What's the minimum amount of space under tank I can get by with?

Prawn Star · 02/09/2015, 08:41 PM

Hello,
My first choice for new reef tank placement is underneath a wall hung tv, leaving me with about 48" of vertical space. Tank is 23" tall and hood cabinet will prob be about 8-10" tall which would leave me roughly 16" underneath the tank. Also, I can get about 8-10" of usable space behind the tank.

Will that be enough space for all my necessary equipment to run a reef tank? Not at all opposed to some DIY equipment modified for height requirements, if that's a possibility. Tank is 48x23x13 @55g.

Thanks

jrr98002 · 02/09/2015, 08:46 PM

It's possible that could work, but you're really going to need to check hard on the height of your protein skimmer and any reactors you run in there, if any. I know my protein skimmer would be a tight fit in that small of a space, if it'd fit at all. That's also going to be a pretty shallow sump (assuming you're adding one) IMO.

m0nkie · 02/09/2015, 09:01 PM

measure your skimmer height + the space needed to remove skimmer neck. That usually takes up most room.

Reactors you can always buy small ones.

TangingOut · 02/09/2015, 09:30 PM

I'm sitting down right now and trying to imagine a tank that low. It wouldn't be very pleasant, at least to me. I have a typical cabinet that's 3' tall and tank is another 24". Wish my cabinet were another foot tall.

Breadman03 · 02/09/2015, 10:24 PM

Have you considered a basement sump?

meidinad · 02/09/2015, 10:40 PM

+1 on the basement sump. It would give you the most adaptability. Me personally, I try to get my tanks higher up. I HATE having to bend down to look into them. Just a personal thing but something to consider!

phenom5 · 02/10/2015, 07:16 AM

Personally, I wouldn't want to have the tank that low, or have a TV over it. With that said, no way I would want to only have 8-10" of usable space under the tank...not sure if you could make it work.

And even if you could make it work, I don't think you'd want to.

FraggledRock · 02/10/2015, 08:33 AM

I guess enough where you don't hate life when trying to do regular maintenance LOL

3FordFamily · 02/10/2015, 08:37 AM

The more the better. If you can almost reach the bottom with top open then you're good. If you're short that rule sucks. I am 6'1" so it's different for all of us

Reef Frog · 02/10/2015, 10:21 AM

I can foresee a few problems with a tank directly under the TV.

-it's best to run a tank & related equipment on a dedicated circuit for many reasons.

-Light from the tank could interfere with TV viewing.

-Tank noise & TV noise coming from the same direction could be a problem.

Just a few things to think about....

Prawn Star · 02/10/2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenom5

Personally, I wouldn't want to have the tank that low, or have a TV over it. With that said, no way I would want to only have 8-10" of usable space under the tank...not sure if you could make it work.

And even if you could make it work, I don't think you'd want to.

16" space underneath, 8+" behind....

I was waiting on the low set up idea to be brought up. Here's what I'm thinking. The tank would go in a...media room, we'll call it. Low seating everywhere, no standing much, except on the way to sit down. While sitting, eyeball height is, depending on your height, 40-48" from floor. I think it will be fine. Heck -I'm old enough to remember when TVs (main focal point of any living room) were in huge faux wood cabinets that sat on the floor, with bottom of tv screen maybe 6-8" off the floor, that was pretty much the norm back then..

Prawn Star · 02/10/2015, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breadman03

Have you considered a basement sump?

Great Idea! In fact, almost right under the area where I would like to have the reef tank, is a 20g tank mounted on a shelf in a wall about 3 feet below the ceiling. May have to snake through the wall to get to it. Not sure how wife would react to drilling hole/s through the hardwood floors...

Shaummy · 02/10/2015, 11:44 AM

I always wondered if the humid air that would likely be around the tank would cause any corrosion to the TV internals when it's hung above a tank? Heat from the tank/lights causing an upward flow of air towards the TV? Do you think it would cause issues?

Prawn Star · 02/16/2015, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaummy

I always wondered if the humid air that would likely be around the tank would cause any corrosion to the TV internals when it's hung above a tank? Heat from the tank/lights causing an upward flow of air towards the TV? Do you think it would cause issues?

