In wall build?

[bdare]

I sold my 120 in sept 2012 and I'm regretting it. Trying to come up with a good spot for a new tank.

I found a coat closet I think would make a good spot.

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The tank would be viewable on two sides. Initial concerns are venting the room both to remove moisture and getting fresh air in to keep co2 levels down and ph up. Also, how do I know if it's a load bearing wall and I could even put a tank there?


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[jccaclimber]

If you can get into the attic and see how far that wall extends you will get some indication, also depends what is above it. Even if it is load bearing re-framing to put in a 4 foot gap wouldn't be the end of the world, although that's something I'd hire someone else to do if you're trying to open the corner vs a 4 foot gap mid wall. If it were me I'd just put it outside the wall, but that assumes it isn't blocking an aisle.

I think we have the same stairwell in our house, although I have the master bedroom where your dining room is.

Edit: When you say viewable from two sides did you mean one long side and one short, or both long sides?

 

[bdare]

Second story is above this space so I can't really see what's above it. Not really a good place for an out of the wall tank in a high traffic area of the house which I can get my wife to agree to. Yes, viewable from a short and long side.


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[jccaclimber]

In my house (1994, Murphy) the area where your door is supports the stairs. I suspect the wall (different in my house) just past it is in fact supporting as well as the studs are closely spaced and is the closest item to the wall above it (which does go through the attic to the roof). Is the wall 2x4 or 2x6 thickness and how far apart are the studs?

 

[bdare]

Do you guys have someone you can recommend to check weather or not I can use this spot? Hoping I don't have to pay some engineer type..

 

[jccaclimber]

The good news is that I could recommend some people...the bad news is that they and I* are that engineer type. I'm not good enough at structural codes to put in a hard recommendation, and the people I know who can put in that hard recommendation aren't tank keepers so they won't work for frags.

Lets look at this from a different perspective: Assume you are going to leave a corner post around 4"x4", having two "windows" to view the tank through. This gives you some space to have a nice ledge, finish the wall, etc. You can absolutely put a tank there (on the belief anything is possible), it's just a matter of what you will have to do to allow this. It's on the first floor (and I assume on slab), so the weight under the tank is a non-issue.

If it is <u>not</u> a supporting wall you will need to:
1) Open the wall removing the drywall.
2) Relocate any wiring.
3) Cut the window openings.
4) Frame the inside of your windows to hold trim and drywall.
5) Drywall/paint/finish the openings.
6) Install ventilation.
7) Install electrical service for the ventilation, lights, pumps, etc.
8) Build a stand in place, install the tank, etc.

If it <u>is</u> a supporting wall. You will need to:
1) Open the wall removing the drywall.
2) Relocate any wiring.
3) Cut the window openings.
4) Frame the inside of your windows to <u>support the load from above</u>, support trim and drywall.
5) Drywall/paint/finish the openings.
6) Install ventilation.
7) Install electrical service for the ventilation, lights, pumps, etc.
8) Build a stand in place, install the tank, etc.

Notice that these two things don't look very different? I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that if you were comfortable doing the items above for the non-supporting wall that you wouldn't be as concerned about this. In either case I expect a competent contractor would be able to reinforce above the cuts just as you would for a window cut in each wall, and it wouldn't change the cost of the project much given that most of it is the same. IE, something like this: http://housecraft.ca/creating-interior-windows-in-load-bearing-walls/.
I've reframed portions of houses and I would consider putting in two open sections like this into a supporting wall to be not all that complicated in the grand scheme of things. On the other hand, I've also pulled the engine and transmission out of my car for various repairs, and dropped the gas tank just because I was curious what the inside looked like.

*My opinions here are my just that and should not constitute a professional recommendation, my engineering discipline is also mechanical not civil/structural.