in wall build... exterior design ideas?

glarior · 11/08/2012, 11:43 PM

I am in the middle of a in wall build to hold my 240g and 300g tanks. I ran into a snag

and will have to have the aquariums sit back 6" so they will no longer be a flush wall install.

I am looking/wanting for ideas of how to finish the exterior of the wall including the 6" shelf.

I am not good with how things look so I am asking everyone to voice their ideas and help!

Thank you!

The new tank stands will butt up to the back side of the wall studs leaving 6" between the wall front and tank glass

milehigh · 11/09/2012, 01:06 AM

you will most likely regret that down the road.. no reason to not make it flush mount now while everything is exposed/unfinished...
lay down some plywood over the framing and onto your stand.. (under the tank)
slide the tank up flush with future drywall...
make sure all is level and tank stand is shimmed to exact height of framing first..

glarior · 11/09/2012, 01:42 AM

Yea I have been thinking about it for the past two hours. Think ill end up doing it myself and rip out the work already done.

Any ideas for wall color? Decorations? Anything?

rossco838 · 11/09/2012, 02:33 AM

I agree having just finished a 220g in wall build into an existing wall... Make it flush or you will regret it

Sent from my galaxy S3 using my fingers

rossco838 · 11/09/2012, 02:47 AM

Still some finishing to do but couldn't be happier with it

Sent from my galaxy S3 using my fingers

stan zemanek · 11/09/2012, 07:51 AM

I was going through the same decisions about a year ago. I thought I wanted a shelf in front of my tank so people could sit and watch the tank and have a place to set their drink. My buddy pointed out to me that there would always be the possibility of someone knocking their drink over and hitting the tank and scratching it. Is it possible or probable I always say. The other thing to consider when having a shelf in front of the tank is maintenance. You will be that much further away when trying to reach into the tank. The last thing I considered was my magnet scraper, I decide to have a small piece of molding across the bottom of my tank that would be above the sand level. This way when I ran the magnet across the tank the molding would prevent me from bumping into the sand and scratching the tank. Because i live in a log home and have a lodge feel to the basement I trimmed out the front in T&G and made removeable panels for access. heres some pics.

stan zemanek · 11/09/2012, 08:02 AM

Sorry, I forgot to mention....If you do want to go with a shelf one way to do it is put a piece of granite under the tank and let it extend all the way out as far as you want it. this is how I was going to do mine until i decide against it. That would kill 2 birds with one stone. You would have a perfectly flat surface for the tank to sit on and a niece clean looking shelf. If you do it this way just make sure you put some kind of supports under the shelf. You would hate to have the shelf portion break some how. Then you would have to tear your tank down to replace the granite. Not fun.

jdpiii3 · 11/09/2012, 08:10 AM

Here is mine, I added a granite bar, we use it all of the time.

Mr. Demeanor · 11/09/2012, 09:03 AM

I am getting ready to rip this out and redo it. Tank needs to be replaced.

The tank was in the wall when we bought the house. The first pic is painting right after we moved in and the second is now. We painted the back of the tank and the wall the same color (took some time to get the colors to look the same with the lights on). It seems to make the tank look bigger.

barjam · 11/09/2012, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glarior

Yea I have been thinking about it for the past two hours. Think ill end up doing it myself and rip out the work already done.

Any ideas for wall color? Decorations? Anything?

You don't have to rip it out. That part of the wall can be the front of your stand. The "picture frame" can sit close to the tank with an L piece touching the glass

---- Glass
L. L piece
---- Picture frame

The downside with the frame-is-the wall design is that any vibration is now transmitted through the wall. So for a quiet basement movie room the humming can drive you nuts. I can't use vortech pumps for this reason.

Your room probably won't have that issue.

glarior · 11/09/2012, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stan zemanek

The last thing I considered was my magnet scraper, I decide to have a small piece of molding across the bottom of my tank that would be above the sand level. This way when I ran the magnet across the tank the molding would prevent me from bumping into the sand and scratching the tank. Because i live in a log home and have a lodge feel to the basement I trimmed out the front in T&G and made removeable panels for access. heres some pics.

I didn't think about the magnet. I do agree with people putting stuff on the shelf.

