Hello again.
I thought I would continue with my small NYC apartment theme and as some fellow apartment dwellers dealing with their main tanks, Q-tanks, frag tanks, refugiums and g*d forbid, another type of tank.
Now for those of you with wonderfully vast and spaceous houses, this might not be applicable, but those in 400-1000 sq. ft. NYC apartments like me, space management is a real issue (unless you run your apt like some sort of fish labatory - and there is NOTHING wrong with that).
So, here are some of my thoughts regarding tanks in small apartments:
1. Place the tank in less used spaces, such as the foyer, kitchen or even bathroom.
A tank in the bathroom? Sure, why not if there is enough space. I figure that this actually might be a good place for a Q-tank given that it probably is a low traffic area and quiet and dark.
The foyer gets traffic, but often is one of the emptier spaces I see in many apartments. Why let this space go wasted? But the biggest drawback might be that the tank may not be very visable from the apartment living area.
Finally, the kitchen... now most NYC kitchens are small enough, but often there is some space at times between the kitchen and the rest of the apartment. As long as the tank isn't going to be around heat sources or flying pots and pans, it should be safe. Though ambient heat from cooking might be a concern as well.
2. Use the tank, if it is big enough, as a room divider.
Often it is very difficult to separate rooms in a 1-bedroom apartment, but I think this is one of the best functions of a tank - as long as it can be viewed from both sides (which can be an issue given the plumbing of many tanks).
I am hoping to find a loft-like apartment and plan to use a large tank to separate my bed from the rest of the apartment. The one main concern that might exist (beyond plumbing) is placing a large tank in the middle of a room parallel with the floors main joists.
3. Use a close-by walk-in closet to keep a tank or even a sump.
Storage space is a precious commodity but this is one of the few places - other than in the stand) where a tank can be "hidden". If you can get away with it (read: your landlord won't kill you), maybe the wall could be drilled so the tank can be piped and powered while keeping the closet door closed. I would love to hear if anyone has actually done this.
Ok. There are some of my hair-brained ideas... I would love to hear yours and about your experiences with tank space management.
Take care.
I thought I would continue with my small NYC apartment theme and as some fellow apartment dwellers dealing with their main tanks, Q-tanks, frag tanks, refugiums and g*d forbid, another type of tank.
Now for those of you with wonderfully vast and spaceous houses, this might not be applicable, but those in 400-1000 sq. ft. NYC apartments like me, space management is a real issue (unless you run your apt like some sort of fish labatory - and there is NOTHING wrong with that).
So, here are some of my thoughts regarding tanks in small apartments:
1. Place the tank in less used spaces, such as the foyer, kitchen or even bathroom.
A tank in the bathroom? Sure, why not if there is enough space. I figure that this actually might be a good place for a Q-tank given that it probably is a low traffic area and quiet and dark.
The foyer gets traffic, but often is one of the emptier spaces I see in many apartments. Why let this space go wasted? But the biggest drawback might be that the tank may not be very visable from the apartment living area.
Finally, the kitchen... now most NYC kitchens are small enough, but often there is some space at times between the kitchen and the rest of the apartment. As long as the tank isn't going to be around heat sources or flying pots and pans, it should be safe. Though ambient heat from cooking might be a concern as well.
2. Use the tank, if it is big enough, as a room divider.
Often it is very difficult to separate rooms in a 1-bedroom apartment, but I think this is one of the best functions of a tank - as long as it can be viewed from both sides (which can be an issue given the plumbing of many tanks).
I am hoping to find a loft-like apartment and plan to use a large tank to separate my bed from the rest of the apartment. The one main concern that might exist (beyond plumbing) is placing a large tank in the middle of a room parallel with the floors main joists.
3. Use a close-by walk-in closet to keep a tank or even a sump.
Storage space is a precious commodity but this is one of the few places - other than in the stand) where a tank can be "hidden". If you can get away with it (read: your landlord won't kill you), maybe the wall could be drilled so the tank can be piped and powered while keeping the closet door closed. I would love to hear if anyone has actually done this.
Ok. There are some of my hair-brained ideas... I would love to hear yours and about your experiences with tank space management.
Take care.
