opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

[fishnut]

What does everyone think about wall mounted aquariums and other wall hanging fish tanks and bowls?  I have been working on this website for the last several months and am curious to know what everyone thinks about the aquariums and fish bowls on the site.  The site is wall mounted aquariums & wall fish bowls  Thanks for the advice

[Anonapersona]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

Not many fish would be happy in that narrow a space. It seems structurally unsound. You'll have temperature problems. Maintanince will be really hard.

First, a fish needs room to turn around, probably 4x length would be a minimum, bordering on fish abuse. It looks like that tank is about 4" wide, so there are not many fish that are mature at 1" long. You'd need rather a lot of fish that tiny to give anyone anything to watch -- then you'd be running into a limit on the total gallons in the tank. 8 gallons of nominal tank size is probalby really containing 6 or 7 gallons. You'd be pushing it to have 6 of 1" long fish. Most common fish are closer to 2" at maturity, like many tetras.

Second, a tank weighs about 10 lbs per gallon, more for a narrow tank as you have far less water and more glass per gallon. That 8 gallon tank will be probably 120 lbs or more when filled and decorated figuring that tank weighs maybe 40 lbs more than a regular 10 gallon tank when empty.

A narrow tank is harder to keep stable temperature, large glass panes let temps swing with air temp. Any fish would have to be OK with no heater at all as most are rather ugly and this tank has nowhere to hide a heater.

It would be very awkward to try to clean this tank, how do you get your arm inside to wipe algae off the glass? If it is hung at picture height, as it seems to suggest, you'll need a tall ladder and a very long arm.

I don't see any way to filter this tank, a canister will have tubing going in and out and be very ugly if visible, a sponge filter is possible but they are ugly to look at, no place to hide that, really.

IMO, if you want a tank, you need a decent size to maintain stability and have enough fish to be interesting without crowding. Either devote the space to it, or cut a hole in the all and let the rest of the tank stick into a different room where all the euipment will hide.

All of those gimicks are not healthy, fish need air circulation, power is required for filtration and heating, you need to be able to wipe all surfaces and clean the gravel every few weeks or sooner.

Why not just get a flat screen TV and run a tape of a fish tank?

[wvgdiscus]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

I have seen these in person. The are very well made. The filter is built into it.
Of the ones I seen.
The problem for me is there is not much room for the fish to swim around in.
They are only 6 inches inside from side to side.

[fishnut]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

Thanks for the feedback.  Answers to a few questions-
The wall aquariums have a built in underground filter, heater, light, and air pump so you wouldn't need to worry about a hanging filter.
Also they come with an extendable claw arm and scrubber brush so that you don't have to reach your arm into the tank to scrub algae off the glass.
But I do agree with the limited fish selection and not being able to hold many fish, but for the right fish.  I have a 45 gal. bowfront and a 10 gallon tank, and one of the wall aquariums set up.  I love bigger aquariums because you can do plants and lots of different fish etc, but I think that the wall aquariums are a fun change and look cool with the right fish in them.  But I wouldn't want them to be my only set up

[blacksmith37]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

What narrow ?
I put a 125 on/in a standard 2X4 stud wall , fits fine and is solid.
As I remember , I put 2 each 2X4 on each side of the studs, giving a width of almost 10". I did have to compromise on appearence on the back(garage) side. I ran a 45 diagonal to the garage joists from each end. The tank is high ( 49",to get a truck hood under it ), so the diagonals are not in the way.
Tank is 18" wide.

[wvgdiscus]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

blacksmith37 I think you missed the point on this one.
He was asking about the tanks that are hung on the wall not the one built into the wall.

[Tiapan]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

i think some smaller live bearers would do ok in a tank like that, it seems a little pricy though for 7 gallon tank, since you can get a a nice 55 gallon plus size tank with nice stand and great filtration that can be hidden easily for around the same price and have many many more options about what to do with the tank, but it does look kinda cool

[blacksmith37]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

Sounds like a challange; Are you saying I can't hang a 125 on a wall?
I have hung an 18' canoe in an entry way; not very heavy, but big.
To be honest ,I was really thinking of hanging my next 125 from the ceiling with steel cables. But, if right next to the wall it would look like it was hanging on the wall.

[wvgdiscus]

Re: opinions on wall aquariums and wall mounted tanks

When you get it up inviite us all over to see it.