Local contractors familiar with in-wall aquarium constructio

[JasonF]

Does anyone know of a home builder in south or central Texas that is familiar with the construction of homes with large in-wall aquariums? I am not adding to an existing home, I will be building from the ground up.

[::pete::]

What do you want to know ... free!!!

[JesterGrin_1]

who in there right mind would want a two story lol. Picture this you come home dead tired from work and guess what you come in the door and look up that looooooooooong flight of stairs just to get to your bed not to mention falling down those stairs lol.

[::pete::]

Joshua ... for you 5.00 dalla :lol

[::pete::]

Cliff in this case (and its possible) you would fall up the stairs!!!

[JesterGrin_1]

Yep then do the crawl lol. Come on now with a show of hands how many people have fallen down stairs lol. Oh and a reminder please please for god sake do not put anything that sticks up at the bottom of the ballister lol. ;)

[JesterGrin_1]

Josh you know what is funny what they now call a 2.5 garage was a normal 2 car garage years ago lol.Another funny thing is notice that people are getting bigger yet cars and garages are getting smaller hmmmmmmmm. Just one small fact in 1907 the average shoe size for women was a 3 as of the year 2000 it was a 7 lol.

[C.Mydas]

LOL! I dont remember the exact numbers but Marilyn Monroe was a size 14/16 back then. I dont think she would be the sex goddess she is if they were using today's measurements...lol

BTW- What about a boat garage?

[carlinsa]

Just one small fact in 1907 the average shoe size for women was a 3 as of the year 2000 it was a 7 lol.



cliff.................how and WHY do you know that????????????????????????? i mean that is info you will only be able to use once lol

[JesterGrin_1]

And C.Mydas wins a half of a Cigar you are correct with the 16 :)

[JesterGrin_1]

Saw it on the history channel lol. just needless info but it fit like a good shoe lol.

[carlinsa]

WHY DO YOU KNOW THAT TOO??????????????????


now i will have to see cliff differently :unsure much like that

[JesterGrin_1]

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRwhat okay I am lost going back to my recliner lol.

[JesterGrin_1]

Help I have fallen and I can not reach my bourban lol. ;)

[::pete::]

Push the button push the button!!!

[JasonF]

I dont mean to hijack yalls thread, but Pete, we are going to build a house with a large system. It would be easier to use a contractor who is familiar with such things. If anyone has a name please let me know. Thanks.

[hobogato]

I dont mean to hijack yalls thread


:lol :lol :lol

[Polkster13]

Try Greg Houston at Holey Mackrel as they specialize in designing, building, installing and maintaining large aquariums, in-wall and otherwise.

[Polkster13]

Here is there contact information:

Holey Mackerel Aquariums
10705 Spring Valley Rd
Austin, TX 78737

(512) 892-2464

[captexas]

Best deal is to find someone who is experienced in setting up large aquatic systems and can work with your architect/builder to make sure everything that is needed is in place when the house is built.

[technomex]

I had my aquarium placed in the wall in kind of a niche. The majority of the planning was between myself and the architect. I asked around the LFS's, RC, and from other people who had inwall tanks so that the architect could design exaclty what I wanted.

[SaltyJim]

Jason,

Are you looking for a builder that will do it, or are you planning to use a GC that will coordinate with the installer? If builder, I can get you the name of the guy that built my father's house (he also built the owner of Oasis' house). If you want a 3rd party, then I too recommend Holy Mackerel. Custom tanks and installations in almost any size/shape.

[JasonF]

I want to avoid involving an installer. I can use my own employees as the muscle to get the tank itself in place. I know how to plumb and set up a tank. I was just hoping to find a GC who has experience with building houses with large in-wall systems. I am mostly worried about having the framing and suppport under the tank done properly. I want a concrete floor with a large drain (this room will be my brewery also). I need a ridiculous amount of wiring in the room. I just want to avoid hiring more people than neccessary, which is why I want someone who can do it all, not to mention build me a nice home.

[alton]

I would sit down with several members of this club and design your own fish room, electrical needs, plumbing needs and what all you want to do in your fish room? Do you want to set up quarantine tanks, frag tanks. Only you can know what limit of square footage and money to spend on this project. Draw it up and give that to your architect to incorporate in the rest of your home. As a budget use 100$ a sq. ft. for your fish room. That should cover your additional AC, Heating, Plumbing, and Electrical. As far as building something that is structurally sound enough for a large aquarium, it doesn't matter if you have a 20' openning for a walk thru between rooms or a 20' aquarium.

[::pete::]

Heck ... the support is nothing!! Basically the builder is going to frame an opening much like a window and then a stand from whatever you choose. 2x4's will work as will plywood or a combination. I can give you the number for my buddy in Austin and he can weld you a steel stand with adjustable legs. Think of a 300.00 support stand from Oceanic (to get the warranty) its plywood with a couple 2x4's (40.00)

[captexas]

As probably only an incredibly small number of homes have an in-wall aquarium built into them, I seriously doubt you will find a general contractor that is "experienced" in this field. Heck I studied architecture at A&M and there are no building homes with aquarium classes! :P Most people that are that serious about it plan it all themselves and then take those plans to an architect to design their home around it. Your main concerns for the construction process are floor drainage, plumbing, electrical and then heating/cooling. Building the tank into the wall after all that is addresses is the easy part.

I would call around to the major aquarium maintenance companies and ask them if they know of any homes built recently that had tanks built into them and then call those home owners to see if you can get refered to their builders.

[GaryP]

Here's a suggestion. Ray (Triggerman) worked with a few builders last year in doing an installed tank at the Builder's Showcase in the AlamoDome. He has an aquarium service company. They built a complete house inside the Dome last year. Ray did the tank and it was very nice. Drop him a PM and he should be able to point you in the right direction or contact me and I will get you a phone number for Ray.

Now, if you need a mortgage guy that knows how to do loans for a house with a built-in aquarium just contact me (shameless plug).