New Build - In-wall office build

[Holmesese]

Time to share a build, it is nearly complete now but I will add the build pics as I have time. The back story: I always have to have an aquarium in my office, I used to have this 10 gallon at work.

Then with Covid I combined all my little tanks into a used 180 while I worked on a new at home office. Here is the 180 - it’s in rough shape and crazy disorganized!!! The silicone is showing signs of wear, aquascape isn’t the best, and there are tons of scratches in the glass.

The lighting is a couple of black boxes (hence the uneven lighting). Blue tang I got from someone else has some scars that appear to be from a previous bout of HLL.

The goal: Refinish my basement and put a new 90 gallon LPS/softie/anemone tank in the wall where my office will b. The setup needs to be very simple as I will travel a fair bit so I don’t want to have to worry about lps. More pics to come!

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Very nice, following along. I want to see how you in wall reefers get it done!

 

[Holmesese]

Thanks! I have always been impressed with in wall stuff and really wanted to try doing one, but the tearing out of an existing wall in a house scared me off.

Since I am building walls into the basement it seems a little easier to just build it in. The wall I am putting it into is only about 6.5’ wide, so I had to downsize to a 4ft tank to make it fit easier. I also have always had used stuff, so excited to get everything new this round

 

[Holmesese]

So it’s been way too long since I have updated. We are keeping the basement simple, my view of reefing over time has been the more simple the better!

just prepping for spraying the basement ceiling black to give the feel of a larger room. LED lighting in. Framing in started that will separate living area from my office.

 

[Holmesese]

Here are the photos after spraying and putting LED lights in the ceiling. Found a decent 90 gallon and built a super basic stand. The plan is to have the front window viewable in the living area and the stand/sump visible in my office area.

The viewing window through the wall is smaller than the tank so that all you see is water- no water line, no overflow or wavemaker etc.

 

[Reeferjunkie]

Looking good nice setup so far

 

[Holmesese]

Thank you! I have had dozens of large tanks over the years and I am a little embarrassed to say this 90 gallon is the first one I have ever bought new.

 

[Holmesese]

Didn’t get pics of the process, but I used a 75 gallon tank for the sump. Got some glass cut at Lowes and made three chambers. Skimmer chamber, double baffle to refugium, triple baffle with media area that feeds to a return pump.
Went with the big sump to increase total water volume.

 

[Holmesese]

After the basic stand build framed it in on the outside wall and put carpet on the ground.

The concrete floor had some waves to it, which was a nightmare to get a flat level stand that wouldn’t torque. Wound up adding industrial strength adjustable metal feet to level it and keep it flat.

now starting to get to the fun part! Breaking down the old tank and setting it up! Lots more pics to come in the coming days!

 

[Holmesese]

Now to the fill up. Went with the most simple, maintenance lite setup I could. Two AI primes, single protein skimmer, lighted recugium and a return pump. Starting to get aquascaping and moving some fish!

 

[BBogdan]

Nice rockscape. Things are looking great!