In this picture is that a router edged or actual trim?

Yea, these are what I am thinking.

Going to be a long weekend. Going to rip out all the work and do it the way I vision it should be done.

stan zemanek · 11/09/2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glarior

I didn't think about the magnet. I do agree with people putting stuff on the shelf.

In this picture is that a router edged or actual trim?

Yea, these are what I am thinking.

Going to be a long weekend. Going to rip out all the work and do it the way I vision it should be done.

All the pieces used to trim front of tank are off the shelf items at Home Depot Here's another look its a terrible pic but the bottom piece of trim will actually be about 2" above my sand bed

TheAquatect · 11/09/2012, 03:34 PM

I built a 150 in the wall just a few months back. I wanted some nice molding but I did not want to take away from the tank so I went low key and painted it the same color as the wall so the focus was on the tank and not the white trim that most of us have in the house. I also waited until the tank was in place because there is some fitting you'll have to do. Big difference between a level tank and a "straight" wall sometimes.

Here are some shots of my molding for inspiration.

Pre paint:

Header

Header hinged for easy access

Sill

triggreef · 11/09/2012, 08:09 PM

This is a nice thread with some good ideas. I like the hinged header a lot.

I'm planning a 125 in wall very soon. One of my fears though is moisture inside the wall from the evap. How are you guys dealing with that issue? Or is it just a non issue?

glarior · 11/09/2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheAquatect

I built a 150 in the wall just a few months back. I wanted some nice molding but I did not want to take away from the tank so I went low key and painted it the same color as the wall so the focus was on the tank and not the white trim that most of us have in the house. I also waited until the tank was in place because there is some fitting you'll have to do. Big difference between a level tank and a "straight" wall sometimes.

Here are some shots of my molding for inspiration.

Best use of closet space ever! Your setup with the flip up board is just what I was thinking of... thank you for sharing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggreef

This is a nice thread with some good ideas. I like the hinged header a lot.

I'm planning a 125 in wall very soon. One of my fears though is moisture inside the wall from the evap. How are you guys dealing with that issue? Or is it just a non issue?

Personally, I am going to seal all the wood I can including wall studs, tank stands, floor the walls around the room. I know salt likes to go everywhere and plus if I ever did have a major diaster most of the water will not soak into the wood and drain out of the draink pipes I am installing. At this moment I need to hurry and figure it out because I should be ready to seal the wood by Sunday.

jimmy n · 11/10/2012, 02:43 AM

Peak into the large tank forums. There is a build with a nice front access on page 4. I showed it to my builders hoping for a similar finish.

TheAquatect · 11/10/2012, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by triggreef

This is a nice thread with some good ideas. I like the hinged header a lot.

I'm planning a 125 in wall very soon. One of my fears though is moisture inside the wall from the evap. How are you guys dealing with that issue? Or is it just a non issue?

I too had concerns of evaporation. After framing and drywall was done I coated the entire top and sides with a spray rubber called Plasti-dip. It comes in both can and spray can form and from all my research, is actually reef safe to boot.

+1 on the closet space. It's perfect to hide all the crap we have including the qt tank. Biggest bonus is the near dead silence of the system. With 3 pumps running, my refrigerator makes more noise.

mm949 · 11/11/2012, 01:27 PM

glarior · 11/12/2012, 11:14 AM

I ripped out the wall stands and built my own this weekend. Now everything will be flush.

Awesome ideas on the wall! Keep them coming

11/08/2012, 11:43 PM	#1
glarior Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South TX Posts: 145	in wall build... exterior design ideas? I am in the middle of a in wall build to hold my 240g and 300g tanks. I ran into a snag and will have to have the aquariums sit back 6" so they will no longer be a flush wall install. I am looking/wanting for ideas of how to finish the exterior of the wall including the 6" shelf. I am not good with how things look so I am asking everyone to voice their ideas and help! Thank you! The new tank stands will butt up to the back side of the wall studs leaving 6" between the wall front and tank glass __________________ 300g SW - 120g SW Reef; Last edited by glarior; 11/08/2012 at 11:51 PM.

