Design Help

[Rudy]

Hi All,

I am in the early processes of building a new home. I am scheduled to meet our architect this weekend. I have been planning to install a large (~225 gal) tank (priamily FO, LR, and hard corals). Before I drop additional money for design flaws can anyone who ahs doen this before tell me anything I should be certain to remember for the wall which I want to handle the tank?

Thanks for the advice.

Rudy a.k.a. Keith

 

[Mahlhavoc]

Power outlets! Have enough to handle the load. . and .. um.. LUCKY! erm . . I mean, you might want to consider having enough plumbing space and keep in mind lighting and accessability to your tank.

Pre determining your setup would help you out, draw it out to scale if you can keeping in mind all you want to do. OH! and don't forget to post pics!

Dunno if any of this is what you were looking for, but I said it! Thats right! I said it!

make sure you have good support for your tank/tanks dunno what your hidden wall will have as far as room, but having supply room and enough room to grow rotifers and artemia would be nice or possibly RO barrel and buckets/hoses/pumps/dirtymovies/excess lighting etc.. OOPS I have said too much :thud: just have plenty of outlets or power left over and accessability is what I am getting to.


LUCKY!

 

[Rudy]

Thanks for the advice. The fact that we are designing the home should make all the considerations you mentioned more easy to accomodate. The tank will atually be a dual view (Front & Back).

As far as space for "RO barrel and buckets/ hoses/ pumps/ dirtymovies/ excess" . I plan to have the tank in a wall and have the plumibing, et al in the basement. I realize this will neccistate a stronger pump, I think the term is a pump with what is referred to as "head?", but the fact it will all be in the basement should make for it all to be very quiet anyway.

Good point on leaving ample space overhead for the canopy/ lighting fixtures.

Thanks for the hints, anyone else out there have experience with this sprt of thing? I have built my own tank stand for a 125 gal in the past 9pics available upon request, but for me this takes DIY to the next step. :hang:

 

[DansMarineTank]

salt creep, I have heard this can eat away at the plaster on the walls so it may be worth looking into some form of protection

 

[Rudy]

salt creep, I have heard this can eat away at the plaster on the walls so it may be worth looking into some form of protection

What type of protection, line interior wall with plastic? :huh:

 

[LordsSoilder]

I would definitely say that you will need space. Make sure to make lots of space... space above, space below and space to the side. Personally since you are making it viewable from front and back I think you should make the wall big enough to allow room for a closet next to the tank that you can access you tank easily. If you only have room above it you will find it hard to get into it and move things and catch fish if need be. If you have the side room/closet then you can setup a step stool and have all the room you need. As well as a great place to put stuff movies, vacuum etc...

One last thing I suggest for anyone building a home. Think about the home theater system. This is the best time to run wires etc. Go overboard now to save huge money later. Make that wall big enough to have 2 closets. One access to the tank and the other be access to you theater equipment. Setup an IR repeater system and never have to look at all that equipment again... the wife will love it

Also if you plan on using any form of non-crt tv (anything over 36inch. plasma, dlp, lcp, front/rear projection etc.) make sure you put a nice looking pull down shade over your tank. With the light from your tank you wont be able to get a good screen picture, especially if its a front projector (the best/biggest screen for your buck) they need darkness to create the movie feel. and if its too light you wont even be able to see the screen...

Sorry if this was long winded, you combined three of my biggest passions, Fish + Tech + architecture

 

[Mahlhavoc]

225g and double sided? how will you reach the center inside the tank? A wall opening above the tank on one side or somethin?

Just curious. And if see thru on both sides, how will you do the overflow? drilled through bottom? sides? and how about return water? and what are you wearing right now? these questions and more haunt our audience and will be answered next time, right here, on aquariacentral.com!

I will tell you this tho, man thats a terrible problem to have, a new house with 225g! I feel so bad for you! *sarcasm*

 

[Rudy]

I think you should make the wall big enough to allow room for a closet next to the tank that you can access you tank easily.

Good Idea!

IR repeater system.

I don't know what that is?

Fish + Tech + architecture

Are you an architect?

 

[Rudy]

225g and double sided? how will you reach the center inside the tank? A wall opening above the tank on one side or somethin?

Based on Lordsoldier's post I'd like to talk to the architect about the closet idea as wel as some space above.

Just curious. And if see thru on both sides, how will you do the overflow? drilled through bottom? sides?

Yes, that is the plan.

and how about return water?

Hadn't thought about that but likely up around the tank and down the top side

and what are you wearing right now?

Shirt and tie

these questions and more haunt our audience and will be answered next time, right here, on aquariacentral.com!

LOL!

I will tell you this tho, man thats a terrible problem to have, a new house with 225g! I feel so bad for you! *sarcasm*

I know I (we) feel very fortunate, not for the tank but the new home. The tank will be the icing on the cake.

 

[AW2EOD]

AIR CREW!! AW2 here, if you cant tell from my screen name!

Anyway...I'm gonna have to go with Mahlhavoc...POWER OUTLETS. Have your electrician install a few extra 220 breakers with extra outlets. You never know what equipment you'll add down the road and you dont want to run out of room.

Make sure, just to be safe, that you remind your architect how much this thing is going to weigh. Just the tank and water will weigh in at aprox. 1900lb. He'll need to plan accordingly for supports, for the floor.