Rev's 400+ Gallon Basement Inwall

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I want to keep the electrical conversation going but wanted to update you all on what's going down on the tank wall.

I wanted to do something other than just a straight sheet rock wall. So we are probably going to install this on the tank wall.

Here is a photo of someone who just made a wall with this half brick.

The whole idea will be to have the tank sunken about 4" into the brick to kinda achieve this effect but with different brick.

I am going to have a "mantle" or "ledge" like the tank above but it's going to extend out past the tank just a little and be made of distressed wood and really thick and rustic looking. Like this. Excuse the crappy drawings! HA!

The wood would look something like one of these shelves.

Would fit something like this. Again excuse the drawing.

 

[d2mini]

That's awesome!

 

[billw]

Code nowadays is to install Arc Fault Breakers. Our new house had them and something as simple as an Apple Macbook power supply would cause the things to trip.
Very annoying, and obviously a bit too sensitive (for my comfort) for a reef tank.
So I told the electrician not to use those when installing the new breakers, and I had switched out a couple of other ones myself.
This was only a few years ago and I've heard they are not as sensitive today, but I don't know that for sure and not sure I'd risk it. I suppose you could always give it a go and see what happens. If they end up being a problem, switch them out.

I had problems with a few in my house built in 2011. I just kept having the electrical guys switch them out until the false positives stopped. The problem was well enough known that they carried a supply of replacements with them and swapped them without question.

 

[ReeferRoo]

Awesome ideas Rev, Your making me think about my room designs a little differently now...thanks (sarcastic) :)

 

[143MPCo]

Love the look you're going for!!!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

That's awesome!

Be honest you think it will really look good? I want people to yell STOP if it's a bad idea!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Love the look you're going for!!!

You sure? HA! Just want to make sure!

 

[ReeferRoo]

It will look awesome!

 

[FrankAbagnale]

I also didn't want to risk Arc Fault when wiring new plugs for my tank. Just wasn't worth the risk to me. Arc Fault is also more expensive!

I also love the brick look with the distressed wood!

 

[d2mini]

Be honest you think it will really look good? I want people to yell STOP if it's a bad idea!

Dude, I don't blow smoke.
I'll tell you if it sucks giant monkey gonads. ;)

 

[JAWS 32]

That is a super awesome tank! Best of luck with it! Can't wait to see it in full swing!

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Thanks guys!

 

[drernesto Verified Sponsor]

Whatttttt???!!! How did I missed this thread!!!! Awesome man! Pleaseeee post a lot of pictures of the filtration and euuuuuuu every single detail in that tank!

 

[najer]

Make sure the shelf is wide enough to place your beer down safely. ;)

 

[120reefkeeper]

Be honest you think it will really look good? I want people to yell STOP if it's a bad idea!

I say STOP for arguments sake. You only get to do this once and your committing yourself to no further changes with this design. If by chance you ever change tank sizes or or downsize then you might have issues. A shelf in itself isn't a bad idea , but as we all know all shelves eventually collect undesirable dust and act as a catch all for stuff.

Things to ponder.

If you ever move then your going to have a harder time patching up that area. Not that it's impossible but time consuming and dollars and cents wise it will cost more??

Tank size changes?

Dust and stuff collector?

Maintenance issues for the tank?

I'm sure there are other things, I just wanted to give you a chance to pause before committing .

 

[Zero Nitrates]

You might think about a whole home surge protector. I had one installed. It's supposed to level out the electricity coming into the house.

 

[d2mini]

I say STOP for arguments sake. You only get to do this once and your committing yourself to no further changes with this design. If by chance you ever change tank sizes or or downsize then you might have issues. A shelf in itself isn't a bad idea , but as we all know all shelves eventually collect undesirable dust and act as a catch all for stuff.

Things to ponder.

If you ever move then your going to have a harder time patching up that area. Not that it's impossible but time consuming and dollars and cents wise it will cost more??

Tank size changes?

Dust and stuff collector?

Maintenance issues for the tank?

I'm sure there are other things, I just wanted to give you a chance to pause before committing .

Is this just about the shelf, or the whole build?
I understand the concern but he's cutting a freakin gigantic hole in the wall. I think once that's done, everything else pales in comparison. ;)
Sheetrock, studs and paint are cheap if things need to change. Especially compared to everything else like the tanks and equipment.

 

[chefjpaul]

Don't sweat the thin brick. It looks great, I just covered a wall in our new home with it. Easy and sexy looking.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Don't sweat the thin brick. It looks great, I just covered a wall in our new home with it. Easy and sexy looking.

Oh cool! Did you put the thin brick straight on the sheetrock?

 

[chefjpaul]

I hung cement board over the sheet rock. Probably not needed honestly, but this has no water around it.
60$ tile saw from Home depot.
(disposable pastry bags to fill the grout, huge time saver)

This wall is 14x9 and all materials was over 1000#.

(Still working on this room)