Help inwall removable panel idea

[rogergolf66]

Ok I'm building a 240gal and thinking about going inwall. Any pics or ideas on how to have removable panels above the tank for access. I want them to be stealth so u don't know they r there.

It will 6ft long I would like for them to be 18-24inches tall. Would need to be light weight easy to remove and replace. Mainly for aquascaping and placing corals. I will have access from the other room/garage

Roger

 

[Dmorty217]

What you describing will be few and far between since most that have a inwall tank have the tank butting up against a fish room inside the wall for easy access to everything support related. Or if the tank is in the middle of the room the "canopy" so to speak has access panels made out of wood doors for easy opening and closing. Why wouldn't you just aquascape and place corals from the back of the tank via access from the room/garage?

 

[rogergolf66]

What you describing will be few and far between since most that have a inwall tank have the tank butting up against a fish room inside the wall for easy access to everything support related. Or if the tank is in the middle of the room the "canopy" so to speak has access panels made out of wood doors for easy opening and closing. Why wouldn't you just aquascape and place corals from the back of the tank via access from the room/garage?

yes that is possible but it's difficult to get everything placed exactly the way you want to see it from the main room. this would be my second in wall Tank I love them but that is the one downfall. I'm thinking if I made some kind of panels that would like a picture frame type thing that I could remove and hide the seams from them that may work but I'm not really sure how to do it.I just figured somebody out there must have already figured it out. if not I'm sure I can figure it out I was just trying to save some time with the design and mounting ideas

 

[daplatapus]

I'd always worry the panel or panels would either fall on their own, or as I'm removing them they'd bump the wall or the tank. Have you given any consideration to having a panel that flips up on hinges with hydraulic cylinders or something to hold it/them up? Kind of like a hatchback on a car. My build is a cabinet style and that's what I did with my doors and I like them more than I thought I would. I could totally see myself doing this if I had an in-wall.

 

[Dmorty217]

If your handy with metal you could make a frame and install it inside the wall and then do the frame idea like you mentioned above and fix them into place using heavy duty magnets

 

[anbosu]

I'd always worry the panel or panels would either fall on their own, or as I'm removing them they'd bump the wall or the tank. Have you given any consideration to having a panel that flips up on hinges with hydraulic cylinders or something to hold it/them up? Kind of like a hatchback on a car. My build is a cabinet style and that's what I did with my doors and I like them more than I thought I would. I could totally see myself doing this if I had an in-wall.

I like this idea, hydraulic arms would be pretty nice.

 

[rogergolf66]

I'd always worry the panel or panels would either fall on their own, or as I'm removing them they'd bump the wall or the tank. Have you given any consideration to having a panel that flips up on hinges with hydraulic cylinders or something to hold it/them up? Kind of like a hatchback on a car. My build is a cabinet style and that's what I did with my doors and I like them more than I thought I would. I could totally see myself doing this if I had an in-wall.

Can u post what you did so I can understand better what u r saying please?

Thanks
Roger

 

[daplatapus]

So keep in mind mine is a cabinet style top door. In your situation, think of my door but think of it either 6' long, or if you went 2 doors, 36" long. Here's my cabinet:




Now here it is opened up - note how it's completely out of the way and still supported:





So on mine, because the doors are small and light, I was able to just use a standard European hinge and the door supports are standard door hardware as well. You can get them in different strengths for different weights of doors. You'd have to have an approximate weight of the doors you're wanting to build then see if they make something that could support it, but I know they make small hydraulic arms that function in the same manner for heavier doors although it may not specifically be for cabinetry. I'm not sure if they are in the states (hard to imagine they're not though) but I know LEE Valley carries a lot of that specialty stuff that would probably do fine.

 

[Jeff000]

Seems like you are making a small problem a huge one. Just do everything from the back. For the hardly ever that you are placing corals have someone on the other side of the wall guiding you.

You'll always know they are doors there, just how you want the doors to look, no way to make seamless drywall look without seamless drywall.

 

[daplatapus]

Agreed, almost impossible to make a door not look like a door. So unless you want to celebrate the fact that there's a door there, I'd spend the time and effort figuring out how to do everything from the back as well.

But for the record... I like doors

 

[rogergolf66]

Thanks for posting

 

[dave.m]

You will definitely want a door over the front of the tank. Your thinking is correct in this, not only for placing rock and coral but for cleaning the glass, stirring the sand, pulling out the occasional dead fish, etc. Trying to hide the door is a bit more unlikely. If you don't want it to be too obviously a door you might consider putting it in as a panel hung on cleats instead of hinges and brackets. That way you could just lift it out as required but then hang it flush again.

Dave.M

 

[rogergolf66]

You will definitely want a door over the front of the tank. Your thinking is correct in this, not only for placing rock and coral but for cleaning the glass, stirring the sand, pulling out the occasional dead fish, etc. Trying to hide the door is a bit more unlikely. If you don't want it to be too obviously a door you might consider putting it in as a panel hung on cleats instead of hinges and brackets. That way you could just lift it out as required but then hang it flush again.

Dave.M

That's exactly what I was think too. Cleats. I'm thinking about using a trim around the seams so it dosnt look like a door. I can frame the tank in a way that the moulding will blend the door molding too. I want it to be light weight but durable. I'm thinking aluminum tube frame. What's ur thought on that?

 

[Jeff000]

You will definitely want a door over the front of the tank. Your thinking is correct in this, not only for placing rock and coral but for cleaning the glass, stirring the sand, pulling out the occasional dead fish, etc. Trying to hide the door is a bit more unlikely. If you don't want it to be too obviously a door you might consider putting it in as a panel hung on cleats instead of hinges and brackets. That way you could just lift it out as required but then hang it flush again.

Dave.M

I have a 6'x32"x32", it's mounted in wall, and higher than most. I have never once wished I had access from the front in the 3 years I've had it. I even sound proofed the walls, so when I place corals or the like I need to speakerphone my wife so I can hear her. I still would not change it, as the smooth finish is what really sets the tank off.

 

[stan zemanek]

Here's how I did mine. Just 1x6 tongue and groove that slide in on a channel. I have had many people wonder how I access the front of my tank.

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[rogergolf66]

Cool idea

 

[dave.m]

I'm thinking aluminum tube frame. What's ur thought on that?

You'll need some kind of board that won't warp or turn to mush with repeated splashing and exposure to high humidity over the years. You might consider fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), StarBoard or plywood. Whatever you use, it should be sealed for good looks and protection.

Aluminum tube or T-frame would be great as long as it is large enough not to bend over the length of your panel.

Dave.M

 

[bc1281]

These work great for holding panels.http://www.leevalley.com/US/hardware/page.aspx?p=70520&cat=3,44296