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In-Wall Aquariums
- Thread starter reefkeep1
- Start date
Well, I'm doing it and it will be very nice, with proper planning. Besides that, I will have a room behind the tank for maintenance. That is the biggest advantage in my book...not having to carry buckets of water or retrofit new plumbing to accommodate the tank. So, the set up is ideal, I just haven't decided on how to make it more appealing aside from just putting a picture frame around it.
I don't really have a good reason, I just have heard many many horror stories.
Tanks don't often turn out to be as permanent as you think they will be, and then you are left with a big hole in your wall. It can affect the resale value of the house as well.
But if you are a contractor and have the expertise to plan part of the house around the tank (and remove it when the time comes to sell it), it may not be too bad of an idea. I was mainly refering to the people who go: "You know honey, if we knocked out a chunk of that wall, we could build a big fish tank right into the wall like we saw on the TV!"
But turning the rear of the tank into a fish room area with drainage and sink would probably work.
Tanks don't often turn out to be as permanent as you think they will be, and then you are left with a big hole in your wall. It can affect the resale value of the house as well.
But if you are a contractor and have the expertise to plan part of the house around the tank (and remove it when the time comes to sell it), it may not be too bad of an idea. I was mainly refering to the people who go: "You know honey, if we knocked out a chunk of that wall, we could build a big fish tank right into the wall like we saw on the TV!"
But turning the rear of the tank into a fish room area with drainage and sink would probably work.
reefkeep1,
I can give you first hand why and why not to. I have a 90g in-wall. My situation is i have a closet thats wall side to my living room. Here are some pros and cons on my setup.
Pros -
1. Attractive
2. Everything is hidden.
3. Quiet - skimmer and return are almost dead quiet, overflow pipe can get noisy when water level is low. The noisiest it gets is when Durso isn't level.
4. I like being able to work from the back.
5. Lighting is hidden
5. It has 2 folding doors which double as blue background, looks great.
Cons-
1. Since it is in a closet heat is a issue since i haven't gotten around to venting it properly, the winter it's nice and steady. Summer gets warm, 85 on hot days.
2. Room wise, i have just enough room for 1 55 g rubbermaid and a 1 55g standard tank. Really plenty but i want more volume.
2. If i have to work on the tank i had to install pulleys to raise the canopy. If it's major clean i have to remove the canopy totally. .
3. Ballast sits in the closet. Will be moving it to the attic right above. Heat issue.
4. Have no room for shelves anymore so needed to find a home for test kits yadda yadda.
What i would do next time if i had the space make a fish room dedicated only to the tank and wall mount it. But not in a closet. It works for me but i have some things to do. I'll add more if i think of anything else.
JoeW
_________________
Crack Rehab Forum
I can give you first hand why and why not to. I have a 90g in-wall. My situation is i have a closet thats wall side to my living room. Here are some pros and cons on my setup.
Pros -
1. Attractive
2. Everything is hidden.
3. Quiet - skimmer and return are almost dead quiet, overflow pipe can get noisy when water level is low. The noisiest it gets is when Durso isn't level.
4. I like being able to work from the back.
5. Lighting is hidden
5. It has 2 folding doors which double as blue background, looks great.
Cons-
1. Since it is in a closet heat is a issue since i haven't gotten around to venting it properly, the winter it's nice and steady. Summer gets warm, 85 on hot days.
2. Room wise, i have just enough room for 1 55 g rubbermaid and a 1 55g standard tank. Really plenty but i want more volume.
2. If i have to work on the tank i had to install pulleys to raise the canopy. If it's major clean i have to remove the canopy totally. .
3. Ballast sits in the closet. Will be moving it to the attic right above. Heat issue.
4. Have no room for shelves anymore so needed to find a home for test kits yadda yadda.
What i would do next time if i had the space make a fish room dedicated only to the tank and wall mount it. But not in a closet. It works for me but i have some things to do. I'll add more if i think of anything else.
JoeW
_________________
Crack Rehab Forum
Whatever you will do besides necessary plumbing and electricals, make sure you have things listed below,
1. a good ventilation/cooling system
2. a sloped floor with drain abd antislip mats.
3. Plenty of room to work around
4. A door that leads to the yard.
1. a good ventilation/cooling system
2. a sloped floor with drain abd antislip mats.
3. Plenty of room to work around
4. A door that leads to the yard.
I would look in to adding a 4-6 lip all the way around the room made of conrcete to catch any spills( think shower pan)with a central drain. also you will need to protect the dry wall. rather that be by a heavy duty vapor barrier, chemical( paint, shalack...) or something like green board or the metal walls they use in bathrooms. Ventalation is also something that can not forgoten. I would also make sure that there is plenty of room to work on the tank.
Good luck...... and be really nice to the inspector.....
Good luck...... and be really nice to the inspector.....
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