Marineland 60G Cube - Bad design

[Wes]

Going out the back allows the use of that tiny overflow that hardly takes up any space.

Space inside the tank is more valuable than space behind the tank IMO. The "normal" marineland overflows are pretty large.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

I understand that. Just that the tank is not made to go flush against a wall.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Do you think running pipes next to the boiler is a bad idea? I do not think it will melt the pipes but it could add allot of heat to the tank.

 

[Wes]

Its hard to say.

If heat becomes an issue moving them away may help.

If heat is not an issue it could save you money because your tank heater would come on less often.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Its hard to say.

If heat becomes an issue moving them away may help.

If heat is not an issue it could save you money because your tank heater would come on less often.

If I put the pipes through the wall - I am not moving the boiler if it heats up the pipes. The boiler is right behind the wall where the tank is going. The pipes would be less than a foot away from the boiler.

 

[Tim]

Why do you have to go through the wall? Just cut a channel on the one side and slide the tank up to the inside of the sheetrock that is in the boiler room.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

The boiler room is not finished. bare studs on the other side of the wall. I would need to cut exact fit holes that just the pipes squeeze into and find a way to seal the wall so the light from the boiler room does not shine through. I also need to find a way to seal the cut sheetrock in case of water drips so it does not destroy the wall.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

Do you think running pipes next to the boiler is a bad idea? I do not think it will melt the pipes but it could add allot of heat to the tank.

try putting a thermometer approximately where the pipes would be.....it may give you an idea if heat would be a problem.
personally i don't think that will be much of an issue. i have a 44 gal. salt water mixing tank and a 44 gal. storage tank in my boiler room and i still have to use the heaters to keep the water at 79 degree. the ambient temp in my boiler room is about 76 degree. i think it's only about 12'x10'.....has a 75 gal. water heater and a boiler big enough for a 4500sf 4 zones living space.

 

[125reefer]

just get another tank if your not happy.one thing in this hobby is to be happy not to be just satisfied.i think it would look like crap if its not done right.if you are going to keep it dont cut holes in the wall,build something around the tank to cover up the pipe.use brackets to hold the wood to the tank.it will make it look like an extension to the tank.i personally hate the look of drilled tank in the back.

 

[Wes]

This all sounds like alot of work just to get the tank close to the wall.

I keep my tanks 4-5 inches off the wall for ease of maintenance...

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

If there was not a clear shot of the side of the tank I would not care about it being 4-5 inches off the wall.. But looking directly at the side of the tank when you walk in my front door and seeing the plumbing mess is the problem.

There is no other 60G Cube that is bottom drilled that is not custom made. Plus this tank has been opened and the LFS will not take it back. I guess I could put it in the yard and have target practice,

 

[lfsmarineguy]

this isn't a Mars mission, just pop the holes in the wall, foam them to seal them, wrap the pipes with insulation if you're nervous about the heat and post a pic of your tank flush against the wall. It's maybe a 30 minute job at this point. You could have water in it tomorrow.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

this isn't a Mars mission, just pop the holes in the wall, foam them to seal them, wrap the pipes with insulation if you're nervous about the heat and post a pic of your tank flush against the wall. It's maybe a 30 minute job at this point. You could have water in it tomorrow.

I think I am going to try this. Water wont be in for a few days though. I have a bunch of questions on that - will start a new thread on migration of the tank.

 

[lfsmarineguy]

2 holes ( one at the top and one at the bottom) should be enough and just make sure you use unions at both points for maintenance and ease of moving in the future.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Actually 2 holes on top and 2 holes on the bottom.

 

[Wes]

Why 4 holes?

Make sure you leave at least a couple inches for powerhead magnets, etc.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

Supply into the wall
Supply from the wall to the sump
Return into the wall
Return from the wall to the sump

 

[Wes]

Ok now I follow

 

[125reefer]

just make sure no one can bump into it on the other side of the wall or else.CRACK

 

[Tim]

You could put a piece of sheetrock on the studs in the boiler room where the tank is after you are done placing the pipes in the space that you cut out.