Plans to build a tank into wall?

[Dangerous Darla]

Can anyone recommend any good websites on how to build a tank into a wall? We may be having a house built, and I would like to build a 75g reef tank into our living room wall in some shelving next to the fireplace. I'd like to have the backside of the tank accessible from the bedroom that shares the wall with the living room (through cupboard doors in the wall of the bedroom). Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[shpinxman1_1906]

I am working on a similar project for my new house. My tank will be housed in the utility room and show into the living room. I have seen some websites where people have done it. I'll try to dig them up later.

Since I am doing my own drafting for my house plans, I will send you the elevations of what I am thinking of doing. I will hopefully finish up the drafting this weekend and will post the drawings for you to take a look at.
Maybe this will help both of us.

Well, your post has inspired me to get back to work and stop goofing off on the internet :roll:

See ya....

[shpinxman1_1906]

Well, here is my plan.

The last drawing shows the wall in the living room where the tank will be located.

The next drawing is a section through the wall where the tank will sit. The wall that I am installing in is load bearing, so some of this may or may not apply to your situation. The framing for the opening of the tank is much like the framing for a window in an exterior wall. There is a header on the top of the tank opening, this is made from 2-2x10's or 2x12's sandwiched together along with 1/2" plywood. The front of the tank sits on the "sill" and is supported by the 2x4 stud wall below. The header acts to transfer the load from the 2x4's above to the bottom plate. The back of the tank sits on a stand that can be made by the manufacturer of your tank or you could make one yourself (this may void your tank warranty :twisted: ).

The first drawing show the rear view of the tank. I am planning for my tank to be located in the utility room, so it's very plain and basic, but I am sure you could build yours into a cabinet. 8)

BTW...
You may want to make the header above the tank as long as the biggest tank you may want to get, that way if you ever want to upgrade, the supports are already in place. :wink:

Hope this helps. If anyone sees any major flaws, please let me know. This is the first drawings for my tank setup, so I may be missing something important. :oops: Man...I put the pictures in the wrong order.

[Fiji Live Rock]

Very nice.

Are you using a CAD program or something else?

[shpinxman1_1906]

Thanks,

I use AutoCAD 2000 for my architectural drawings. I have played with 3D Studio for some rendering, but haven't had time to use it for any of this stuff.

At work I use Mechanical Desktop and Inventor.

[Dangerous Darla]

Thank you so much! :)

[dochoot]

I am also in the planning stages of building a house with a tank in the wall. Mine is to be in a finished basement to be seen on 3 sides. I plan on running pipes to a small room under the stairs for sump/fuge etc. Do you have to worry about the salt water humidity getting into the drywall? ie should everything be coated with marine paint on the inside? :lol:

[TheDogofWar]

I am also in the planning stages of building a house with a tank in the wall. Mine is to be in a finished basement to be seen on 3 sides. I plan on running pipes to a small room under the stairs for sump/fuge etc. Do you have to worry about the salt water humidity getting into the drywall? ie should everything be coated with marine paint on the inside? :lol:

Use the greenboard. it's whats recommended for bathrooms and other high moisture areas.

[salty dragon]

Here are two links that should help out. Someone needs to do a sticky about installing tanks into walls since it comes up so much. Also if you hit the link on my signature it has some info about how I put my 180 into the wall. I hope this helps.
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/MICHELSONAquarium.html
http://reeflounge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7229

[EvlMind]

Hello everyone. I am new to this board and new to this hobby. I have just finished installing my 55 gallon fish tank in my finished basement ( also my room) for the past two weeks. Few mistakes and had to start over but the outcome is great. I tore down my whole wall and replaced it with green board and i would suggest you do same. Just wanted to post and very excited about this hobby. :)