Aquarium in RV?

Mordie101 · Oct 21, 2018

Anyone have an aquarium in a mobile home, manufactured home, trailer, or another type style? If so what are the pros and cons? Is it even possible? Any threads available or pictures out there?

Mebeknob · Oct 21, 2018

Interesting....
How often would you be moving?

Mordie101 · Oct 21, 2018

Mebeknob said:
Interesting....
How often would you be moving?

I meant to not type RV in the title and now it won’t let me change it haha.. i wouldn’t be I’m just looking into different housing options and i know space is needed for a larger tank and support from the floor and i was wondering if anyone’s done it in a set up as mentioned above and had success or failure with it!

Captain Quint · Oct 21, 2018

I bought a 220 from a guy who lived in a DW mobile home. I swear they build them good. 12inches on center, steel beams below. He had multiple systems with no issues.

Now, if I could I'd have one in my Airstream camper trailer but would be really worried about most of the water sloshing out of the tank. My thought was something like a 14 BioCube but eh.

Dburr1014 · Oct 21, 2018

Lol, I personally was hoping this was an rv thread.
My wife and I are thinking about moving. This means selling the house and putting the fish in our rv(looking but not have bought yet) until we buy a new home.
Besides having to brave up the floor in a trailer, can't see why not this couldn't be done.

Captain Quint · Oct 21, 2018

Dburr1014 said:
Lol, I personally was hoping this was an rv thread.
My wife and I are thinking about moving. This means selling the house and putting the fish in our rv(looking but not have bought yet) until we buy a new home.
Besides having to brave up the floor in a trailer, can't see why not this couldn't be done.

If my 31' Camper was always stationary, I would not hesitate. Sucker is built like a tank.

Space wise would determine the size though. I couldn't see a 120 or larger in this:

Mordie101 · Oct 21, 2018

Sorry to disappoint @Dburr1014 haha i am looking into getting a 100 gallon tank with a 20 gallon sump and just didn’t know if it could take the weight. IF i even choose to buy one.

norfolkgarden · Oct 21, 2018

Um, practice with a tub of fresh water first maybe?
[emoji849]

Would be fascinated what it would take.
Baffels in the 30 gallon tank, overflow tub underneath like for the new washers?

Or just an upright 5 gallon water bottle nano filled to 4 gallons with a sponge filter and airline?
Most sloshing while driving stays inside the bottle?

Minimal stocking. A few softies and a goby or fire shrimp? Something you could actually see through the glass or plastic that did Ok in 4 gallons?

And the big one. Steady to within 3 degrees temperature in an outdoor RV.
Power to AC or heater would have to be almost constant.

Are you still strong enough to drag a 5 gallon nano into a motel room every night.
Lol, kinda defeats the purpose of the RV.
But camping hookups aren't available everywhere.
Can you run a loud generator where you're parked?

Route planning would be a priority.

Yes, I follow a number of the Van life people and RV life people on YouTube.
[emoji4]
Small house on the East Coast is paid for and would love to do a 3 or 4 week adventure in spring or fall out West one of these years.

vetteguy53081 · Oct 21, 2018

From an avid camper. unless you are using this as a park model and rv'ing Full time- I would not. Hard enough with a dog or cat what says aquarium. With road movement, changing temperatures and altitudes as well as exposure to gas(es) both from vehicle and propane- Nope.

dbl · Oct 21, 2018

Mordie101 said:
I meant to not type RV in the title and now it won’t let me change it haha..

I can change the title of the thread for you if still want it changed. The conversation has taken off about RV's though and didn't want to change it unless you request it. Let me know here or send me a PM.

ScooterV · Oct 21, 2018

Since he clarified he didn't mean "RV", but rather a mobile home...

It's for sure possible. Some mobile homes may have OSB, or maybe even particle board flooring, so check it out first. A little water, OSB, and a stand with only few points transferring weight will go right though. Due to the steel undercarriage it's otherwise likely as good as most houses, but you'll still need to judge the size of the tank and where it will sit. Also, if you're not on a full foundation a large tank could cause settling on one side. If it's sitting on stacked 2x4's, not a good idea.

Just put it on a full walkout basement and build a room for the tank downstairs

norfolkgarden · Oct 21, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
From an avid camper. unless you are using this as a park model and rv'ing Full time- I would not. Hard enough with a dog or cat what says aquarium. With road movement, changing temperatures and altitudes as well as exposure to gas(es) both from vehicle and propane- Nope.

Lol, was just kidding.

It would need to be the upright 5 gallon water bottle and just a small goldfish.

Nothing else could come close to dealing with expected temperature swings and even then you would need to cool or heat the space to at least some extent.
And it would be cruel to even a goldfish.
[emoji53]

Erica-Renee · Oct 21, 2018

for a mobile home , modular home you would need to check structural integrity like any other home .For a RV my first thought is the Tank itself would need to be Water Tight and Completely full maybe a sump under it with Lots of Motion baffles drilled with holes to slow the water motion or a Canister filter with a air pump .. There are other issues to over come but I am sure it can be done if someone wants it..

NO I have no plans on putting a Aquarium in my Work VAN.. This week ...

Acrofiend · Oct 22, 2018

Here you go. First posts describe how he did it. I’m pretty sure he set up a large frag tank in the same room.
I also live in a mobile home but mines is only 42g.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/100-gallons-acros-tank.310947/

Mordie101 · Oct 22, 2018

nanoreefer562 said:
Here you go. First posts describe how he did it. I’m pretty sure he set up a large frag tank in the same room.
I also live in a mobile home but mines is only 42g.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/100-gallons-acros-tank.310947/

Wow. Thanks a lot! Exactly what I’m looking for!!

saltyhog · Oct 22, 2018

A friend of mine tried a 150 gallon in his moble home without reinforcing the floor. About a year later, the tank failed.

Mordie101 · Oct 22, 2018

saltyhog said:
A friend of mine tried a 150 gallon in his moble home without reinforcing the floor. About a year later, the tank failed.

Ouch..

TheWalkman99 · Oct 23, 2018

Dburr1014 said:
Lol, I personally was hoping this was an rv thread.
My wife and I are thinking about moving. This means selling the house and putting the fish in our rv(looking but not have bought yet) until we buy a new home.
Besides having to brave up the floor in a trailer, can't see why not this couldn't be done.

Maybe you and your wife could rent a storage unit or talk a friend or work in to letting them keep the tank at their place. Not ideal but an option so you don’t loose your fish l.

With the lotto as high as it is one of my fantasies was getting a motor home or limo with a fish tank in it haha! Baller level.

fisher99 · Oct 23, 2018

20 years ago I had a 200 gal in a double wide mobile home with no issues. I would think newer homes are built better than the ol;der one I had.

RVReefTank · Aug 30, 2020

I have a 39 foot class a that I live in full time. I have a 26 gallon reef tank. We travel with it on the road constantly. had a top made for it and I strap it down