Tank Design Opinions

[Glostik]

Im a few days away from placing an order for my 10ft long tank.

Its going to be 120x32x24. Made of acrylic, on a steel stand. Going with acrylic cause its lighter and much easier for me to customize how I want it.

This is going to be setup as a river tank for my clowns and other botias.

The main goal is to have all the water flowing one direction.

I'd like to see if anyone thinks there will be any complications or if i should adjust any hole sizes. Im also contemplating whether I really need the sides and bottom blacked out.

The Eheim Closed loops are 1" holes.

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[bslindgren]

Just curious - why not using Martin Thoene's river manifold design instead of drilled?

[Glostik]

This is similar to his river tank manifold, but I am eliminating all equipment from inside the tank.

I was planning on buying a large tank anyways, so why not incorporate the river tank manifold into it.

[janma]

I like the idea, hope to see pics of it when ready.

[chefkeith]

That is a really nice footprint for a loach tank.

You are in unchartered territory as far as I know. I'm not sure if that will give you one direction flow or not. I'd like to see if it works.

[Diana]

I would make sure the intakes are large enough (and numerous enough) that debris will not block them.
Are you making the entire right wall an intake grid sort of thing?

I have been thinking about doing this with a significantly smaller tank (45 gallons, 4' long) Very similar layout: Discharge manifold disguised at one end, several pipes hidden in rocks, and the outlet a similar manifold, also hidden in rocks, at the other end. I had thought to run a sump under the tank, though a canister (or two) sounds better.

[soul-hugger]

I'm sorry I can be of no help in this matter, but I'm just curious... does it seem less complicated after you've been involved in fishkeeping for awhile? I have read about such tanks before and seen pictures of them. Although I understand the basic concept of what you are trying to do and the reason for it, the mechanics are lost on me. I would love to learn how to understand a system like this and eventually build one for my loaches.

I hope everything goes smoothly for you and that it turns out excellent! I'm sure your loaches will be very happy in a home like this.
Good luck,
soul-hugger

[Glostik]

soul-hugger

It took a lot of reading and a lot of thinking to get to this. Also, building and design comes somewhat natural to me.

Over time i'm sure it will come to you.

Diana,

Im not too worried about any debris blocking the drains, The tank will be all wood and rock, no plants, cause all my botias tear them to pieces.

I'm going to try to put up a build log.

[Diana]

Glostik: Looking forward to following your progress!
soul-hugger: I have been in the landscape design and installation business for many years, and here in California that include irrigation, so the plumbing part if any job is very easy to visualize and build. The aquascape layout and construction details are easy to figure out and draw. The actual building takes time.
In general the more experience you have with aquariums, and with all sorts of trades the easier it is to plan and execute something like this.