20H tank, I'd strongly recommend against it, especially with that much overhang. Structurally speaking, that would severely compromise the rigidity of the tank, and would be HIGHLY likely to cause catastrophic failure. How long it would take, one could only guess. The reason I suggest something MUCH more rigid than plywood, is that a sheet of plywood would give some level of flexibility, even if its only 2" overhang on either side, thus minimizing the load from each end of the tank its transferring to the makeshift tank stand. As strange an idea as this might sound, a 1/4" or 3/8" thick sheet of steel would be a great way to support the tank properly on said surface, without any flexible compromise. If you were to cut out some segments of 2x4 and have that support the entire base of the tank, (read: not just two pieces of wood, but the entire rectangle, and spliced such that the joists interlock) ideally vertically, though horizontally may work as well... I imagine that would be a viable option as well.
 
That works.

I don't think you are taking account of the height factor... You are going to need to be able to get in the tank you know.
 
Get an Oceanic Biocube or Red Sea max. great tanks.
 
I can have a lot more height than that, that measure was from the 'stand' to my light switch in my room, but it I center it on the stand, it shouldn't be an issue.
 
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