"false" in-wall build ??

[Wrench]

I've got a build in the works and I can't build the tank into a wall. I don't want the look of just a tank sitting on a stand. Anyone with ideas or pics for inspiration to making the tank look built-in?

[iluzhun]

Just a thought but why not build either a false wall around the tank or build the tank into a full wall sized entertainment center or bookcase ?

[flamron]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/flamron/130G%20Build/photo4.jpg

Here is what I did. I oversized the stand to butt up against the wall.

HTH,

[garygonzales]

thats looks good too.............

[Indymann99]

This might give you an idea.

my basement 120g

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tankframing.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Basement52009.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tank12132009.jpg

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Tankdoorsopen.jpg

[Wrench]

Thanks for the ideas guys. Here is a pic of where the tank is going. It will run parallel with the stairs with one end up against the closet wall. I will be relocating the thermostat and air register vent. The sump and all equipment will be in the basement. Still not sure if I'm going to push it back against the stairs or bring it out flush with the existing wall (where the closet door is).

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd348/tbracci/BC7228381_14_1.jpg

[Luckless]

Questions.
1. Is that air vent part of a forced hot air/AC system? If so, why is the thermostat directly above it? (Or is it a wide sensor grid with a control point? If the sensor is actually there, they should be moved apart anyway to avoid false readings.)

2. Just how 'built in' are you looking for? And what is stopping you from basically extending that closet/stair enclosure? Besides likely needing to rebuild your banister to eliminate some of the spindles that would keep you from easily painting the 'back' of the enclosure.

Assuming you don't just do a full built in that gets dry walled around, I would suggest building a tall cabinet set that either mirrors the style of door, or the kitchen cupboards. Added bonus would be to find matching baseboard for a lower trim. The really hard part of it making it look like it really 'fits' is going to be dealing with the ceiling. It appears you have a raised ceiling that juts at an odd angle. Any chance of being able to re do that section so it isn't raised above your tank? (Might also want to pull the baseboard so you can get flush against the wall. Remember to take a 3-5 foot level to check that the wall is true before you build, if not you'll have to scribe your cabinet if you want a flush fit.)

I would also suggest considering a bead of silicone if you want a painted finish look on a floating cabinet that isn't structured into the walls.

[Wrench]

Thanks for the ideas!

Design goals-

1.) When I remove the system I want to have little to no evidence that it was ever here. A little sheetrock patch and paint work is no big deal.

2.) No cutting of the floor, period.

3.) A generally clean, neat installation. The tank is to be the showpiece and I do not want the stand, cabinetry, etc. to detract from it.


Questions.
1. Is that air vent part of a forced hot air/AC system? If so, why is the thermostat directly above it? (Or is it a wide sensor grid with a control point? If the sensor is actually there, they should be moved apart anyway to avoid false readings.)

It is and I plan on moving the thermostat onto another wall. Just an oversight by the builder I suppose.

2. Just how 'built in' are you looking for? And what is stopping you from basically extending that closet/stair enclosure? Besides likely needing to rebuild your banister to eliminate some of the spindles that would keep you from easily painting the 'back' of the enclosure.

I just want it to look like it fits. I hate the look of stands. Extending the closet wall was my first idea. I've got some extra room to work with so instead of placing the tank flush with the wall I was thinking of setting it back a bit and building a small ledge/bar around the front and one end of the tank. The area behind the tank is what I'm clueless about what to do with in regards to removing the railing, etc. I really don't want to wall off the area behind the tank.


Assuming you don't just do a full built in that gets dry walled around

Thought about it but I think it would close off the room too much. Right now I have a very open feeling with the floor plan of the house. I know I will lose a bit of this when the tank is in place but I want to keep it to a minimum. For this reason, I'm thinking about having a custom tank built (5'x3') instead of using the 7' tank I have now.

