In-wall tank or not?

[ChrisRD]

Hi All,

I'm building a new house and I have the option of plumbing a tank through a wall to a dedicated "fish room" adjacent to the laundry room...or actually putting the tank in-wall. The space I have to work with will result in a fish room with about 4'-0" x 7'-8" clear space (inside to inside walls) with the tank in front of the wall and about 2'-0" x 7'-8"clear with the tank in-wall. Tank will probably be a typical 180 gallon (6'x2'x2') or similar.

I have never done an in-wall tank and I'm concerned about access for maintenance. I've seen people do these installations with cabinet doors etc. in the front to facilitate access. I'm also concerned about making the fish room that cramped if I go in-wall.

If I put the tank in front of the wall I'll have plenty of space in the fish room but the tank will sit in the den taking up floor space. Not sure I'm loving the idea of a large tank taking up that much space in the den if I have the option to put it in the wall. My wife actually prefers this option for the 3 panel viewing.

There is a third option...put the entire setup in the basement...which would basically give me almost unlimited room. My wife doesn't like this option because she'd rather have the tank in an area where everyone will see it a lot (this is a ranch house and the basement will not be finished right away).

I'm interested in getting input from anyone who's done (or has to maintain) similar installations.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[Jay Z]

Is tank upstairs, fish room down stairs a option? Will make life a lot easier in the long run. Plus keeps you out of the way as you play "reef keeper".

Im on my second basement sump system.

 

[AtlCPA]

I did in wall and love the look. I did not go with front access which a lot of people told me would be a pain, but it’s not been a problem for me. I clean the front glass with a magnet and I have a tool I can grab frags or whatever in the front.

My wife, I didn’t really either, like the panels on the front side of the tank

 

[BestMomEver]

We had a 500 gallon plumbed through the wall. We converted our formal dining room into a fish room. Based on that, I think 4’ is probably pushing it. Having a tank pushing into that space would be really, really tight. You’d hardly have enough space to carry a brute garbage can through. I would suggest setting the tank in the living room and not building it in. Or at least have only 1/4 to 1/2 built in.

 

[ChrisRD]

This area would actually be over the garage portion of the basement but I could probably section off a sump room in the garage. I'd have to give up some workshop space (blasphemy!) but it's a good point to consider. I could also possibly offset the plumbing enough on the way downstairs to put a sump room under the basement stairs.

I've attached a crop of one of the concept floor plans to illustrate. The firewall that separates the garage from the basement coincides with the stairway shown (i.e. stairway on the basement side, everything to the right of that wall will be garage).

Thanks for the input so far...very helpful.

 

[ChrisRD]

This area would actually be over the garage portion of the basement but I could probably section off a sump room in the garage. I'd have to give up some workshop space (blasphemy!) but it's a good point to consider. I could also possibly offset the plumbing enough on the way downstairs to put a sump room under the basement stairs.

I've attached a crop of one of the concept floor plans to illustrate. The firewall that separates the garage from the basement coincides with the stairway shown (i.e. stairway on the basement side, everything to the right of that wall will be garage).

Thanks for the input so far...very helpful.

 

[ChrisRD]

Sorry for double post...site seems to be hanging / acting weird.

The den is already a bit small so I'd like to pull that wall back a bit (make the den a bit larger) and plumb everything downstairs...liking that idea more and more.

 

[Jay Z]

I started with all the equipment by my fish tank for the first 3 months while I decided on what I wanted to do. Then when I had a weekend off I set up the sump in my basement. Now I have a place to go play and keep everything out of the way. Went and got some cheap cabinets and a top form the depot and was able to get everything mounted inside. Excuse the mess, been a long week at work.

 

[DBarbee]

I think you would have the best experience if you had the tank in wall upstairs, and plumbed Into a fishroom in the basement. The extra space upstairs would give you space to have 360 access to the tank(with cabinet doors on the front). You could keep your feeding items, lighting and pump controls organized in the extra space in the upstairs room with the tank. The room in the basement would then give you extra room to setup a ro water system, frag tank, and an isolated qt tank. As well as a space to keep cleaning gear, and you could get a large inexpensive Rubbermaid trough sump for extra rock and water volume.

 

[Sierra_Bravo]

In wall if you have the ability to finish it cleanly and space enough behind for you to work. Two feet may be a little tight, but as a comparison I have 32" from the back of my stand to the wall and I can work very comfortably.

