Design for 45 Gal L -shaped Glass Tank

[Marsha Finley]

Folks:
I just bought a 1988 vintage glass L-shaped tank. Outside measurements are: Left leg is short at 30", Right leg at 36", depth is 12 1/2", and height is 16". Form the front, it’s essentially like aquascaping a 12 ½ x 16 high ”cube in the corner, an 18” x 16” left side, and a 24” X 16 “ right side, with both sides being 12 ½ “ deep. I want to do this as a South American tank, to combine a 20H and a 20L that I already had.
I figure it will take about a month to:
1) Test it for water-tightness. It has not been set up for about 10 years AND it has a silicone splice in the BOTTOM. Ever heard of such a thing?
2) Refurbish & light. Build appropriate braces for front corner to back sides. Cut Versa-tops to fit remaining openings. Obtain square glass for over corner. Get lights for 30” and 24” tops. Wire brush & Rustoleum the very heavy-duty cast iron frame. Cut and paint fit shelving for bottom rack.
3) Rearrange my living room to free up the corner I have in mind for this tank.
I’ll be picking it up this Monday evening, and setting it up in my basement for the project portion. I will be grateful for any and all input, and whoever wants to look at this is welcome to stop by. I’ll also post before, during and after pictures. On this one, please, give me all your comments & suggestions!

[Archie]

do you mean you are continuing with the SA theme that's in your 20H and 20L? or, are you going to do something else? my only suggestion would be to probably put the heater in the corner of the "L" since it will be out of direct view. I am sure G will give you some good advice, as well as the others, but I think this L-shape will be difficult to aquascape with a "smoothe" feel. by this i mean that the sharp angle where the 2 legs meet will make a transition difficult...unless you have essentially 2 aquascapes. Personally, i think the trouble with these odd-shaped tanks, including hex's, is determining which perspective the observer will take when viewing the tank. ideally you want the best view of the tank without having to get up and move to see the other view. can't wait to see it!<edited><editID>Archie</editID><editDate>37976.1858912037</editDate></edited>

[Marsha Finley]

Yes, Archie. i want to take 2 current SA's & put them together....

But, I just looked at al the Soth Asia stuff I've got,and maybe Ishould go that way instead. I even woke up with a design in mind... so I'll start drawing it up to see if it'll work!

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

Theres a picture of an L shaped tank in the most recent
issue of TFH. Interesting looking tank.
If you're going open top, what do you think about having tall emeresed growing swords in the 'joint',
with plants going down in height towards both ends.
Maybe some dtifwood sticking out of the water
where the swords are, with some terrestrail mosses
growing on it.

<img src="http://www.aquaticscape.com/offsite/Lshape.jpg" border="0">

[Martha]

Beautiful design, just what I had in my head for the design. Amazons wouldn't be too dense to block the flow from one side to the other. oooh, and look, I can post a reply today! Happy Holidays everyone, since this may be the only time I get to post! Martha

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

Choose a nice species of Echindorus - not just the
plain jane Amazon sword. Something that will have
just stems below water and nice leaves above....

I wonder if Tropica Marble Queen will work...
Its got nice varigated leaves when its grown emersed.

[Marsha Finley]

UmmUmmmm! Good!
Yep - a varigated one would do nicely!
The tank hasn'theld water in over 10 years, and has a silicone joint IN THE BOTTOM! So, I'm going to work on the stand first, and wait till spring to fill with water, in case it blows! I want to do this one on the back porch, not in my basement!

[Marsha Finley]

GG;

In the Jan TFH? Where?

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

Doh! I meant AFM...and I think its the Feb issue.