60 inch tank - front access or not?

[Jretzer]

Building a in wall tank in our new house. Going with 250 gallon that is 5 feet long and 3 feet front to back. I need to get the contractor the specs to frame tank in. Unsure on if I want front access or not. I currently have a 4 foot tank that is 18 inches deep and don't regret not having front access. This new tank is quite a bit bigger so I am not sure if I should go for it or not. I welcome your opinions, feel free to post pics too. Thanks.

[davocean]

I prefer to have access from front, or all sides possible, guess it just depends on your layout and design and what you are coordinating w/ in furniture and such.
I built one for someone not long ago that was a simple face frame, had 2 doors that swung out, and I placed that face frame on piano hinges so the whole thing would lift up as one piece as well.
I have pics somewhere if you'd like if you go that route.

[username in use]

3ft front to back. Once you add rock work and equipment it's going to be hard to do anything down in front of that tank if you can only access it from the back. I'm 6'5 and would want to have front access.

[davocean]

Here ya go, what I did, this was their only access so we went w/ large doors and full access.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/sub/fliplid2_zps019ae9ae.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/mermail/media/sub/fliplid2_zps019ae9ae.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/sub/fliplid3_zpsb54e94a0.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/mermail/media/sub/fliplid3_zpsb54e94a0.jpg.html)

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/mermail/sub/fliplid4_zpsa0404ad2.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/mermail/media/sub/fliplid4_zpsa0404ad2.jpg.html)

[7thdarkangel]

If you don't add front access you will regret it down the road. I built a 125 into a wall with out front access and it sucked to add something. you place it, it looks good from the back, you walk around to the front and say, well that looks like crap. Added front access when I did my 180 and its so nice. Makes the fish more social as well.

[Jretzer]

I don't have front access currently but think it may make sense this time around. Thanks for the pics, looks nice. Is the bottom false doors? Anyone else have pictures?

[davocean]

No bottom doors are functional, behind tank is exterior wall so this is their only access, wanted to maximize that for them.

[cilyjr]

I have frontal access and an glad every day I put it in.
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z43/cilyjr/tank/20141220_162827_zps5dtrsml7.jpg (http://s194.photobucket.com/user/cilyjr/media/tank/20141220_162827_zps5dtrsml7.jpg.html)

[johno4]

I do not have front access on my in wall. I love the look but re ally wish I could get to the tank from the front. Placing coral and moving anything is a real PITA without front access.

[johno4]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160226/33cdacc24248d20f2bdb7bba95d5d31d.jpg

[Jretzer]

I think I am going to end up with front access on this. Stand is now complete, being that the tank is 37 inches deep and I don't have a ton of access on the sides leads me to think that I will miss out if I don't add front access.