Personally I think the presentation is nicer and not taking up the floor space is an advantage, as is not having a confined cabinet to hamper equipment. The only downside is the lack of ability to view through the side glass.

 

[FFFishy]

Just my opinion... basement sumps are great — that’s what I have. It removes most of the “messy work” from the tank area.

I like the appearance of a tank “in front” of the wall mostly because I don’t want to give-up the view from the ends of the tank. You could go completely against the wall with some nice custom cabinetry below the tank.

Don’t forget to dress-up the wall behind / above the tank. Here’s a picture of the tile behind my new build in progress.

 

[ChrisRD]

I considered the basement sump initially before we got on this idea of tying it in with the laundry room...but after considering all of your responses and looking at his again I'm convinced. I'm going back to the basement sump idea. I'm playing with the floor plan now and much prefer it...opens up the den area a lot and I will have much more room downstairs for the gear. I'm also planning on having a coral/invert and fish QT setup in my basement office (separate room) so with everything on the same level it will make water changes much easier with the QT systems as I can use the trash can dolly method for those smaller tanks...

Now we're just trying to narrow down in-wall vs on a stand for the tank in the den. I'd prefer the look of the in-wall...don't have the wife convinced yet...

Thank you all for the helpful responses...I should have posted this question sooner!

 

[Matt Carden]

This area would actually be over the garage portion of the basement but I could probably section off a sump room in the garage. I'd have to give up some workshop space (blasphemy!) but it's a good point to consider. I could also possibly offset the plumbing enough on the way downstairs to put a sump room under the basement stairs.

I've attached a crop of one of the concept floor plans to illustrate. The firewall that separates the garage from the basement coincides with the stairway shown (i.e. stairway on the basement side, everything to the right of that wall will be garage).

Thanks for the input so far...very helpful.

How about a Peninsula off the pantry wall allowing vision of the tank from 2 main rooms. I'm assuming open concept kitchen/great room off the den

 

[jtl]

All personal preference. I have had in wall, peninsula and currently free standing against the wall. My favorite was peninsula and my least favorite was in the wall. More viewing area is best.

 

[ChrisRD]

I actually have a bunch of different floor plan layouts (7 I believe, LOL) and one was with the tank as a peninsula off the pantry. At the time we were still stuck on the idea of working from the laundry room...but if I'm plumbing everything downstairs then that becomes a very cool option..going to look at that again. I also have the possibility of doing a room divider between the den and dining area.

Either way, I can use a steel beam in the garage to carry the load of the tank weight. I was going to have a beam there anyway to eliminate columns in the garage...would just need to upsize it a bit to take the extra weight of the tank.

Thanks to all for the discussion...definitely helping to think through the different options.

 

[ChrisRD]

...and Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms here!

 

[OutsideBrian]

Since you brought up the beam and reconfiguring the floor plan. It would be better load carrying if you turned the tank 90 degrees, spanning more beams. Then the “fish room” could in theory be a sitting area for viewing as a peninsula. Plumbing lines into the laundry area etc.
A friend has a peninsula and I love it, almost like having two tanks to stare at, doubles the fun.

 

[JoshH]

I actually have a bunch of different floor plan layouts (7 I believe, LOL) and one was with the tank as a peninsula off the pantry. At the time we were still stuck on the idea of working from the laundry room...but if I'm plumbing everything downstairs then that becomes a very cool option..going to look at that again. I also have the possibility of doing a room divider between the den and dining area.

Either way, I can use a steel beam in the garage to carry the load of the tank weight. I was going to have a beam there anyway to eliminate columns in the garage...would just need to upsize it a bit to take the extra weight of the tank.

Thanks to all for the discussion...definitely helping to think through the different options.

No reason why you can't still do the peninsula off the Pantry and have the fish room off the Laundry. Just a little plumbing and you're all set. That room is plenty big enough for a fish room with the tank removed from the equation.

 

[MnFish1]

I like the look of an in-wall - one problem it could limit the resale value of your home somewhat - depending on the cost of 'taking it out'. ?

 

[Matt Carden]

@MnFish1 has a good point. Considering any "fishroom" design the room to have a purpose after removing the equipment. Could be a Library or an extra large Utility room.