Building your own tank

[Griz]

I'm looking for some links to information on constructing a custom tank. I will be doing some renovations this year which will involve moving some walls and I'm thinking about building a large tank into one of them. Something in the 6 foot range. This is a long way off but I will need to have a plan in place when I start. I want to learn all I can before I get going later this year since my construction plans will have to take the tank into consideration. I am fortunate in that the wall I want to use will be a non-supporting wall and plumbing, drains, electrical etc are located right behind it and will be simple to customize they way I want.

So, any advice, links, book recommendations would really be appreciated. I'm experienced in building construction, it's just the tank construction and how it is integrated into the wall that I am interested in learning more about. Things like how moisture will effect my construction materials, design ideas, that sort of thing.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I'd google it and look on the DIY forum on here

 

[ioNightShade]

Just follow the pictures.



JT

 

[Griz]

Pretty cool. And thanks to the mod who moved this.

 

[Discomafia]

This is a good place to start, and I've read a lot about people building their own aquariums, and they all have one thing in common. Help from GARF. So all the best, and do tell us how this project turns out.

 

[ecto1]

I think that sounds cool, best of luck to you.

How are you going to be able to access the filters and other equipment? I'd suggest building a cabinet over it, above the hood, for easy access to tank, and a cabinet below it to keep all the equipment in.

 

[Griz]

Nice links Discomafia. Thank you!

ecto1, my idea has been is to have everything accessible from behind. Your suggestion about cabinets above and/or below is a good one though and I'll give that some thought. The laundry room is back there so I will have a concrete floor, drain and water supply all behind the wall. I'm pretty handy so I am envisioning plumbing to make water changes easy. It will be an entirely built-in tank, although I'd like to come up with an idea for access to to front for feeding.

This is in the very early planning stage, but when taking on a big project I like to research it to death before starting anything. A wall will be taken out and another built sometime later this year. The aquiarium is something I have always thought about, and even if it isn't put in right away, the wall framing will be done so that the tank can be put in later without having to tear out the wall again and start over.

I will definitely keep you posted.
Cheers