Question on building aquarium in wall

[basssnake]

My carpenter and i are building a 150 gallon tall(48"x24"x31"tall) into my kitchen wall. The tank will be sitting in a side porch. The floor that the tank stand(building the stand custom ourself)will be sitting on is concrete. I originally wanted to have the front of the tank sitting on the bottom wood frame in the opening in the wall, but my carpenter thinks that it is possible that the concrete floor in the room that the tank will be sitting in could shift a little at times(due to moisture and dryness in the ground below) and that we shouldn't have the front of the tank sitting directly on the frame in the wall.

We are wanting to know if it would be hard on the tank if the front of the tank is hanging over the framing with no support in the front of the tank? In other words it would be hanging over it with a gap under the front of the tank. The tank would have full support on both sides(besides four inches on the sides and the front would be hanging over the framing in the opening) and the back. I need to know if this will stress the tank not having a support board holding the front and the four inches on the side. We need to know as soon as someone can respond. The only other thing we can do is set the tank completely in the room and not be sitting in the opening at all, but i think the tank would look better if it is sitting flush with the interior wall(the show side).

thanks for any help.

[basssnake]

Anyone have any input??

[brad7373]

well heres the thing that i have learned. i have done this with my 36 gallon corner nano reef on a night table in my bedroom it sticks over the back by like 6inches id say. but that plastic lining around the tank is used to help support the weight. within the 5months that tank has been setup there hasnt been any problems but from what i hear at my LFS it can crack more easily over time witch makes perfect sense because your putting more pressure on certain spots on the bottom glass than balancing it equally along the border. but hey if u want go for it im just a 16year old kid trying to give u some help.

[rj ripetide]

I have built a few larger set ups into walls....I suggest to build the top of stand out of plywood with it just flush with the wall of display front. This way the whole tank is supported. I always leave some extra stand top toward the back of the tank for a shelf to set stuff on while doing maintenance and feedings. Also use some of that blue or pink insulation form board that's about 1/2 inch thick. This will help cushion the tank and sort of self leveling to a point, not saying that the stand needs to be as level as possible. Put some nice trim on the wall to frame the tank and it looks like a live picture on your wall.
I hope this helps...
Rj

[basssnake]

So, you mean i need to use the plywood and put the tank sitting into the wall so that it is flush with the display wall? Or do you mean just put it flush against the wall on the side with the tank? If you mean the first, is it ok to have the tank front only being supported by the plywood? We already built the stand this morning, but we could maybe add the plywood to the top if it was only 1/2 inch or so. But if you meant to have the tank flush with the display wall, then about 4 inches of the tank(including the whole front)would only be sitting on the plywood. Otherwise, we was just going to have the tank sitting up to the wall of the tank side and frame in the wall opening to look sorta like a window opening(look like you are looking out a window into the ocean). Please reply, thanks

[Arati]

I would say you need to support to entier tank properly, and if you want to make the top hang past the framing alittle bit you should use a hard wood, that is more ridgid than plywood.

my window tank hangs 3" past the wall and I used a 5/4 skirt to add some support. I made the Sill .. the top out of stiar treads from homedepot. My tank is only 36 gal but being that it hangs out it is always suspect to me I constantly check to see it its tipping, so far so good

[Veni vidi vici]

.25" piece of steel plate same size of tank,sitting underneath should take care of you cantilever worries. Or even a 4"x length of tank ,piece of angle iron bolted to wall.

[chrismhaase]

Here is some ideas of how we did an in wall http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...readid=1324926

[rj ripetide]

I have built a few larger set ups into walls....I suggest to build the top of stand out of plywood with it just flush with the wall of display front. This way the whole tank is supported. I always leave some extra stand top toward the back of the tank for a shelf to set stuff on while doing maintenance and feedings. Also use some of that blue or pink insulation form board that's about 1/2 inch thick. This will help cushion the tank and sort of self leveling to a point, not saying that the stand needs to be as level as possible. Put some nice trim on the wall to frame the tank and it looks like a live picture on your wall.
I hope this helps...
Rj

[YankyTexan]

For what it is worth,

last year we built a new home and enclosed the exact same size tank in a in-wall setup viewable from both sides. Our tank is glass and has a rim on top and bottom. If your proposed tank is glass with a rim I would encourage you to support the entire perimeter in a consistent manner. From what I gather from your OP the foundation of your porch and house are different. I would not recommend supporting the perimeter of your tank via two different foundations.

It is difficult to make further suggestions without fully understanding the two types of foundations being utilized (ie. pier/beam, slab on grade, basement etc.). Without further clarification I'd follow your carpenter's advice.

Finally, what do you plan to keep in the tank? Ours is FOWLR and is a royal PIA to work in. I am 6'2" and have a heck of a time working in the lower regions. If I was going to do it again I would never buy this particular dimensioned tank again. Live and learn.

Good luck.

[timnnell]

I was a framer for many years and I would recommend using a moisture barrier (visqueen) on the concrete floor and on the inside portion of the walls. I would also support the entire tank as a cantilever with the tank would put alot of stress on the glass and that could lead to a catastrophic failure. Also I would change out all the drywall to green board around the tank. I would actually use cementous board around the tank but that is much more difficult to finish and paint. Hope this help out.

[Veni vidi vici]

Say these 2 words to your carpenter "BRICK LINTEl"

[hebygb]

I would reassess your build to include a stand that sits on only one foundation and is fully supported by the stand under the entire perimeter. There is a big difference between a 36 gallon and a 150 in terms of stresses and weight. Perhaps you can alcove the wall 4" making it flush with the cement floor. This way your tank can be on a proper stand all on the cement floor. Where in KS are you... I am in KC.

[basssnake]

Hebygb, I'm in fort scott. Just south of you. I am going to make this a reef tank with corals and live rock and fish of course. I do agree this tank maybe a pain in the but to work in with the height and the fact is sitting very high off the ground. We ended up building a stank that sits level with the floor(concrete pad)in the porch. It is built out of 4x4 and 2x4's. It is a lot stouter than the original stand. We built the stand with the tank sitting completely on the stand and is sitting up against the wall and we framed the opening in the wall. It looks fine and not as much worry's on the tank not having support. I think it will be ok. Anyone disagree?

[basssnake]

sorry about all the typo's, lol......

[geraldwhite]

Check here, I think he did something like what your talking about with the over hang.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...5&pagenumber=5