Opinions on my bar tank

[steveoutlaw]

I'm working on getting started on my bar tank. The girls are finally old enough that all the barbie crap is gone and I can start making it an adult play room. The first conversion is going to be putting the bar in, but I can't decide how I want it.

 

The first is an in-wall that would go behind the bar:

 

The second is building the bar around the tank:

 

And the last one is sort of the tank just sitting on the bar:

 

What do you think? Pros and cons of each build?

[trockafella]

I like #2 the best, I would love to eat dinner and stare into the tank. 1 is nice and probably the best true "bar" option, and 3 is way to in the middle of things.

[smallreef]

really... id like to know the layout of the room your putting it in and what other activiites is this room used for? could you give us a rough sketch of the room???

 

I prefer the tank to be in wall... but you have many options depending on the layout of the room...

I like # 1 the best.. i HATE #3 because it looks unfinished.... #2 is okay but if you ever had an issue with the tank it would be difficult to replace

[Chad]

^agree on #3 and second request for general room layout.

 

Of these options, I like #2. In wall tanks are great, but I would really miss being able to pop my head around a corner to get a different viewing angle at something. If "in wall" I would prefer it to stick out a bit, even if it isn't the whole way.

[steveoutlaw]

Here's a crude drawing of the basement. The wall behind the bar is where the tank will go. The office is going to double as the fish room. The opening at the bottom is the door to the back yard.

 

[Origami]

#2 looks sharp, Steve. What I like is the three-sided wrap-around look. #1 is convenient if it was behind a conventional bar setup with a bartender space. If you punched a hole in the wall, too, you could open the space under the tank into the office (where you could also keep your tank supplies) should you want to look at it while there. In that instance, you might want a draw curtain or something in the office to keep from seeing through at times.

[steveoutlaw]

If I do #2 I will have the wall opened so I could get to it from behind. I would also have to put cabinet doors over the tank like in #1 so I could access the front.

[OldReefer]

Ever consider doing something like #2, but bumping it into the wall between the Rec Room and the Office? You could use it as a look through between the the two rooms. That word be a really neat architectural feature, but you woes have to clean two panes of glass.

[Incredible Corals]

Love #2

[steveoutlaw]

Ever consider doing something like #2, but bumping it into the wall between the Rec Room and the Office? You could use it as a look through between the the two rooms. That word be a really neat architectural feature, but you woes have to clean two panes of glass.

 

I was thinking about doing that, but I don't want the office mess to be visible while looking at the tank.

[Fazio92]

Here's a picture of my 330gal that is still in progress, just to give you another local mini (8" depth at max) bar-rail option/view point. Mine's obviously not meant for bar stools, etc... but its a nice drink rail if have a party or something.

 

-Anthony

 

 

[treesprite]

I like the idea of #2 the best, the bar around the tank.

[surf&turf]

#2 here!!!

[SunWyrm]

Fazio the rockwork and wood on that stand is incredibly beautiful!

 

#2 for me too, though whatever you do it's going to look great.

[surf&turf]

Fazio the rockwork and wood on that stand is incredibly beautiful!

 

#2 for me too, though whatever you do it's going to look great.

 

Not to high jack, sorry Steve.

 

But I think Fazio has been holding out on us, we need to see some pic's.

[Ryan S]

Steve, I like #2 as well.

[smallreef]

and of course the other option that I think someone else started to mention was if you are a true bar keep and have quite the selection of liquors and beers and possibly a tap or a wine fridge.. would to be to put the tank in the wall and build the actual bar in the room looking at the tank.... you could put it on the end of the office wall (depending on the structural issues) so you could see as you walk around from the stairs? then you would also have to storage for the glasses and bottles out of site... just an idea

[londonloco]

How often are you in the office? I'd def put the tank in the wall between the office and the den. I have 5 tanks in my office, going to work is enjoyable. Even if the wall is load bearing, you can add a steel beam for support (recently did this in my house).

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

Fazio the wood you added looks amazing. I have a slab of wood I am making a bar with now I think I need to finish!

[Jan]

#1 is ideal for a bar. You'll have all that room in front of the tank to bartend.

I like #2 a lot, but it reminds me more of a breakfast counter than a bar.

 

 

How about something like this with a square tank facing sideways? You could still add a counter continuing to the side in front of the tank and have an open area for bartending/serving.

 

[Amuze]

When are you going to start the build, Steve?

[steveoutlaw]

I just ordered the tank yesterday. It's going to be a 200g acrylic (60L x 30W x 27H)eurobraced. I still haven't decided if I'm going to go in-wall or have it sticking out and build the bar around it.

 

I'm having the tank built by Adam Bower of Artfully Acrylic. He has been awesome to work with. He was very quick to respond to my questions, educated me on a few things that I didn't know that probably saved me some issues down the road, and provided me a nice and detailed rendering of what the tank is going to look like. He was also very fair on the price (I checked around some).

 

I'm going to start a build thread in the next few days (once I decide on what I'm actually going to do).

[Coral Hind]

Congrats on ordering the new tank, looking forward to following the build and checking out Adam's work.

[Ryan S]

Congrats on ordering the new tank, looking forward to following the build and checking out Adam's work.

 

ditto!

[ArtFully Acrylic (Adam B)]

And I'm looking forward to seeing how Adam does too...just kidding . It will be another fun build. I like the big boy tanks . When we started this process I had no idea it was going to be a bar tank until of course I saw this thread the other day.

 

You have been pleasant to work with as well Steve