Large tank home locations?

[Shnabbles]

I was going to be putting a 250+ tank see through in the wall between my family room and living room.. The home is being constructed now and the wall i was planning on putting it looks like its a pretty important wall and iv gotten very scared of cutting a serious whole in this thing...

If i dont go in wall i was gonna put it in the living room.. but a large tank, a large tv and a fire place may make the room feel alittle cramped.

I can put the tank in the living room, but the living room is not a room we would be spending much time in, other looking at the fish.

Does anyone have a tank in their house that is in a room all by itself? or a room where they dont spend alot of time?

 

[mflamb]

Will be in my game room.

 

[Kent E]

My tank is in the great room but it does feel cramped. I didn't think it would feel as big as it does. Honestly, I dissapointed because the room isn't as cozy as it was either. I think I will build another tank in the basement someday. Not that I go down there alot. But I would go down there much more often if the tank was there.

I would encourage putting it in a room that would be a good "guy hangout" place.

 

[Shnabbles]

In the house we are in now (only a 55) i watch the tank during commercials or whatever.... The plan was for it to sit flush with the wall in the family room and have the room in the living bumped out for the rest of the width.

I dunno i need to have a contractor come and check out the framing and see if its wise to cut into the wall or not.

 

[LauraCline]

Good thread, don't blame you for being cautious on cutting that wall. Can you talk with the builders about modifying the support for the wall so that you can have the tank without compromising structural integrity? Maybe they can change the configuration of the studs and brace it differently so you can still put the tank in the wall.

I'm in the same boat as far as trying to find a place for a big tank without feeling cramped. I want the tank in the living room because I want it where I hang out and so everyone can see it when they come in but, it's kind of a long narrow room with large windows at either end. It can't go in front windows and I don't want it across from the tv because of the glare. I have a prefect spot in our dining room but, we don't really hang out in there and it wouldn't really be seen from the living room. My husband suggested putting it behind the couch so I can lay on the sofa and stare at it but, that would make maintenance such a pain. We're removing a half- wall between the living room and kitchen/dining room so I'm hoping that will open up the space and give me a possibility that I haven't thought of yet. Let us know what you decide.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I had the hole in my wall done while my house was under construction. It is in a 6" thick supporting wall. They just put a thick header in the top of the opening. Have your contractor do it for you. It's not hard for them to do especially if you haven't drywalled yet. I also had Suntunnel skylights put in as well as GFI outlets, a floor drain and two dedicated 20 amp circuits all done by the contractor for the future tank. It's great to have it all planned out and done for you.
As for where to put the tank, I would definitely go with your original idea of having it between the living and family rooms. You want it in a room you frequent. This makes it more worthy imo because you can enjoy it every time you walk past it, every time you watch tv, hang out etc. I did what Laura mentioned. I had the tank put in my family room in the wall above the sofa. I have a large laundry room behind the family room which houses the tank and equipment. Maintenance won't be bad at all. Most will be done from the back. From the front all I have to do is stand on the sofa which will serve as a built in ledge. I would be happy to post some pictures if I can figure out how. The tank isn't in yet but you can see the layout of the room and how it looks with the hole all framed out. I do have a tv, wall of windows and a built in reading nook in the room as well and it doesn't look cramped. You just need to have a balance in placement of the items and choose a tank size that compliments the room. My goal with this setup was to have the tank compliment this room without detracting from the architectural features and I think I pulled it off. If you are interested in seeing the pictures please pm me a friendly reminder so I don't forget and I'll try my best to post them.

 

[AcroSteve]

Worth repeating. Don't be concerned, it can be done right.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8162293#post8162293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chihuahua6
I had the hole in my wall done while my house was under construction. It is in a 6" thick supporting wall. They just put a thick header in the top of the opening. Have your contractor do it for you. It's not hard for them to do especially if you haven't drywalled yet. I also had Suntunnel skylights put in as well as GFI outlets, a floor drain and two dedicated 20 amp circuits all done by the contractor for the future tank. It's great to have it all planned out and done for you.

 

[lovelylinda]

Since our kids are now grown, we're going to downsize our house, but upsize the tank! Will do just what you plan, and have the fish room planned and a drain and electric. The only way he can get me to move is by planning a new tank with me. No pics, only in the dreaming stage.

 

[Chihuahua6]

I forgot to mention I also had a fan installed in the ceiling above the tank. The motor is above the room in the attic so it's completely silent.

 

[kjord97]

I am placing my 180 gal in the dineing room once our house is complete. We are hanging drywall this week. NOV 1st i move in, and then let the tank building start.

 

[Scuba Dog]

Im going to have two 180s in my living room, I also am in similar circumstances as you, with a large tv and fire place. This is my solution. The large square frame will be for a fifty inch plasma.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

I wound up putting at 72 G bowfront in my entry way to the house. It's out of the way but i often stand at the front door and look in to it. The entry way is alos the hall way between our living room and bedrooms so it gets passed by/looked at a lot.

As for the big tank, 400G, we built a 30' X 12' sunrom onto the back of the house. The tank sits in the middle of the 12' end wall. I'm just now finishing up the plumbing and checking for leaks. It will eventually be completely enclosed like a built in. There is no TV in this room, only seating araingments and a stereo so it's basically turned into a fish viewing room.

As for the built in the wall, it's already been stated, talk to your builder if you really want it in that wall. They can fix the wall to support the roof as well as house the tank.

 

[jon575]

I had the same problem with where to put mine, so when we were builing the house, we just decided to have it installed in the breakfast area. It gets a lot more traffic than in the formal living and just is too big for the family room. It stand 7ft 2 hieght and 8 ft in lenght and just over 2 ft width.

 

[Shnabbles]

Thanks guys, the girl selling the houses has a friend that is a contractor and he has a in wall fish tank.. .he is coming down tomorrow to check out the neighbors framing (same house as us)... if he think it can be done then i gotta get the builder to be cool with doing the reinforcing.

If they are cool with it, should i have them put the studs in that wall or what?? I seriously dont think they will install the whole tank... and i dont want them to. i am still undecided on tank size mainly cause i dont know its location lol

 

[Capt Crabtabulous]

We just built a new home (around my aquarium according to my wife). We had the architect put additional footings directly below where the tank sits. Something to think about.

 

[Kent E]

Blown chevy arrangment seems ideal to me.

 

[splateee]

We built our 240 gallon FOWLR as a room divider setup. Originaly we had a small half wall dividing the kitchen and family room. In the family room now we have the 240 gallon and a 90 gallon reef tank with a fireplace and 60inch tv. The room does not feel cramped at all.

 

[blufyre3]

330 in basement

330 in basement

We inherited our tank just after building our new house so we didn't plan a place for it on the main floor. We were finishing half of the basement for a billiard room and have a full bath with it so we decided to finish the other half for the viewing room with a separate life support/equipment room. We love the set up and spend more time together as a family playing pool and watching the tank. Also, when we have parties, the men play pool and the women relax in the other room.

 

[pennyguy23]

Just ask if the wall is "load barring" and if not then it you can cut a hole in it. If it is then you can put a steel beam across for a header and still cut the hole. I had to have a 4 foot wall of my 16ft fish room be load barring because of the span. Just ask your developer, We can ALWAYS come up with something.