Setting up an in-wall tank

mpderksen · 02/08/2015, 11:08 AM

Last month we purchased the house we've been renting for the last 2 years. Now my wife is going crazy with remodeling ideas. She wants the space my 75 is in for furniture. Bummer, right? Behind the wall that it currently sits in front of is the closet for an unused guest room. So I threw out the idea of installing a tank in that closet, cutting out the wall like a picture frame so it would be an in-wall tank, like a living picture, and all the top off bottles and chiller would be invisible. She'd have the floor space. She said that as long as I could patch the wall if we have to sell, she's cool with it.
Cutting the wall is trivial, since it's non load bearing. I can leave the existing tank where it is until everything is done and ready to move.
My idea is to build a shelf to support the tank so I have really easy access to the sump etc. but it needs to be not only strong enough to support a fully loaded tank, but also distribute the load so I don't crack the foundation. For a 6 foot long tank, would it be sufficient to have only a 4x4 post at each corner, and maybe use a steel plate for the shelf itself? I'm not sure how to make something like this that is strong, and stable enough. Ideas?

tkeracer619 · 02/08/2015, 11:17 AM

Nah, steel is unnecessary.

I recommend cutting a hole in the wall. Finishing the opening and installing the tank on a normal stand.

If you want the tank more flush with the wall it is best to remove the entire section of wall, put the tank on a normal stand, and then patch the drywall/repaint.

TheGrog · 02/08/2015, 11:31 AM

I agree that steel unnecessary.

Just a 4x4 at each corner is not a great idea. You are putting all the weight on four points in the floor. I tend to over-engineer things, but I would do vertical braces at each corner and two mid-tank for a 6' tank, and have them sitting on either 2x6 or 2x8 boards so you have a nice wide distribution footprint.

There are plenty of threads in the DIY section of people who made in-wall tanks. Do some homework and see what they came up with.

My $0.02

myers · 02/08/2015, 11:50 AM

4x4 in each corner i would not do, it will bow in the middle. however people underestimate the strength of wood, i made mine with 6 3x3 and a few 3x2s for bracing top and bottom with 3/4 marine ply for top. tank is 72x24x18inch its been sat on the same stand for nearly 15yr and has moved houses 3 times with me and still going strong.

hoooop54 · 02/08/2015, 12:05 PM

There are some great DIY tank stand threads on here. Since you won't need it to be stained and finished, you could build one pretty easy.

mpderksen · 02/08/2015, 06:05 PM

I'll start reading more for ideas. I want a completely open framework for access. My current cabinet s so cramped that I must be honest that I don't do as much maintenance down there as I should.
My first thought is a 210 gal. 72 x 24 x 29, since I want the height. Related to the stand, I would want about a 55 gal sump, but since I won't be able to slide it in the end, I either have to have a removal-able center brace, build the stand around it, or keep it narrow to slide it in at a diagonal.
Again, seeing what others have done should give me a lot of ideas. 2500 lbs is no joke, so I need to be sure I do it correctly. That's equal to 3 of my Harley's going on a bench!

02/08/2015, 11:08 AM	#1
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	Setting up an in-wall tank Last month we purchased the house we've been renting for the last 2 years. Now my wife is going crazy with remodeling ideas. She wants the space my 75 is in for furniture. Bummer, right? Behind the wall that it currently sits in front of is the closet for an unused guest room. So I threw out the idea of installing a tank in that closet, cutting out the wall like a picture frame so it would be an in-wall tank, like a living picture, and all the top off bottles and chiller would be invisible. She'd have the floor space. She said that as long as I could patch the wall if we have to sell, she's cool with it. Cutting the wall is trivial, since it's non load bearing. I can leave the existing tank where it is until everything is done and ready to move. My idea is to build a shelf to support the tank so I have really easy access to the sump etc. but it needs to be not only strong enough to support a fully loaded tank, but also distribute the load so I don't crack the foundation. For a 6 foot long tank, would it be sufficient to have only a 4x4 post at each corner, and maybe use a steel plate for the shelf itself? I'm not sure how to make something like this that is strong, and stable enough. Ideas?

02/08/2015, 11:17 AM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Nah, steel is unnecessary. I recommend cutting a hole in the wall. Finishing the opening and installing the tank on a normal stand. If you want the tank more flush with the wall it is best to remove the entire section of wall, put the tank on a normal stand, and then patch the drywall/repaint. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

02/08/2015, 11:31 AM	#3
TheGrog Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 753	I agree that steel unnecessary. Just a 4x4 at each corner is not a great idea. You are putting all the weight on four points in the floor. I tend to over-engineer things, but I would do vertical braces at each corner and two mid-tank for a 6' tank, and have them sitting on either 2x6 or 2x8 boards so you have a nice wide distribution footprint. There are plenty of threads in the DIY section of people who made in-wall tanks. Do some homework and see what they came up with. My $0.02 __________________ When in doubt.....add more beer...then try duct tape Current Tank Info: 120G Reef with Ecotech Radion LEDs, 2xMP40

02/08/2015, 12:05 PM	#5
hoooop54 reefin up north Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Minnetonka Posts: 246	There are some great DIY tank stand threads on here. Since you won't need it to be stained and finished, you could build one pretty easy. __________________ 160 gallon, mixed reef. Apex controlled.

02/08/2015, 11:50 AM	#4
myers Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: uk Posts: 3	4x4 in each corner i would not do, it will bow in the middle. however people underestimate the strength of wood, i made mine with 6 3x3 and a few 3x2s for bracing top and bottom with 3/4 marine ply for top. tank is 72x24x18inch its been sat on the same stand for nearly 15yr and has moved houses 3 times with me and still going strong.

02/08/2015, 06:05 PM	#6
mpderksen Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Manteca, CA Posts: 1,853	I'll start reading more for ideas. I want a completely open framework for access. My current cabinet s so cramped that I must be honest that I don't do as much maintenance down there as I should. My first thought is a 210 gal. 72 x 24 x 29, since I want the height. Related to the stand, I would want about a 55 gal sump, but since I won't be able to slide it in the end, I either have to have a removal-able center brace, build the stand around it, or keep it narrow to slide it in at a diagonal. Again, seeing what others have done should give me a lot of ideas. 2500 lbs is no joke, so I need to be sure I do it correctly. That's equal to 3 of my Harley's going on a bench!