The really hard part of it making it look like it really 'fits' is going to be dealing with the ceiling. It appears you have a raised ceiling that juts at an odd angle. Any chance of being able to re do that section so it isn't raised above your tank? (Might also want to pull the baseboard so you can get flush against the wall. Remember to take a 3-5 foot level to check that the wall is true before you build, if not you'll have to scribe your cabinet if you want a flush fit.)

I really don't want to modify the ceiling. I would like to have some sort of open top canopy that is a foot or so above the tank. It can either be hung by cables from the ceiling or supported by the adjacent wall (where the thermostat is now. I was thinking about a 1x frame covered with sheetrock and painted to match the walls.

Thoughts?

[Untamed12]

Get a custom acrylic tank made with an angled top matching the angle of the stairwell. When full of water it would allow you to look directly down through the angle portion...would be fabulous for viewing claims.

Brainstorming...it is a wild idea.

[Untamed12]

Since all the sump and everything ugly will be somewhere else (basement or under the stairs)...consider a minimalist, yet attractive stand....maybe some sort of metal stand that is shaped like an hourglass...

...or maybe a dozen straight pillers like the stairway spindles or stairway rail...something that leaves the hardwood exposed all the way under the tank.

... has anyone ever hung a tank from a ceiling? That would be something.

[der_wille_zur_macht]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/flamron/130G%20Build/photo4.jpg

Here is what I did. I oversized the stand to butt up against the wall.

HTH,

I had a 125 with pretty much the same sort of stand - it butted against the wall at one end, and right up to the ceiling. It more or less looked built in but wasn't.

[Luckless]

In that case I would go with a low counter set at 30 inches that is built out from the closet wall. Find where the 30 inch high mark meets with stairs, and then take it in another inch or two. Paint the sides the same as the wall colour, and get doors in the same style as that closet door. Use a dark bull nosed counter top that matches the colour of your stairs, and hanging lights. Build and level the counter over a thin dense felt or something to avoid damage to the floor.

Actually maybe not hanging lights. You'll want some sort of minimalistic canopy that covers the tank to avoid junk/dirt getting kicked from the stairs into the tank.

[flamron]

Here are a couple pics of mine nearly finished:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/flamron/15294_1274427334637_1048533754_6535.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/flamron/15294_1274428174658_1048533754_6535.jpg

Still need to silicone the edges and get a piece up on the end - just haven't had time yet.

[flamron]

The one thing I don't like about mine is its square....

The doorway to the kitchen is out of square quite a bit (about 3/4" or so). This makes my square stand look really crooked. Dang cheap contractors!

[Luckless]

The one thing I don't like about mine is its square....

The doorway to the kitchen is out of square quite a bit (about 3/4" or so). This makes my square stand look really crooked. Dang cheap contractors!

Is it just an archway with dry walled corners, or a doorway with wooden jambs? It really isn't a hard thing to fix either way, but shimming jambs and repainting is likely the easiest, especially if there is no actual door.

[hoffy02]

I think the hanging from the cieling idea above is exactly what you should do!! The plumbing could go right into the wall under the stairs and onto the basement... I think you could really make it look sharp and modern with some really small diameter cable and nice hardware... go for it! It would keep the open feel of the room..

[NoHooks]

Here's what I'm doing. The project is much farther along than the pictures show. The first picture shows the 8 foot tank surrounded (on three sides - fourth side removed while building) by "kitchen" cabinetry. The second picture shows the tank support integrated into the cabinetry structure with the wood top removed. The third picture is a closeup of the legs (there are 8) of the tank support, which go all the way through to the concrete floor. The support is fabricated from 1 x 3 tubular steel. Overall, the structure is 10 feet long and there are "flip-up" doors over the top of the tank giving the whole thing a built-in look. All the cabinetry is functional.

<a href="http://s911.photobucket.com/albums/ac316/NoHooks/?action=view&current=DSC_0552.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i911.photobucket.com/albums/ac316/NoHooks/th_DSC_0552.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
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[stan zemanek]

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/paintman27/Fishtank005.jpg
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/paintman27/Fishtank006.jpg