180g inwall build journal

[sick lid]

Well, now that I've finally finished the paint & trim, here's the progress from the beginning. The tank is built into the middle of a large room, to divide the space between the master bedroom and home office. Note: don't build the stand until you have the tank. I was going to build a custom 7 foot tank, and built the stand first. Custom tank in the dimensions I wanted would have run almost 2grand more than I spent on the 6 footer.

[sick lid]

Here's the end result. Running since October '07

[eyebeatbadgers]

Wow. Very nice. How about a picture of the guts from behind? I'd like to see how much room you left yourself to work back there

[david10072]

Woot. It looks nice. well done !

[sick lid]

PVC pipes & valves are for water changes. The T-off is from the filter return, which leads to the laundry sink via the soffit for the heating ducts, which originally ran above the tank anyways, and made for a natural division in the room before I put the tank wall in.
The FX5 is plenty powerful enough to drain the tank in a hurry. The light canopy lifts up to allow better access if I need. The timers & power strip are mounted high on the wall just below the ceiling.

[lauraleellbp]

Is the tank finished on the rear side, some sort of access panel, or is it open like in the pic?

That's an AMAZING build- thanks so much for sharing it!

[BiscuitSlayer]

sick lid -

Thats awesome man. Very well executed. The tank looks fantastic, and you did a good job finishing it up to make it look nice (on the wall). What are you using for lighting? You said posted this in the low tech forum, so I am interested in your specs with regards to co2/no co2, fertilization, etc.

[sick lid]

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

Is the tank finished on the rear side, some sort of access panel, or is it open like in the pic?

That's an AMAZING build- thanks so much for sharing it!

It's unfinished on the back side. I'm not sure if I'm going to close it in or not. I like the ambient light that spills into the office at night, but I might still finish around it. I'm just glad I'm finally finished the 'bedroom' side.

BiscuitSlayer- Thanks. I built the trim that way so that it sits tight against the glass. Lighting is 8x40watt T12's, and 3x25watt cf spirals. No CO2, & so far no ferts.
Thanks for all your comments. Now I've got to finish painting the rest of the room ('70's wood panelling) crown molding & baseboard, & do something about the old 86g in the background.

[Orlando]

Thats a bad mama jama!

[plantbrain]

Two big green thumbs up.



Regards,
Tom Barr

[SeaSerpant]

Howly cow, that is great

[want4rain]

thats just stunning Joe!!! i wish my hubby would let me put one of those in OUR bedroom!!!

those your old bosamis from the 86?

-ash

[ikuzo]

the corner inwall is an amazing idea.

[sick lid]

Thanks Tom & Seaserpent.

Originally Posted by want4rain

thats just stunning Joe!!! i wish my hubby would let me put one of those in OUR bedroom!!!

those your old bosamis from the 86?

-ash

Hiya ash!
It's amazing how much better it looks from simply adding the trimwork.
I've still got my 3 original boesmanis in the old 86. I've got 5 of their juvies in the 180, and 15 fry in my 32g, almost big enough to trade in at the lfs. Once a month I pull plants outta the 86 into the 32, and wait for fry to show up. The adults just eat them in the 86.

Ikuzo, I almost didn't do it on the corner. The only reason I did it that way was I thought the borders would be too narrow, and would look funny if I kept it on the face wall. The wall on the right of that 'hallway' couldn't be moved, as it contained a structural post. Initially I wanted a 7foot tank, I was going to put it on the right, against the structural post, and have the hallway on the far left into the office. I'm quite pleased at the way it turned out, as it makes the tank look much bigger.

Biggest PITA? Trying to 'scape from the back. Ugh.

[sick lid]

I should also mention another major point with this set-up, it is critical that water quality and quarantine protocol is maintained, because in order to catch a sick fish in this tank (from the back only where the plants are the thickest), you'd pretty much have to destroy the 'scape. I made that mistake. Once.