How to Install a Wall Aquarium
Wall fish tanks convey an impressive and elegant look to every room. They can be mounted on a partition wall so that they can be admired from two adjoining rooms. Even though wall fish tanks are more costly than stand mounted aquariums and take longer to mount you will be pleased that you have made the investment and effort when you see how good your fish tank looks and how it is admired by your visitors. They may be, however, be slightly harder to look after than a stand mounted aquarium as they are mounted in a confined space which makes it harder to get into the tank for cleaning, feeding and other maintenance jobs. Newer wall fish tanks come with cabinets above the tank which should help make access simpler.
A few of the newer wall aquariums can be purchased as kits with all the add ons and hardware for mounting necessary, so that the filters, pumps etc. are easily hidden. They are also simple to mount so you perhaps do not require a skilled carpenter to do the aquarium for you. However if you aren’t too sure of your experience in DIY, it is better to pay someone else to do the mounting instead so that the only thing you have to do is to fill the tank and stock it with fish.
An important thing you must do prior to hanging the fish tank is to see if there are any wires or water pipes in the wall where you mean to hang it. You should also find a load bearing wall and find the wall studs. Fish tanks are very heavy when completely filled with water so you have to be very sure that the studs and wall are able to bear the tank.You also need to make up your mind if you will hang the fish tank or build it into the wall.
The next thing to do is to measure the area where the tank will be placed and ensure you allow some space for things such as pumps, filters and lights. You can place the pump at a distance from the fish tank, and water can flow through pipes to the tank. Although this is a lot more work when installing it does have an advantage that you can move more water through the aquarium, which will let you accommodate a few more fish, and in addition keeps the noise of the pump far away from the room. One of the problems with wall aquariums is that they are narrower than other types so they have a smaller surface area than regular rectangular tanks. This means that unless you oxygenate the water well you cannot keep many fish in the tank.
If you are going to use a professional carpenter to install your wall fish tank consult him before you buy the tank and make certain he knows what you need to be done. When your tank is hung it will need to be treated exactly like any other fish tank by initially cycling the tank before you can add the fish. The method we recommend is fishless cycling which is very easy to do and will not cause distress to your fish. Once you have cycled the tank you should start to buy your fish and add plants if you will be using them.
A very striking effect is to set up a reef fish tank with brightly colored reef fish and corals, but this is, perhaps an undertaking for a more experienced fish keeper. A wall aquarium, as we have said, gives an excellent focal point to every room and is certain to be admired by each one of your visitors.
