How a Built-in Aquarium Works
The front glass sits flush with the wall, finished with a slim frame. The tank rests on a structural frame inside the wall. Filter, heater and sump live in the service room behind or a cabinet below, so only water and light are visible from the room.
Technical Requirements
- Structure: Steel frame or concrete plinth, designed for filled weight and point loads.
- Service clearance: At least 40–60 cm above the tank for equipment and hands.
- Ventilation: Fan or vent for evaporation and equipment heat.
- Power: Dedicated circuit, 30 mA RCD, sockets above the water line.
- Water: A nearby tap; for marine, a feed for the reverse-osmosis unit.
- Drainage: Floor drain in the service void.
- Surfaces: Moisture-resistant board and paint in the service void.
Timing With the Architect and Contractor
The aquarium must be planned before drywall and plastering: position, size and access at concept stage; drawings, weight data and services list to the architect; frame, power, water and drain prepared during the build; a final site measurement; then tank placement before frame and finishes.
No Service Room?
Then access comes from above: an opening lid or cabinet over the tank and an equipment cabinet below. The lid height and clearance to the ceiling must be fixed in the drawings.
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