Creative people please help me =)

[jason604]

Wondering if some creative minds out there can help me finish up my in wall tank and make it amazing! =). So the large gap above my tank is from the tall closet doors being removed. I do need the space so I can maintance my tank from the front in case I need to. Majority of the maintainance will be from the back room I tore apart. So is there a way I can cover that area and able to open it up with ease and looks sleek the same time? I was thinking of just putting up a picture frame to cover it but that will look funny lol. I'm going cover the stand with drywall and paint that wall gray. And yes that hideous clock has gotta go lol

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/kosin604/A3B45864-D729-4C67-829F-F2DAB6D05FAD_zpsicqejjtl.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/kosin604/media/A3B45864-D729-4C67-829F-F2DAB6D05FAD_zpsicqejjtl.jpg.html)

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/kosin604/E6359AD1-B0CD-44D7-B8AB-F6F642BFDAB4_zpsg62l0aid.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/kosin604/media/E6359AD1-B0CD-44D7-B8AB-F6F642BFDAB4_zpsg62l0aid.jpg.html)

[intarsiabox]

Maybe a couple of black or white kitchen doors with a nice design to them?

[jason604]

Maybe a couple of black or white kitchen doors with a nice design to them?

I don't rly want to put cabinet doors on. I did thought about it but it will make me lose the sleek look. I'm putting wood designed trim around the tank once done in black.

[intarsiabox]

My only other idea won't work because the hole is too big. I would have done like a lot of modern fireplaces and have a row of 12"x12" tile going around the trim. It would have been easy to conceal the top section as being moveable. It looks like a fun build what ever you decide!

[Noodles]

If you make two slab doors to fit the opening(3/4" thick) and paint them wall colour, then mount them flush with the wall with European cabinet door hinges(I would recommend salice but Blum would be ok). Put touch latches on the back and you're done. Nice and clean, only a couple margin lines.

The doors would have to be a plywood core with a smooth skin so the paint would be smooth. Also watch for a sheet that is flat as some plywood likes to warp pretty bad.

[Myka]

I would drywall the whole wall and not have an opening on the front. That is how to make it look sleek. :)

[Madreefer]

I would drywall the whole wall and not have an opening on the front. That is how to make it look sleek. :)

I agree but I'd put some kind of door that opens outward above the tank for access to your tank. But make it the same length of the tank so it doesn't look odd.

[Myka]

I agree but I'd put some kind of door that opens outward above the tank for access to your tank. But make it the same length of the tank so it doesn't look odd.

It's definitely a pain in the butt in some ways when you can't access from the front such as positioning rock/corals as you have to position, walk around, look, go back, reposition, walk around, look, etc. :lol: In the end though, it's a sleeker look and I wouldn't do it any other way.

[brotherd]

I'm wondering why the transition from the wood to the tile is where it is? What does the opposite view look like?

[target]

Why not build a small 2x2 wood frame, cover it in drywall, and paint it the same color as the wall? You could hinge it at the top and have it flush with the wall. If done correctly all you'd have is a small line around the edge.

[jason604]

I'm wondering why the transition from the wood to the tile is where it is? What does the opposite view look like?
Wood trim will only be around the tank itself. Here's a pic of the back in the fish room. I'm leaving the stud bare like that cuz nk1 will see it except me n it will leave me a lot of room to work with.

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/kosin604/6381B099-CCD7-4A63-9E97-C81C80FE0833_zpspmdd26qp.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/kosin604/media/6381B099-CCD7-4A63-9E97-C81C80FE0833_zpspmdd26qp.jpg.html)

If you make two slab doors to fit the opening(3/4" thick) and paint them wall colour, then mount them flush with the wall with European cabinet door hinges(I would recommend salice but Blum would be ok). Put touch latches on the back and you're done. Nice and clean, only a couple margin lines.

The doors would have to be a plywood core with a smooth skin so the paint would be smooth. Also watch for a sheet that is flat as some plywood likes to warp pretty bad.

Hmm I think this might actually look really good. Will deff take a lot of hard work tho. Can I find those type of latches and hinges at Home Depot? I went there to check out their wood trims with designs on it but they were pretty damn ugly. Any1 know where I can find nice trims locally?

