OK so we are going to be redoing our basement and I want to build at least one tank into the wall. Does anyone know of any sites with DIY stuff for this project. My only problem is that I will most likely not be able to get in behind the tank for cleaning and maintenance. So my plan was to put a hinged door of sorts above the tank for access. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

i'll have a look around and see if i can dig up any diy plans for ya'

link i wasn't very successful in my quest.LOL hopefully the link will give you some ideas at least.

A couple links, might not be dead on however they are a good start
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthre...threadid=850198
http://www.brianstropicals.com/basement.html

You could build it into an interior wall as a window between 2 rooms.

Great links guys. I wasn't very successful in my searches either. The only thing I found was this. http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/home_improve...3024307,00.html
I'm not a big fan of the look of it. I don't like the doors above it. I would like it to look as seem less and part of the wall as possible.
Your links have given me some ideas as to what I will do. My main issue is that we are going to finish the basement off as one full room. So I won't be able to put it as a window between 2 rooms. Had thought of that but then we decided to make it a full basement. The only other option that I have come up with so far is to put in the wall just about flush with the back wall. I would then frame it in and put an access door above it. The door would be hinged to open upwards and give access to the tank for maintenance and feedings. We'd like to keep as much floor space as possible. So that has been the only idea I have been able to come up with thus far.
Thanks for the links and ideas. If anyone else can find links or has ideas of any kind please let me know. I appreciate it greatly.
Kenny

how is the project going bud?

I had some ideas drawn up. I hadn't done any measurements but had everything drawn up and planned. Then my father came over. I had asked him for some ideas and suggested moving some of the things around and it makes great sense. Only problem is that it moves where I had planned to put the tanks and puts a office desk, computer desk type thing. Which I will not put tanks around or over. Now I just need to figure out if I can afford to lose the space to build them into the other wall. I may end up just putting my 55 along that wall. But I'm hoping to still build in because I wanted a couple of 20 gallon Apisto tanks.

yeah i hear ya'. well however it ends up be sure to post some pics. i would love to see how it turns out. a couple of 20 long apisto tanks would be awesome/

Yeah that's what I was hoping for. May have to get 20 talls though. Unless I can find a deal on the 20 longs with hoods. I want to have some live plants in there as well so I want at least some minimal lighting. Another good thing that would be good about having these built into the wall is that it would give me a place to put a bucket with peat to help soften and bring the PH down in my tap water.

have you checked craigslist, aquabid, or your local classifieds or garage sales? sometimes i find good deals on craigslist. got 2 of my tanks for real cheap. someone had a 24" 65 watt power compact light on craigslist for $40 last week!

sorry for getting off topic bud. i would think a double stand and a couple of 20 longs would not be too bad on your limited space.

I haven't checked craigslist. But I have been checking on free cycle and I'm going to look at That Fish Place's tent sale this year to see if they have anything. I got an XP 3 for 40 bucks last year had to buy the inlet pipes and stuff which I got for 12 bucks including shipping cause the site had put it up for 5 and not 50. That's on my current 20 gallon that I am going to replace when I redo the basement cause its in bad shape. I was thinking about seeing if I could DIY it so that both tanks were running off the same canister filter. I'm going to have to keep an eye out when the weather gets suitable for yard sales again. I've checked the paper as well but nothing recently.