stacked acrylic tanks for propagation?

[dipan]

Anyone ever thought about this? I was going to PM Ace to see if he would build one for me, but thought I'd put it out here to see others opinions ...

I'm such a sketchup newb. Is it just me or does anyone else think that Google Sketchup is hard to use? :confused:
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/stackedtanks.jpg

What I was thinking is to use the upper tank for frags/growout and the bottom tank for a FOWLER tank and maybe partition part of it off as a hospital tank. If the top section was bare bottom, I could just have a single set of T5's or something above both tanks with still some getting through below.

I was planning on teeing off the return from my remote sump (I say that as if I have it already ... I don't ... these are just thoughts for the coming months) and sending most of it to the display tank and some of it to these two tanks that would be on the counter above the sump. The sump is not in the picture, BTW. They would simply overflow to the sump below.

The QT section I have to think about still. I've never been much of a QT'er, but figure I could start with this pretty serious build (for me anyway). I'd probably have it isolated and drain into the nearby sink when I did water changes:

Fresh saltwater --> Tank
Tank water --> QT
QT --> overflows into drain

This I plan to be automated daily (2-5 gallons)

Thoughts?

[robalv]

B&B had or may still have these tanks available 25 or 30 bucks

[hobogato]

it is a good idea, but when you qt fish, you do not want the water of the qt tank to mix with your total setup water. the main purpose of qt is to keep new fish from infecting your tank with any disease/parasite they may have.

[dipan]

it is a good idea, but when you qt fish, you do not want the water of the qt tank to mix with your total setup water. the main purpose of qt is to keep new fish from infecting your tank with any disease/parasite they may have.

I was planning on using peristaltic pumps for the water transfers. It would be one way only so the water in the QT tank and pests would not be able to go back into the main system.

[dipan]

B&B had or may still have these tanks available 25 or 30 bucks

I think they were too deep for my application ... don't know how I would stack them close to each other and still have access to the lower tank.

[manhorsedog]

i like the idea but i think it will get better over time. Did you plan on building this into a wall? or you going to have them both off the wall?

[dipan]

i like the idea but i think it will get better over time. Did you plan on building this into a wall? or you going to have them both off the wall?

Off the wall, but up against it. My fish room will be skinny ~5ft skinny, but ~12ft long. I'm now thinking of making it longer ... maybe 7ft long, and making the countertop just a little deeper like 28" so that there will be plenty of counter in front, about 16". Like this:

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/qt.jpg

[dipan]

Ace, would a stacked tank even be possible, technically? I would imagine the bottom of the upper tank would have to be pretty thick, but it would be free floating. I mean it wouldn't be flat on a hard surface like most tanks. It could be supported from the sides, but not on the bottom. Maybe grooves would have to be routed into the side panels for added support and increased glue surface area. Or maybe a few front to back clear braces here and there. I'll try to draw out what I'm thinking, but am getting frustrated with Sketchup.

[hobogato]

it would be ok, you would likely have to put some bracing under it. since it isnt going to be that deep, i dont think it would be an issue.

[dipan]

Multiple views ...

I suppose the back and side panels could be large shared panels between the two tanks. Is this the kind of bracing you had in mind, Ace?

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt6/dipanlokenpatel/qt2.jpg

[hobogato]

no, that isnt what i meant - i was thinking of a 2x4 wood frame under the top tank. you cant share the sides between the tanks because the best way to construct a tank is with the bottom under the edges of the side panels. the top tank could not be built that way if the sides are shared. i have an idea about how your acrylic bracing could work - ill see if i can draw it up.

[dipan]

If there was wood under the top frame then the light couldn't get from the single fixture on top of the top tank to the bottom one ... I was mainly trying to be light frugal and stacking the tanks to avoid having to setup another light setup ...

[dipan]

If there was wood under the top frame then the light couldn't get from the single fixture on top of the top tank to the bottom one ... I was mainly trying to be light frugal and stacking the tanks to avoid having to setup another light setup ...

Ace, what was your idea for stacking the tanks? Would the light be able to pass through the floor of the upper tank?

[hobogato]

i just meant that you could put a 2x4 framework under the top tank - there would still be spaces for the light to pass thru the bottom.