In wall tank build.

Discussion in 'Tank Pictures' started by reefmann, Jan 24, 2011.

  1. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    Okay... So the lady of the house and I finally agreeed on size and price and all that fancy stuff that comes with the hobby.
    Now comes the part of planing to build this thing.  I have a couple of pretty big delimas to over come and I will have to draw on some of you guys's knowledge of carpentry and wood work if I am going to pull this off.

    [​IMG]

    This is how we layed it out last night while brainstorming. I think it will look really good here.  Problems lies on the other side of the wall though. While the tank itself will be posistioned 44 inches above the floor in the living room the garage on the other side drops another two feet... What I end up with is a tank that is 5 foot in the air in the garage putting the top of the tank at 7 feet high.
    I have gone over this in my head of how to cut the opening and add a header in, how to build the stand, and adding a landing in the room where I can get in the thing but I would love to have someone that might know a lil more about this kind of stuff take a look at it or help me out with ideas.

    I plan to enclose the tank in the garage in a 4'x12' room that I will tie into the main houses air unit and insulate.

    This is no over night set up for sure and anyone that thinks they might be able to lend a hand or an idea is welcome to come by and take a look and hang out.  I plan to start cleaning out the garage tomorrow along the wall to get a better idea of what I am looking at.

    I have gotten to the point where I want one nice big tank and consolidate everything to this. Any help would be much appritiated and beer and or wine and food will be on hand for any one who would lend a hand.
     
  2. jason71832

    jason71832 Guest

    I love in wall tanks.  Had one myself till I let the greedy bank have my house back.  Anyway, with the idea of the tank being five feet off the ground I would definitely look at a steel stand.  I just wouldn't trust wood that high in the air with that much weight on it.  Just my opinion.  If your wall is a load bearing wall make sure you put in good headers (this might be a good place for some more metal work.  In any case take your time on something like this.  It is gonna look awesome when you finish.  I too once wanted a "fish room" in my garage but have since done like Chris and went to small tanks.  I think my largest one is gonna be a 55 with a calfo.  I'm putting calfo's in all my tanks now. Got my diamond hole saw in the mail today.
     
  3. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    edited
     
  4. jason71832

    jason71832 Guest

    sounds like an awesome idea.
     
  5. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    Edited
     
  6. cabotreefer

    cabotreefer Guest

    where do you live?
     
  7. ang7880

    ang7880 Guest

    He's in the other room planning this thing out... I am "the lady of the house" I guess..... we live in Sherwood.
     
  8. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    I have been playing but I think I am close to a finished idea.
     
  9. moogoomoogoo

    moogoomoogoo Moderator

    I am not a structural engineer but if you build the tank stand on a platform you need to make sure the tank stand legs tranfer the weight all the way down to the floor and not just the platform.
     
  10. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    Yup.. I am going ot have to be careful of how and where I put the legs of the upper deck compaired to the lower one and more than likely try to make it so that they arelined up and that the load will transfer from the upper deck legs down through the lower deck to the ground..  My picture is a lil off huh?..lol
     
  11. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    I keep waiting to hear from Sam on this thing... I need ideas and a wood worker.. I welded my way through collage..LOL
     
  12. cabotreefer

    cabotreefer Guest

    I may be able to help with the wood aspect. I have built a few things here and there [​IMG]
     
  13. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    Any help I can get would be appriciated... If you want to come by and take a look and maybe hang out I would be glad to have ya. I will be cleaning the garage out Saturday and starting to get materials together.
    I am going to try to fine tune the design a lil more but over the next few weeks this thing will start being a reality...

    Anyone that would like to be part of it please drop me a PM or something and I will let ya know when and where...
     
  14. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

  15. meco65

    meco65 Wrasse

    I would try to make it where the legs for the lower deck are the legs for the upper deck.  Just use longer 4 X 4's that go through the lower and suport the upper.  JMO.
     
  16. gshofner

    gshofner Guest

    I live in conway, and have a tank in the wall. If you live close by your welcome to come and take a look at what I have done, and talk about the pros and cons I have ran arcoss
    Good Luck
    Greg
     
  17. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    Yeah.. The reason I am looking at the decking and the box type build is
    b/c of stablity.. The bottom platform by the time it is finished will be
    stronger than most peoples house floor. Along with that the upper stand
    will make for a much more rigid frame being only 44" tall. I can make
    this thing as strong as an ox with this application I beileve instead of
    teatering a 150gallon tank on 6 4x4s 5 foot in the air along with a 75
    gallon sump to boot with some bracing in between..

    The hight of
    this thing is what makes it odd... if it were only 3 feet up then sure
    4x4s would be a no brainer but add 2 more feet to 3 thousand pounds of
    water and it doesnt sound so stable.
     
  18. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    I am in sherwood but make my way to Conway on a regular basis.  I would love to pick your brain about any ideas you might have at things that would make it better if you could do it agian so that I could incorporate them here... Shoot me a PM and I will get in touch next time I am over that way.
     
  19. bigman28

    bigman28 Wrasse

    I can lend a hand too but it will have to be during the week. I work weekends. Im moveing this week and will be available afer that. I also have some wood working experience. You say u can weld so why not build the framework out of steel tubing then attach wood decking. Also if you incorporate triangular tyPe bracing it will make the stucture thatuch stronger wood or steel.
     
  20. reefmann

    reefmann Guest

    I might could use some help during the week.. I have a lot going on during them but I might work on it some and I will be glad to let you know when.  I used to weld.. That was a long time ago.. I dont have the steel saw or the materials here, not even a welder... I can do it easier with wood and it will be that much more easy to take apart if we ever move...
     

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