210 Gallon In Wall Build

[Nolapete]

My 210 gallon (7'x2'x2') tank has been sitting on cinder blocks in the middle of my fish room since I bought it last year for $100. The custom built stand has been in my garage just as long.

It's time to get it out of the middle of the floor and into the wall where it belongs. The wall it will be in is shared with my fish room and dining room which makes it an excellent place for it. The tank will be centered horizontally in the dining room since that side of the wall of course matters most.

My dining room set features 4 chairs and a bench for seating. Most of the time the bench, which is on the side of the table closest to the aquarium wall, is empty. This will allow for the people sitting in the chairs to view the aquarium unobstructed. I bought the seating with this in mind when I purchased the set recently.

My first two questions:

Do I use the stand inset in the wall or do I construct a new framed 2x4 structure to hold the tank?

That said, my second question. Do I place the tank vertically even from floor to ceiling or higher to take into consideration the times when the bench seat will be occupied?

I believe that the custom-built stand will put the tank at equal vertical spacing, but I'll have to measure it to be sure.

A framed 2x4 support would allow for more access to beneath the tank.

I've attached some pics of the dining room and the fish room walls.

 

[Dudun]

Hope it works for you!

What kind of lighting system is that?

 

[Nolapete]

Lighting system? You'll have to be more specific as to which lights you're referring to.

 

[Nolapete]

My housemate confirmed the location I was leaning towards in that I should probably have the tank higher, so that in the event that there are people sitting on the bench seat the view would remain unobstructed.

I'm thinking that the bottom of the tank should be right at the level of where the top of the 75 is. The 75 will not remain there after the 210 is in place.

 

[Rbishop]

Not sure if it is possible, but if I had that situation, I would get the bottom of the tank about 2 " below the top of your table. I would also set the tan half in the fish room and ahalf in the dining room, for ease of maintenance. The would also make it protrude less into the dining room keeping that space looking larger.

 

[Nolapete]

Here's the drawn in measurements on the wall. The bottom of the tank is 48" from the ceiling leaving, of course, 24" from the ceiling to the top of the tank. There is just under 26" on either side of the tank to the walls in the dining room. There's more room on the fish room side to the left of the tank. My primary concern is the double French doors that open into the fish room. I have to measure where the door on the 210 side hits when it is opened. I hope it clears, but if it doesn't I'll have to build something to prevent the door from being opened far enough to hit the tank.

 

[dudley]

Having the tank that tall will require you to use step stools to do any maintenance on it which can be very inconvenient. Also, the tank may look top heavy once installed on your stand, assuming the stand would be sheathed/boxed in with wood.

 

[jackiomy]

Cool chairs!

 

[Nolapete]

Not sure if it is possible, but if I had that situation, I would get the bottom of the tank about 2 " below the top of your table. I would also set the tan half in the fish room and ahalf in the dining room, for ease of maintenance. The would also make it protrude less into the dining room keeping that space looking larger.

It's not going to protrude into the dining room at all. It's going to be flush mount against the wall of the dining room.

Why would you put it 2" below the top of the table? That makes no sense to me at all. The people sitting closest to the tank would block it from view the people sitting across the table from the tank.

 

[Nolapete]

Having the tank that tall will require you to use step stools to do any maintenance on it which can be very inconvenient. Also, the tank may look top heavy once installed on your stand, assuming the stand would be sheathed/boxed in with wood.

I suppose you don't get that the stand will be in the fish room and the only thing showing in the dining room will be the front of the tank. And that will be framed like a picture.

If you've seen my fish room pics, most of the tanks require step stools to do maintenance, so that's not an issue. I'd rather have more space under the tank for filtration as well.