Lighting and Closed Loop

[doh]

I am still in the planning stages, but at least I have narrowed the tank down to a 72 G bow. I decided agains the 92G bow because of teh extra weight. While I am told that the 92G would still be ok for my main floor living room, I just wanted to play it safe. Now to my new questions/requests for input.

First, I was planning on going with the Aquaspacelight (2x250W MH and 2 PC actinics). I was going to hang it from the ceiling about 8" from the tank with the tank's top being open. I was wondering if the spillage of the light just above the tank (because there is no canopy) would irritate me in the long run. Bear in mind that the tank will be in the living room.

Secondly, I was planning to do a closed loop with a SCWD. Is it preferrable to drill the back of the tank for the intake/returns? Are there any disadvantages I should be aware of?

[Michael_Lambert]

Drilling the back would be fine, cant see any issues with it!

As for the light spillage, there will be alot , Halides get bright, so you would be looking at alot of light into the Room, As well as going with concept you will have to watch for jumping fish, where most who run the canopies have them mostly enclosed so the chances of the fish jumping out are narrower.. but having a totally open concept you chances are that much greater! .. not saying it will happen.. just watch what fish you buy.

[Sohal Tang]

Hi Doh.

If you look on BRAGGING RIGHTS posting you will see
my pics of my tank which is lit by suspended light fixture and
open top and the light does NOT bother at all....I hung the light
low enough on top of the 90 gallon and notta problem....
If anything it enhances the living room...

Also..I am NOT an expert but I obviously woud not be worried
about the weight of a 90 gallon on a living room floor..
I have kept 180 gallon on a living room floor in past.....
but..a 90 really should not be a problem as the weight is
distributed...If you really wanted a bigger tank then perhaps
get someone who confirm like a builder or engineer or whatever
that it would be ok...because really their will not be a heck of
alot of diff between a 72 gallon and a 90...only about 300lbs
difference or so.....is my guess....

a 90 gallon is not a big tank reallly...

just a recommendaton...but check with someone that knows
as you may regret not going bigger later....

Tim
:)

[little-reefer]

Doh:

Depends on where you place it on your tank, now comparing it to Tims tank it would be kinda hard becouse if im not mistaken he is only running 175 watt halides and Normal output actinics where the lighting you are looking to use is going to be that much brighter than his..

I guess what we can do here is ask other hobbyist to post shots of there open concept tanks with the room lights off and just the aquarium lights on to see what the lights accually look like!

[Sohal Tang]

wooops...yes you will be using significantly more light..
But..honestly I do not think it will bother you unless you
want a DIM living room...My tank does not light up the whole
room but gives it actually a very nice setting....
I think you will be ok....how big is the living room?
Tim
;)

[doh]

Thanks for all of your input. Sohal Tang, I noticed that your lights are pretty close to the tank. Does that create any heat problems for you? Now you guys have me going back and re-thinking my tank size. That is ok, I would rather spend the extra time at the beginning getting things just right.

Any other thoughts on the closed loop and drilling the tank for intakes and returns? Where, how many and what size? FWIW, I am still on the fence re DSB. I have been reading all the debate on RC and can't seem to decide. I may just go with a DSB in the sump and a thin layer of sand in the tank.

[Sohal Tang]

HEAT PROBLEM can be dealt with hopefully
with fans blowing on the water....right now I only have
2 fans one at each end of fixture and it CUTS IT but it
MIGHT NOT cut it if I had dual 250's.....I would likely have
to add a fan or two....and perhaps but not necessarily
raise the light slightly.....

trial and error possibly....would not know for sure till
tried it...

Tim
:)