New In-Wall Display Aquarium Questions

[jhook]

We are building a new house and it should be finished in April of next year. I am having a space for a new aquarium built into the wall in the living room. I am planning on getting a 300g wide (96"long x 30"wide x 25"Tall) from Glasscages.com. Has anyone ever dealt with them? I am fairly close to their location and will likely pick up the aquarium at their location (haven't bought or ordered the tank yet). I am planning on getting the tank pre-drilled, overflow covers, bulkheads and sump from them.

Now for my questions:
1.) I am curious about the low-iron glass. Is it worth the extra money to have them put that on the front of the tank?
2.) Are the overflow covers a good idea or not? The tank will be in a separate room with just the front glass viewable from the living room.
3.) Currently planning on having a black backdrop. Anyone have experience with that color on an in-wall aquarium?
4.) Any suggestions as to what to stock it with? My stocking plan is as follows: 2 Full grown Oscars, 1 Green Terror, 4-6 Firemouths and 1 African Squeaker Catfish (Possibly 1 Red Texas).
I will have a fish room that will have my current 150g, 65g, 40g and several smaller tanks so I can move fish around as necessary.

Any suggestions are welcome as this is my first foray into in-wall aquariums and, to me, a larger aquarium.

Thanks!

 

[Chockful O Phail]

Yes the low iron glass is worth it to see the natural colors. When you black out the back you will want the covers to hide the plumbing inside the overflows. Have lots of help, that tank is going to be HEAVY. Congrats and post pics lol

 

[jhook]

I'm glad to hear that the low-iron glass will make a difference. I didn't realize that the overflow covers would hide that much. I thought it was to reduce evaporation or noise. This will be my first tank with built in overflows. Currently, I use a HOB overflow into a small sump.
I plan on either having several friends help me, hire a moving company just for the tank install, or use the home building crew to move the tank in after the carpenter builds the stand and "closet" that the tank will go in.
I will most definitely post pictures as this thing moves along. I am excited to get this done!

 

[Steve_C]

I've done a few in wall tanks myself and will give one suggestion that might be helpful down the road for you during tank maintenance time. Not sure if you are planning to paint the back black but like most people do but I would suggest an easily removable black background rather than painting the back of the tank black.

Reason for that is it will make tank maintenance a lot easier. I do non removable 3D backgrounds in my tanks and I found when I did my in wall builds with a BG that was permanent it was a huge headache for cleaning the tank because you cant access it from the front, so when you are accessing it from behind and trying to vacuum substrate or clean the front glass you can't see through the back of the tank to see what you are doing. Only being able to see down from the top was a pain in the butt. So using a removable black background will make life much easier for you come cleaning time.

 

[Chockful O Phail]

I've done a few in wall tanks myself and will give one suggestion that might be helpful down the road for you during tank maintenance time. Not sure if you are planning to paint the back black but like most people do but I would suggest an easily removable black background rather than painting the back of the tank black.

Reason for that is it will make tank maintenance a lot easier. I do non removable 3D backgrounds in my tanks and I found when I did my in wall builds with a BG that was permanent it was a huge headache for cleaning the tank because you cant access it from the front, so when you are accessing it from behind and trying to vacuum substrate or clean the front glass you can't see through the back of the tank to see what you are doing. Only being able to see down from the top was a pain in the butt. So using a removable black background will make life much easier for you come cleaning time.

That's a real quality suggestion!!

 

[jhook]

Steve_C I've never thought about that, but that does make sense now that you've brought it up. Thanks! I was debating on an in-tank background or painting either styrofoam or cardboard black and putting it on the back and sides of the tank. I'm leaning heavily on the outside material. That way, if I want to change up the color scheme it is fairly easy vs having to be stuck with the interior scape. I just have to find a place that sells big enough pieces of foam to at least cover top to bottom. I'm thinking a craft place should have some.

 

[monkeybike]

Put access over the front. It sucks wiping the front glass from behind the tank.

 

[jhook]

I'm planning on putting a "picture frame" around the front with the top hinged so that I can access the very front. At least that's the plan.

 

[AquaAlex1993]

WOW! This sounds awesome man!!!!!
Building a new home is cool enough, but IN WALL DISPLAY AQUARIUM is epic!
That's great man, congrats!!!
I recommend a nice small school of redhook silver dollars and black bar silver dollars.

 

[jhook]

WOW! This sounds awesome man!!!!!
Building a new home is cool enough, but IN WALL DISPLAY AQUARIUM is epic!
That's great man, congrats!!!
I recommend a nice small school of redhook silver dollars and black bar silver dollars.

Thank you. I am excited! The tank kept getting bigger and bigger as I kept planning it. My wife finally said that 300g is enough, lol.
I was looking at the silver dollars, just never have had them before. I think the shiny silver bodies would offset the oscars nicely. Thanks for the suggestions, gonna look more into them.