240 gallon In-wall tank project

[Drzy]

Howdy folks. I've been lurking in these forums for maybe six months now. I'm pretty new to the salt water world, I began my 55 gallon FOWLR system in January 2006. I've had a lot of success with it, not because of genius planning but because I've been very lucky. I have no sump, and my only cleaning is the live rock, a weekly 10% water change, and a good protein skimmer.

In three weekends, I'll be going househunting. My fiancee and I will most likely build from scratch, and #1 in my plans is getting an in-wall tank friendly house. It'll be a big step up from my current tank in terms of fish knowledge required, and while I've read quite a bit I still have a lot to learn.

I'm planning on somewhere between 240-300 gallons, but that's not set in stone. If you were getting a custom built house and had the opportunity to get it designed around a tank, what would you do? How much size should I be setting aside for the tank behind the wall? How big a concern is ventilation in the room? Would the equipment/tank be better kept in something like the laundry/utility room or the garage? Really, I'm looking for any advice you can give. I'll be reading everything and will post updates here as the house gets built and the tank goes up. It'll probably be a year-long process and then some.

Thanks! :)

[technomex]

I have a 150 gal in-wall tank. In the building process, I had a drain placed under the tank for the eventual flooding of the sump and/or busted hose. Also, lots and lots of electrical plugs, an exhaust fan, water access. It also kinda depends on what you want to do as far as pumps, skimmer, fuge, water top off, water change tank, noise filtering into your room, the eventual chiller. I thought I had it all planned out, and slowly started to overtake the laundry room.

[thedude]

Canopy doors that allow for front access! Cleaning a tank backwards and blind is no fun.

[hobogato]

i have a 240 in wall, and everything (sump/fuge, skimmer, reactors, pumps, etc.) is contained over and under the tank. no fish room. i did it this way because the tank is a room divider. if you woul like to come by and take a look at how i did it for some ideas, you are welcome to. just send me a pm and ill give ya some directions

[moneytank]

the more room behind the tank the better. trust me, you will run out of room. You will also need an exhaust fan of some sorts. As posted above some sort of front access, especially when you go to place stuff in the tank: rock, corals etc....

[matt]

There are several really nice in wall tanks owned by maast members, and I'm sure they'd all be happy to show them to you. Scuba steveo has one.

If you're really wanting to go nuts, you might consider Gator's 11 foot tank/stand he's selling. It's a great deal. The biggest problem with a tank that size is house space, so if you're building you just plan for it.

[Bill S]

My 215 is "between rooms" as well. If you would like to come see it, you are welcome any time. It's a new setup, and not yet complete. But, like with Ace's, you'll get LOTS of ideas. You will NOT waste your time looking at other's ideas, successes & failures!

[Texreefer]

i have an in wall and i built a room in my garage to house all equipment.. it has airconditioning , chiller and exhaust fan hooked to lighting canopy,, like the others you are welcome to stop by and get some ideas

[Drzy]

Thanks for the replies! I've written down your ideas... I'd been waffling on whether front panels would be a good idea, but now it's sounding almost like a must. I hadn't even considered a drain. This advice is gold to me, it's far better to learn these things now.

Also, thank you for the invitations to see your systems. I'll be around these forums more often, so hopefully I'd get to know some of you before I just show up at your homes. I still have yet to see things like a calcium reactor, chiller, or even a refugium, and would love to see how you've handled your plumbing. Of course step #1 on how I can learn more about that would be to pay more attention the next time I'm at the LFS's (typically Wolf Reef and Alamo Aquatics based on proximity, both fantastic stores).

See you around. 8)

[Drzy]

Thanks again folks. Also, thank you to GaryP, I'm sorry I never replied to the PM. Thanks for the generous offer. I'd still like to get to know you all a bit more through here before I intrude in your homes, but it's fantastic that so many of you have made your homes and tanks available.

I'm finally in the process of meeting with builders... one Tuesday and another Wednesday this week. The builder for tomorrow asked me to bring a "wish list" of what I'd like to see in the home. I'll be bringing a sample floor plan, the one seen in the attachment. In the aquarium section of the wish list, I've put:

In-wall aquarium. Placed in garage (“fish room”), visible from dining room. Front panel canopy doors for access from dining room.
* Electrical outlets in fish room
* Plumbing in fish room

Anything more I should be putting? Plumbing seems a bit vague... sink? Drain? Basically, is there anything I should let the builder know I'd like included in the cost at this point, aside from what I've already written and my ridiculous drawing?

Drzy

[jc]

Could they put in a drain in the floor of the fish room? Just in case of a leak the water could just run outside. Kind of like the drains in the floors of large building restrooms.

[Bill S]

Put a tub sink in right next to the tank in the back of the garage. If it was mine, I wouldn't have ANYTHING open from the front - just a plain wall - come look at mine. Have them run dedicated circuits to the tank area, both GFCI and non-GFCI (for lighting - MH doesn't like them). You should also consider some type of air exchange system - you will be generating a LOT of heat, and you will have a very difficult time keeping that tank cool in the garage in the summer, even with a chiller. Might also consider insulated garage and doors, with central air.

[mathias]

if they poured the foundation already its out of the question, but if you catch them before it might be possible for the plumber to had a drain pipe to the sewer line....