Getting confused which thread to use now. First there was this one, then there came a new one on Monster, now there's another new one here on Aqua.... hmmm...
Is there a function that automatically posts on all 3?
Joking...anyhow, back to business.
Nolapete, regarding the plastic, yes, understand. For me it would be a curtain that's easy to roll during maintenance. Or like a shower curtain / window, sliding side-ways. Just brainstorming there on keeping moist isolated to the tank and directly above as well as heat/cooling of the tank. Not sure on your weather and cooling/heating requirements, but that's what I'd need here with very hot weather.
I think you're off to a good start with raising the ceiling as you mentioned earlier. This will force heat to the top and a duct with fan from there would be far more effective than a flat ceiling with a few duct-openings.
Figured that I have to adjust my thinking a bit as well. I've been running on Planted Tank Mode for quite some time, but this will be a fish tank in the first place if I understand everything correctly, plants (if any) will be secondary. (Correct if wrong please).
Then, filtration:
At first thought, I'd go for a 'hang on the back' filter. Minimal pump required, set it up like a sump and pull your water through.
Just build it inside the tank, full lenght in the back, or level but outside in the walking-space..
A quick calculation where you'd use 1 foot in the back or add 1 foot to the existing tank, gives you 450 Gallon of space for filtration. Have it come in through an overflow at one side, then put separation walls in and let it flow over/under/over...etc. Sump-idea.
Your super-sized canisters, I assume you'd go with a couple of 200 Liter plastic drums?
Water in from the top.
Just put a '****load' of filter material in (in netted bags to make for easy pull out, maybe some spacers with holes drilled in it to avoid everything plugging at the bottom.
Have a large external pump pulling the water out from the bottom up back in the tank.
For such 'design' you don't even need a airtight cover. Just make sure the top is level with the water in the tank and connect with an overflow.
Yep, I'm very curious to get hands-on pictures and drawings.