11/09/2012, 01:06 AM	#2
milehigh Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 23	you will most likely regret that down the road.. no reason to not make it flush mount now while everything is exposed/unfinished... lay down some plywood over the framing and onto your stand.. (under the tank) slide the tank up flush with future drywall... make sure all is level and tank stand is shimmed to exact height of framing first.. __________________ 150g - first water added 10/12/2012

11/09/2012, 01:42 AM	#3
glarior Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South TX Posts: 145	Yea I have been thinking about it for the past two hours. Think ill end up doing it myself and rip out the work already done. Any ideas for wall color? Decorations? Anything? __________________ 300g SW - 120g SW Reef;

11/09/2012, 08:10 AM	#8
jdpiii3 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: New Port Richey, FL Posts: 623	Here is mine, I added a granite bar, we use it all of the time. __________________ In a world where I feel so small, I can't stop thinking big. Current Tank Info: 400 gal in wall – Sun-Lit with two 21” Sun-Domes 72x36x36 400lbs l.r. & sand 2 ReeFlo Super Dart Gold return pumps, 120g Sump, My Reef Creations MR-6R Recirculating Protein Skimmer, 2 MP60's/ Tank Video on Youtube

11/11/2012, 01:27 PM	#18
mm949 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 1,843	__________________ 219"x30"x48" - 1350gl reef Current Tank Info: ...18ft of double sided goodness

11/09/2012, 02:33 AM	#4
rossco838 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 111	I agree having just finished a 220g in wall build into an existing wall... Make it flush or you will regret it Sent from my galaxy S3 using my fingers

11/09/2012, 07:51 AM	#6
stan zemanek Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 524	I was going through the same decisions about a year ago. I thought I wanted a shelf in front of my tank so people could sit and watch the tank and have a place to set their drink. My buddy pointed out to me that there would always be the possibility of someone knocking their drink over and hitting the tank and scratching it. Is it possible or probable I always say. The other thing to consider when having a shelf in front of the tank is maintenance. You will be that much further away when trying to reach into the tank. The last thing I considered was my magnet scraper, I decide to have a small piece of molding across the bottom of my tank that would be above the sand level. This way when I ran the magnet across the tank the molding would prevent me from bumping into the sand and scratching the tank. Because i live in a log home and have a lodge feel to the basement I trimmed out the front in T&G and made removeable panels for access. heres some pics.

11/09/2012, 08:02 AM	#7
stan zemanek Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: new jersey Posts: 524	Sorry, I forgot to mention....If you do want to go with a shelf one way to do it is put a piece of granite under the tank and let it extend all the way out as far as you want it. this is how I was going to do mine until i decide against it. That would kill 2 birds with one stone. You would have a perfectly flat surface for the tank to sit on and a niece clean looking shelf. If you do it this way just make sure you put some kind of supports under the shelf. You would hate to have the shelf portion break some how. Then you would have to tear your tank down to replace the granite. Not fun.

11/09/2012, 03:34 PM	#13
TheAquatect I Could Stop If I Wanted Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wesley Chapel, Fl Posts: 518	I built a 150 in the wall just a few months back. I wanted some nice molding but I did not want to take away from the tank so I went low key and painted it the same color as the wall so the focus was on the tank and not the white trim that most of us have in the house. I also waited until the tank was in place because there is some fitting you'll have to do. Big difference between a level tank and a "straight" wall sometimes. Here are some shots of my molding for inspiration. Pre paint: Header Header hinged for easy access Sill

11/09/2012, 08:09 PM	#14
triggreef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: East Hampton, CT Posts: 2,917	This is a nice thread with some good ideas. I like the hinged header a lot. I'm planning a 125 in wall very soon. One of my fears though is moisture inside the wall from the evap. How are you guys dealing with that issue? Or is it just a non issue?

11/10/2012, 02:43 AM	#16
jimmy n Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 1,256	Peak into the large tank forums. There is a build with a nice front access on page 4. I showed it to my builders hoping for a similar finish.

11/12/2012, 11:14 AM	#19
glarior Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: South TX Posts: 145	I ripped out the wall stands and built my own this weekend. Now everything will be flush. Awesome ideas on the wall! Keep them coming __________________ 300g SW - 120g SW Reef;