suggestions please

[polarbear]

So I am currently in the closing stages of buying my first home. I had to give up my first 29 gallon tank when I moved last year into my current rental home and never had a chance to set up my 120 gallon long tank. I have plans for the tank once we close on the house and would like to build it into the wall. There is a nice storage area under the stairs and its also a nice wall to display the tank on. I have some concerns with building the tank into the wall but have always loved the way they look. Does anyone here have a in wall tank? If so can you please share some tips with me and maybe some pictures. Also if you dont have one do you know of anyone who does and what is your opinion. I have almost everything to get started but am missing the lights. I was thinking about going with the AquaticLife T5 HighOutput Lights to cut down on the heat. What do you think? Any information will be a huge help. Also, does anyone know of someone who installs in wall tanks?

[Eric Alvarado]

I've seen a few tanks placed in walls. Sometimes it works out, sometimes the interest gets lost and you have a massive hole to plug in the wall. It's strictly a personal preference. Personally, one of the places I enjoy the most is looking in from the sides of the aquarium, a vantage point that you can't get with an in-wall setup. I get the attaction though.

For a tank that size, I suspect most people will suggest you go with Metal Halide lighting, but T5 will definately support coral growth. It all depends on what you want in the tank.

[subsea]

Consider the evoporation from the tank into a closed space. I have read post where there was a need to put a vent fan to help with moisture removal. I would also think that cleaning the inside of the viewing front would be more difficult.

[JamesL]

I believe our new sponsor @BeanPets has an in-wall tank. There is a thread somewhere where they talk about it.

[Timfish]

Consider the evoporation from the tank into a closed space. I have read post where there was a need to put a vent fan to help with moisture removal. I would also think that cleaning the inside of the viewing front would be more difficult.

+1 Done properly it can be dramatic having a living picture but having had to do maintenance on in wall tanks I would encourage you to find a good carpenter and at least put cabinet doors above the tank to access the glass from the front. Cleaning the glass from the back is a hassle due to the distorted view looking down through the water and if the wall comes right down to the top of the tank there will be a couple of inches you can't see. Algae magnets will help but sooner or later you'll need to scrap some of the tougher algae off and access from the front makes it a lot easier. Do a some scale drawings to figure out the best layout for ease of access to the equipment. One account I thankfully don't have anymore was a 9 foot long in the wall tank the architect left only a 14" space behind the tank for access with a walk through five rooms to get to the front, talk about a pain to clean.

[Robb in Austin]

Hey Mitchell,

You might poke around RC and MAAST for GreenMako's build thread. It's a number of years old, but he built a false wall around a large tank that might provide some ideas. I'd also suggest looking at Melev's current rebuild thread as his is well documented, look on Reef Addicts for his.

Of course, I'm sure a few people around here have built ins and can provide lotsa of assistance too, as you have already seen.