Modify a cabinet....

[Knightmare]

Guys, need advice here, currently my cabinet for my 4ft tank is design with three compartment which forbid me from putting a sump, see pic, intend to modify the cabinet by making a kind hole on either 1 of the center divider so i can put a sump. Will the cabinet be able to support the weight if i were to remove either 1 of the divider. Thanks.

[Tanzy]

What are the partitions made of?

[typrobin]

dun think it is advisable....

if u really need to do it, u might wanna consider making a metal stand to support your tank's weight....

[Knightmare]

not sure what it made of... will consider bout the metal support

[Tanzy]

How do you intend to cut through something when you don't know what material it is made of?

Is it plywood or solid wood? Is it hollow?

[rainbowdarter]

How do you intend to cut through something when you don't know what material it is made of?

Is it plywood or solid wood? Is it hollow?

Yup, I agree ....plst tell us complete info about the cabinet.

The partition how thick? Is it hollow at the middle but solid at the side?

You can know thru the sound produce by knocking the partition surface at centre and sides.

[Knightmare]

its a solid wood.... look like i have to settle for canister then thks guy

[moron_clown]

it can be done.just add supporting wood columns on the four sides of the tank and some bracings on the underside as well as the front center portion.look at those cabinets for marine fish tanks..u should noe what i mean.

[blueheaven]

maybe you can drill holes and try sump and a separate refugium

[Knightmare]

maybe you can drill holes and try sump and a separate refugium

Have that idea but not sure how it can be done. I've tried explaining to my LFS but he catch no ball . Any pic to show?

[rockfish]

hey bro,

never never remove the partition unless u have a way to support the middle.

my new tank cracked becos i believed that it doesn't need to.

Ended up, the center too weak, the tank cracked rite in the middle.

maybe u can replace the parition with a column to support the weight.

[Navyblue]

Got an idea that may or may not work.

As you have 3 compartments, use 3 tanks and put a tank in each compartment, preferbly same height tanks.

Drill a hole through the divider near the top, and connect the adjacent tanks with one or more siphon tubes. this way you can make the water level in 3 tanks almost the same. The 3 tanks will be 3 "compartments". Make sure that the tubes outlet and inlet are always under water, or else the siphon will break and you will have flood. Prevent all possibility of bubble formation as it will break the siphon. And to be safe place the skimmer in the last tank

The problem is the flowrate of the siphon might be too slow to get the water accross. But you can use a weaker return pump and more siphon tubes to compensate. And to play safe fill the sump only half full.

Good luck.

[bwilly]

suggest not too..

your center support is enduring the weight of your tank..

its damn heavy..

the cabinet may slope inwards if u remove the stand.

[Navyblue]

Ooops sorry... My idea has already been said by Blueheaven...