Wall Mountable Aquarium

[cottonj21]

has anyone got any plans/guides/advice on making my own wall mountable aquarium. Never made an aquarium before but I fancy a small tropical wall mountable aqaurium and sticking a few guppies in it.
just worried about types of glass, filters (how to hide), heater and lighting,

Thanks

 

[cottonj21]

thats a good idea, i might consider that, could use 2 floating shelves and stick a frame over the front of it like the ones selling on ebay. I'm pretty sure the brackets will hold the wait and you could stick a few extra screws in if needed.

 

[Neal]

I know how to build an aquarium inside a wall, but it involves quite alot of work, and building false walls around it. I've never really fancied wall mountable aquariums to be honest. If I had my own house and the space, i'd deffinately build one into the wall.

Neal

 

[Miss Wiggle]

just be careful what wall you put them on, been hanging cabinets and stuff on my bathroom wall for years, apparently i'm not meant to as it's not strong enough, can't remember what sort of wall it is and Ian's asleep so can't ask

probably best doing it on an external wall or something like that, make sure it's definately strong enough

 

[themissingelf]

Drywall anchors aren't all they're cracked up to be. At the end of the day, enough weight will pull a hole in plasterboard. If it's plasterboard, then find the studs and screw in to them. If the studs are not in the right place, make horizontal holes in the wall between studs and add some noggins (horizontal pieces of timber, same dimensions as the studs (usually 4x2"). Re-plaster and then fix to the noggins.

And, while I've been writing this, my Bristlenose has just validated my decision NOT to put him in my new planted tank. This afternoon he was the last inhabitant of my "old" tank, moved to the community tank in my study and, within 4 hours, he's uprooted a stem (not a big deal in this particular tank, but a disaster in my planted tank).

 

[jgray152]

Be careful with drywall screws. They have no tensil strength and can snap if there is enough weight.

Wood screws would be a better choice since they are designed to hold a lot more weight.

Don't ever use any type of "anchors" in the drywall to hang anything heavy. Even though it can be done, its not to safe with 10+ gallons or 80+ pounds of water resting on them.

Always go into a solid stud.

 

[jgray152]

Try to get the weight as close to the wall as possible. You may already know this so I may be talkin stupid Triangle wooden brackets should work good. Or any triangle steel brackets that are made to hold up weight. They would usually say on the packed how much they can hold. If it doesn't, don't get them.

As long as you screw what ever bracket you get, into something SOLID such as a wooden stud or steel stud, what ever your house is built with, it should be fine as long as you keep as much weight to the wall as possible.

The Further down the wall the bracket reaches, the more sturdy it will be, especially if there is a fair amount of weight away from the wall or mounting points.

 

[Lateral Line]

Drywall anchors aren't all they're cracked up to be. At the end of the day, enough weight will pull a hole in plasterboard. If it's plasterboard, then find the studs and screw in to them. If the studs are not in the right place, make horizontal holes in the wall between studs and add some noggins (horizontal pieces of timber, same dimensions as the studs (usually 4x2"). Re-plaster and then fix to the noggins.

That is almost EXCATLY what I was going to say. The additional comment I was going to make is that plaster board/Gyproc etc., looses strength if it gets wet, and with a tank involved, it is a case of "when" it gets wet, not if!