The homeowners’ requests in remodeling this under utilized space were to create a relaxing and functional area with a salt-water aquarium, gas fireplace, entertainment center and an organizational office space. We successfully integrated all of these features through creative design. For the 2000 lb. combined weight of the fireplace and aquarium, we designed a support system made of steel girders and steel platform to house the fireplace and allow for venting. Also, thermal blankets lie in between the fireplace and tank to avoid heat transfer, and a fire rated hatch door from the garage allows for easy maintenance accessibility.

One of the top priorities in revamping this family room off the kitchen was to assemble a functional salt-water aquarium and dual fireplace. Several features in the design and construction of this project proved it to be an intricate and unique accomplishment. Unknown prior to construction, the desired location for the new salt water reef tank, supported the main bearing for the home, including the hvac trunk lines and the main sewer stack for the upstairs master bath. To further complicate the matter, the homeowner wanted a rounded aquarium, which meant staying consistent with curvature into the design of the surrounding cabinetry and steel arc. There was no available location for the gas fireplace, so we thought, why not put it below the tank? However it would need to be vented and insulated so as not to harm temperature-sensitive sea life. Finally, the tank’s adjoined wall being a garage made firewall code compliancy extremely important.

Since the salt water aquarium and steel arc weighed over 2000 lbs., our design team proposed bolting steel girders onto the existing lower concrete basement wall, thus keeping weight off the floor joist system. The top end of the vertical steel beamshave horizontal steel girders welded to them to create a platform with a substantial span to house the fireplace and allow for venting.

In consideration of the dueling functions of the installation, much energy was spent on which systems would prove easiest in the maintenance of the tank. Two features were important in this mission. One being an aquarium tank chiller used to dissipate any unwanted fireplace heat. The other was an automatically engaging electrical generator critical in case of power failure.

Note: a salt-water tank can only survive a short time without circulating chemically and thermally correct water. Without these the potential loss is great. The finishes surrounding include arced lyptus cabinetry & black absolute granite fireplace.

The elegant finished product defies the complexity of the engineering and the head scratching of those involved. The various professionals called upon in this project were architect, designer, engineer, framer, steel fabricator, cabinet maker, electrician, plumber, fireplace installer, granite fabricator, salt-water aquarium specialist, finish carpenter and a very very very happy clownfish or two.