nano reef ventilation and access question / cross-post

[easily_fishstracted]

I'm cross-posting this from my assembly thread in nano aquariums, in case anyone can help with this query:

So there are some serious questions now about placement and whether this tank can fit in our apartment, which is not exactly tiny, but just doesn't have a good place for the tank, even a nano.

We have one niche that would make an interesting location - we have been using it as a makeshift coat rack and parking spot for toddler vehicles. We are concerned about the ventilation issue and the potential for mold to develop, as well as the lack of easy access to the back of the tank once it's full.

I would really appreciate any comments on these questions - ventilation and access - given the size and location of the niche, as well as potential ideas to mitigate issues. Pics below...

Thanks!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

With it being open in front (No door), I'm thinking it would be fine. I'll tag #reefsquad to see if maybe someone can give you a better answer than I can. I doubt a nano like that is going to give off enough evaporation to cause any concern.

 

[Brew12]

With it being open in front (No door), I'm thinking it would be fine. I'll tag #reefsquad to see if maybe someone can give you a better answer than I can. I doubt a nano like that is going to give off enough evaporation to cause any concern.

Agree that you should be just fine as far as moisture goes. I'm not familiar enough with the RedSea tanks to know how important rear access is but I doubt it matters much. Most of us can't easily access the back of our tanks.

 

[Crabs McJones]

With it being open in front (No door), I'm thinking it would be fine. I'll tag #reefsquad to see if maybe someone can give you a better answer than I can. I doubt a nano like that is going to give off enough evaporation to cause any concern.

I would agree with @mdbannister if its open front, you should be able to access everything you need assuming the plumbing runs through the bottom of the tank . And it looks like theres enough of a gap that if you ever need to reach around to the back of the tank you would be able to.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

I also have a nano in an apartment and I find that I prefer to be able to access the tank from all sides. While I don't think you'll have many issues with the tank itself in that placement, it may make regular maintenance a little difficult. As for your concern about mold, it is always a possibility if the area is not well ventilated and water escapes regularly. In my opinion, if you have a vent near by and make sure to keep that back space clean, then you should be fine.

 

[Diesel]

I agree as the experts stated that ventilation is A+.
As far that the tank is placed between two walls I'm more concerned about splash in the walls and the salt creep on the side glass.
There is some space to maybe clean that.
That said everything whatvis in the side glass you can see as reflection through the front.
As far if access fircthe back you don't have to worry with the Redsea nano max as everything is done through the back panel of the tank.
You have no outside plumbing.

 

[kireek]

It is possible that the side walls of the closet may develop some softening issues do to salt creep.I presume the unit has a well fitted lid though.Clean up after a accidental overflow might be difficult.Other than that I would suggest investing in a nice step ladder to help with access and viewing.

 

[K. Steven]

As long as there is an outlet there...

 

[easily_fishstracted]

thanks for these great comments - very helpful and really encouraging to know there is such a cool community here willing to help guide the inexperienced!

a colleague of mine suggested also that the evaporation might not be such a big deal.

to give some context, i think this is really the only acceptable location in the house for the tank and if i can't make this work i'm going to have to get rid of it. to give you an idea of the excitement level, my wife's exact words were: "just send it all back and pretend this never happened". the really only other alternative seems to be my 3-year-old son's room, and this i think would be a terrible idea.

so will try to make it work!

the RSR series is plumbed through the bottom of the tank so from-behind access not a dealbreaker, and if i scoot the tank a bit to one side to make room for a slim side cabinet (for ATO reservoir or computer) there is more room for reaching behind. will put a shelf at about the point where the bar is now, so won't be quite as open as it looks now.

the apartment itself is not really well ventilated to be honest. it is an renovated apartment in an old (i.e. pre-1900) building in central vienna. it would have been well-ventilated in the old days but with the new windows and doors, designed to reduce heating costs, we have to ventilate ourselves by regularly opening windows and doors to get in bursts of fresh air. We do get some cross-breezes in the summer when windows are regularly open, but will have to watch things in the winter. on the positive side, the ceilings are like 12 feet high, and there is a false ceiling with vents - i guess to allow the heat from the ceiling lighting to dissipate - so this should help. also thanks to the high ceilings we are more than set with ladders.

there is a single (!) electricity outlet, which is not in the space itself but next to it (you can see it on the first image). i was planning on running an extension cord along the wall in a channel to a powerbar 5.1 behind the aquarium, into which would be plugged:

1. kessil a160we
2. syncra silent 2.0
3. mp10qd
4. bubble magus 3.5
5. eheim jäger 100w heater
6. profilux 4

i still have a tunze osmolator and a tiny sicce voyager nano that i was planning to keep water moving in the sump, so may still add a battery back-up and then split from there. i'm not super keen on splitting prior to the PB 5.1 but may have to.

there is no cover for the RSR - it's a rimless tank. i was planning on getting the RSR DIY-ish screen cover, however - would this help with splashing thanks to the rim? or would it be better to get rim guards instead?

 

[kireek]

As long as there is an outlet there...

Excellent point,lol.

thanks for these great comments - very helpful and really encouraging to know there is such a cool community here willing to help guide the inexperienced!

a colleague of mine suggested also that the evaporation might not be such a big deal.

to give some context, i think this is really the only acceptable location in the house for the tank and if i can't make this work i'm going to have to get rid of it. to give you an idea of the excitement level, my wife's exact words were: "just send it all back and pretend this never happened". the really only other alternative seems to be my 3-year-old son's room, and this i think would be a terrible idea.

so will try to make it work!

the RSR series is plumbed through the bottom of the tank so from-behind access not a dealbreaker, and if i scoot the tank a bit to one side to make room for a slim side cabinet (for ATO reservoir or computer) there is more room for reaching behind. will put a shelf at about the point where the bar is now, so won't be quite as open as it looks now.

the apartment itself is not really well ventilated to be honest. it is an renovated apartment in an old (i.e. pre-1900) building in central vienna. it would have been well-ventilated in the old days but with the new windows and doors, designed to reduce heating costs, we have to ventilate ourselves by regularly opening windows and doors to get in bursts of fresh air. We do get some cross-breezes in the summer when windows are regularly open, but will have to watch things in the winter. on the positive side, the ceilings are like 12 feet high, and there is a false ceiling with vents - i guess to allow the heat from the ceiling lighting to dissipate - so this should help. also thanks to the high ceilings we are more than set with ladders.

there is a single (!) electricity outlet, which is not in the space itself but next to it (you can see it on the first image). i was planning on running an extension cord along the wall in a channel to a powerbar 5.1 behind the aquarium, into which would be plugged:

1. kessil a160we
2. syncra silent 2.0
3. mp10qd
4. bubble magus 3.5
5. eheim jäger 100w heater
6. profilux 4

i still have a tunze osmolator and a tiny sicce voyager nano that i was planning to keep water moving in the sump, so may still add a battery back-up and then split from there. i'm not super keen on splitting prior to the PB 5.1 but may have to.

there is no cover for the RSR - it's a rimless tank. i was planning on getting the RSR DIY-ish screen cover, however - would this help with splashing thanks to the rim? or would it be better to get rim guards instead?

I would definitely go with some rim guards or a high tech sheet of glass.That said,a child's room is a nice place to have a tank.Provided the power cords and any buttons are completely inaccessible.All my children have learned how to behave around aquariums.Most of the time.Proper adult supervision is always advised.

 

[don_chuwish]

Now I feel bad for raising the concern in your other thread! It's fine where it is, especially if that's the best location you can find.