It's definitely a pain in the butt in some ways when you can't access from the front such as positioning rock/corals as you have to position, walk around, look, go back, reposition, walk around, look, etc. :lol: In the end though, it's a sleeker look and I wouldn't do it any other way.

Exactly! Back n forth will be dreadful but my main concerns was that I won't be able to reach certain corals that will be place on the front glass at all with my rock work I'm planning to do if I can't access the front. I read many in wall tank builds and every1 who didn't have front access regretted it dearly

[Gp Scott]

Wood trim will only be around the tank itself. Here's a pic of the back in the fish room. I'm leaving the stud bare like that cuz nk1 will see it except me n it will leave me a lot of room to work with.

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/b578/kosin604/6381B099-CCD7-4A63-9E97-C81C80FE0833_zpspmdd26qp.jpg (http://s1292.photobucket.com/user/kosin604/media/6381B099-CCD7-4A63-9E97-C81C80FE0833_zpspmdd26qp.jpg.html)



Hmm I think this might actually look really good. Will deff take a lot of hard work tho. Can I find those type of latches and hinges at Home Depot? I went there to check out their wood trims with designs on it but they were pretty damn ugly. Any1 know where I can find nice trims locally?



Exactly! Back n forth will be dreadful but my main concerns was that I won't be able to reach certain corals that will be place on the front glass at all with my rock work I'm planning to do if I can't access the front. I read many in wall tank builds and every1 who didn't have front access regretted it dearly

I would drywall it over my tank is in the closet with back access flush with drywall and no trim

[WarDog]

If it were me I would slide those two studs behind the tank to the sides, perhaps adding a double 2x10 header. This would give more room to access the tank from the back, and then you'd be able to drywall the front side clean.

I'd finish it all off with a painting of a giant squid fighting a whale.

[jason604]

If it were me I would slide those two studs behind the tank to the sides, perhaps adding a double 2x10 header. This would give more room to access the tank from the back, and then you'd be able to drywall the front side clean.

I'd finish it all off with a painting of a giant squid fighting a whale.

Moving the studs n using two 2x10 was my first plan but since this is a load bearing wall I don't want to mess around with it too much. 16" should be enough room for me to work with. Lol the squid vs a whale picture to cover the gap would be awesome

[Noodles]

Hmm I think this might actually look really good. Will deff take a lot of hard work tho. Can I find those type of latches and hinges at Home Depot? I went there to check out their wood trims with designs on it but they were pretty damn ugly.


Yeah, Home Depot carries a lot of the Blum hinges and should have touch latches as well. The hinges from your original doors should work as well though.

[Cody]

I have an in wall tank with no front acess and the inconvenience of maintenance isn't all that bad. I don't even have direct back access because of my furnace. I have swing doors from a bathroom on one side and access on the other side from my mech room. Iadmit that many times I have to walk around to the front to inspect any work, and often I go back and forth a dozen times but I love the finished in wall look.

Good luck, it will look great no matter what you decide.

[matt_C]

i would do something like this
https://img0.etsystatic.com/016/0/7577259/il_340x270.457336718_6xeu.jpg

looks sweet and you can still feed your fish.

[seabreeze]

Maybe take a look at this thread

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=102101

Walter has a built in tank... great access from the front... and looks nice!

Maybe door above and below?????

Pic of tank in kitchen is on page 2 of thread

[Frynoodle]

Place a curtain at the back as decoration is easy and good enough.

[lastlight]

you could drywall it all in then tile or stone the entire wall. have a nice accent wall look to it.

[jason604]

Yeah, Home Depot carries a lot of the Blum hinges and should have touch latches as well. The hinges from your original doors should work as well though.

Thx I will make another trip there. U happen to know which stores sell nice designed wood trims? Home depots r ugly

Maybe take a look at this thread

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=102101

Walter has a built in tank... great access from the front... and looks nice!

Maybe door above and below?????

Pic of tank in kitchen is on page 2 of thread

He's able to make his tanks canopy nice because it matches his kitchens cabinets. I won't be able to do it that way.

[Noodles]

Thx I will make another trip there. U happen to know which stores sell nice designed wood trims? Home depots r ugly


I did a quick google search:). Distinctive wood designs or rain coast look like places you might want to check out, similar to a Multiwood or classic mouldings here in calgary.