That concerns me also. Had an idea of a side fan blowing moist air away from the electronics...well, it was my first choice of aquarium placement but things are working against me.

DasCamel · 02/16/2015, 11:27 PM

Pro advice, keep it away from electronics.

02/09/2015, 08:41 PM	#1
Prawn Star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Charleston/Folly Beach, SC Posts: 5	What's the minimum amount of space under tank I can get by with? Hello, My first choice for new reef tank placement is underneath a wall hung tv, leaving me with about 48" of vertical space. Tank is 23" tall and hood cabinet will prob be about 8-10" tall which would leave me roughly 16" underneath the tank. Also, I can get about 8-10" of usable space behind the tank. Will that be enough space for all my necessary equipment to run a reef tank? Not at all opposed to some DIY equipment modified for height requirements, if that's a possibility. Tank is 48x23x13 @55g. Thanks

02/09/2015, 09:01 PM	#3
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	measure your skimmer height + the space needed to remove skimmer neck. That usually takes up most room. Reactors you can always buy small ones. __________________ 560gal in the making

02/10/2015, 07:16 AM	#7
phenom5 Unregistered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,096	Personally, I wouldn't want to have the tank that low, or have a TV over it. With that said, no way I would want to only have 8-10" of usable space under the tank...not sure if you could make it work. And even if you could make it work, I don't think you'd want to. __________________ Rob Current Tank Info: DSA 155 Pro \| ATI Sunpower \| ATB 840 v2 \| Apex \| Wav

02/10/2015, 08:33 AM	#8
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	I guess enough where you don't hate life when trying to do regular maintenance LOL __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/10/2015, 11:44 AM	#13
Shaummy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 857	I always wondered if the humid air that would likely be around the tank would cause any corrosion to the TV internals when it's hung above a tank? Heat from the tank/lights causing an upward flow of air towards the TV? Do you think it would cause issues? __________________ Shaummy Current Tank Info: Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, hermits, snails,Lyretail Anthias,Orange back Fairy Wrasse,Blue Reef Chromis,small blue tang, Flame Hawk, Royal Gramma

02/09/2015, 08:46 PM	#2
jrr98002 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Little Rock Posts: 235	It's possible that could work, but you're really going to need to check hard on the height of your protein skimmer and any reactors you run in there, if any. I know my protein skimmer would be a tight fit in that small of a space, if it'd fit at all. That's also going to be a pretty shallow sump (assuming you're adding one) IMO.

02/09/2015, 09:30 PM	#4
TangingOut Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1,511	I'm sitting down right now and trying to imagine a tank that low. It wouldn't be very pleasant, at least to me. I have a typical cabinet that's 3' tall and tank is another 24". Wish my cabinet were another foot tall.

02/09/2015, 10:24 PM	#5
Breadman03 New Old School Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Luzerne County, PA Posts: 3,293	Have you considered a basement sump?

02/09/2015, 10:40 PM	#6
meidinad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 61	+1 on the basement sump. It would give you the most adaptability. Me personally, I try to get my tanks higher up. I HATE having to bend down to look into them. Just a personal thing but something to consider!

02/10/2015, 08:37 AM	#9
3FordFamily Registered Member. Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Fishers, Indiana (Indianapolis suburb) Posts: 488	The more the better. If you can almost reach the bottom with top open then you're good. If you're short that rule sucks. I am 6'1" so it's different for all of us

02/10/2015, 10:21 AM	#10
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	I can foresee a few problems with a tank directly under the TV. -it's best to run a tank & related equipment on a dedicated circuit for many reasons. -Light from the tank could interfere with TV viewing. -Tank noise & TV noise coming from the same direction could be a problem. Just a few things to think about....

02/16/2015, 11:27 PM	#15
DasCamel Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Kenmore, WA Posts: 1,542	Pro advice, keep it away from electronics. __________________ 375g DT 125g sump acrylic, Mixed SPS/LPS tank with anemones and fish. Current Tank Info: 375g Build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2608197