Designing a new fish wall

[CanadaPleco]

I finally figured out how to do the one wall in my fish room. I have JUST enough space to fit in 6 x 75G tanks. 3 high, 2 wide. I now need to build it as I have already ordered 3 of the tanks... yikes. might be hard with this busted finger. I currently have it setup to hold one 48x18 tank, and a number of 10g beside it, and 20g on end on the top level. This re-configuration will give me a lot more room. Each tank will be insulated with .5" foam to help with heat loss.

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Each tank will be filtered with at least 2 Hydro Sponge V's. There is enough room on the floor to hide the air pumps until 1 large one is installed.

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The back 9" of the stand will not be covered and left open for running air lines, and all plumbing. The plumbing will only be used for fast water changes. I will have a 1.5" elbow in the tank that I can bend down into the aquarium and it will drain 50% of the water really fast. All plumbing will drain right into my floor drain.

[Catsaholic]

Rich, please post all the follow ups. I'm in a similar situation. I will have a 9 feet wide wall, and will have to feet as many tanks as possible on it. I was thinking 75galx4, 33x3 on top, and few 20 on the side. Or I better go for larger tanks, such as 90 gal instead of 75?

[jlloydb]

i thought air pumps on floor was a poor idea, 'cause lower position wears harder on diaphragm. also causes back siphon without a check valve during power outs. if you need a blower, pm me.

[CanadaPleco]

I sold all my 90's they are too deep, not required for plecos. The 75's are plenty, I would get shorter tanks if they made them.

I can just barely do 3 x 75g tanks, its going to be tight still with only 7" I think between the tanks. I have exactly 8 foot ceiling on this wall... on my other walls in the fishroom I do not.

I have lots of room for the pumps up high, no need for a blower yet, not that many outlets :) YET

[Jkhuu]

Keep us posted on the details. Sounds very exciting..envious !!!

[Catsaholic]

I have lots of room for the pumps up high, no need for a blower yet, not that many outlets :) YET

Rich, I'm sure you thought of it, but just from the personal experience: when you will be installing outlets, hook them up on at least two different breakers. Almost all my tanks are in two rooms on the 2nd floor. AFTER I put them there, I discovered that both rooms are on the same breaker :(

[CanadaPleco]

I run a separate breaker for each wall in the room :)

[CanadaPleco]

Did a little work today and last night with my gimp left hand. Got the floor level done, and most of the middle shelf. Just need to add in the extra bracing, then on to the 3rd :)

[CanadaPleco]

Tanks have arrived, now I have to get off my lazy butt and finish the stand so they can get up and running. Ended up picking up 6 used tanks that were in awesome shape. 4 of them drilled.

Now after having this sand I kind of want it in every tank... going to get costly I can foresee.

[CanadaPleco]

Tanks have arrived, now I have to get off my lazy butt and finish the stand so they can get up and running. Ended up picking up 6 used tanks that were in awesome shape. 4 of them drilled.

Now after having this sand I kind of want it in every tank... going to get costly I can foresee.

[CanadaPleco]

Well I am finally getting off my butt and working on this some more. I have got the tanks and they've been staring at me for a few weeks now empty, which really sucks!

So today so far I have built part of the rack and started in on wiring up the lights. I am putting a single 23w CFL light above each tank (which are on sale at PC stores this week for $7 for 4 GREAT DEAL). I'm no electrician so takes me a bit of time to wire all these lights up. Also adding lighting above the existing 2 x 75g tanks. Hopefully I can finish up the wall before the weekend and get some water in the tanks. Will get some pics shortly when I get a little further in.

[Jkhuu]

Lol..i can relate to the 'getting off you butt' part. This does sound exciting..can't wait to see pics of the WALL.

[CanadaPleco]

Well heres a few pics, the wall of empty tanks really only has one tank with fish in it right now, it is the one with the python hanging out of it, its got some huge L91's small L91's and a few other random fish. The tank to the right of it will be filled up tomorrow and in it goes my L600's as a breeding project. These are going to my my project tanks :)

The wall will be all fish that I bring in for resale. I am not going bare bottom as they are not painted on the bottoms and the light will shine right through which I am sure will drive the fish totally crazy. So I must go pickup a few more bags of 3m quartz. I have about 6" of space behind the tanks to run plumbing and what not. Only stopping cause I ran out of screws and its getting ot be a pain cutting 2x4's inside (far to messy). So I shall wait for the sun tomorrow and get that next level done and the wiring all done.

Then I must wire in some plugs, I cannot stand extension cords and power bars.. ugh, so messy.

And clean the room up cause it sure is MESSY!!!


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[Jkhuu]

Sweet looking! Thanks for giving us a peak of the operation/project room. Good amount of space between tanks. Wish I knew how to wire my fishroom like that.
Keep us posted with the progress.

Btw, those 75's are in great condition.

[CanadaPleco]

Ya I was super happy with the condition of the 75's.

Well today I got a TON done.

- Cleaned out the one side of it (it was 90% old crap anyway)
- Drywalled part of it, whooo I hate drywalling and I will not be behind the tanks as I will be making some covers so you cannot see the vapour barrier anyway.
- 95% finished the 75g stand / wall (still needs a bit more bracing
- Ran more lights
- Ran some plugs for the 2 x 75g's on the other side of the room.

I don't ever suggest try lifting up a 75g Miracles tank by yourself to a base height of 5.5' its not easy. Got my lifting muscles on for that one :)

Anyway here are a couple pics of the progress.

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[2wheelsx2]

Really starting to come together and looking good.

[CanadaPleco]

Didn't do a ton today except nearly finish up the dry walling, Only like 1 sheet to go now then all done and on to the mudding phase. I did end up doing the ceilings as well, looked too funny with them just showing the vapour barrier and the insulation.

Goal for the weekend is to get most of the mudding completed, then on to paint.

Hoping my order from Kensfish arrived this coming week, 6 shiny new heaters, and linear pump to drive all the tanks and a few other odds and ends.

No point posting photos for todays work, would look to similar as yesterdays :)

[jimmy chonga]

coming together nicely rich

looking forward to seeing them all cycled and stocked.

maybe you mentioned, you just running a large filter/sump system for all of them?

[CanadaPleco]

Well its coming along, I have finished as much of the muding and sanding as I want to do, its not done and its not perfect by any means, but I really really hate drywalling, so I don't care anymore, its done. I am there to look at the fish not the pretty walls anyway.

Got all the plugs nearly run as well now, just need to install another circuit breaker for them now. Running the 6x heaters for these tanks on their own circuit. There are a couple extra outlets as well to run the odd power head or whatever comes up that I may need in the future.

I have not begun the plumbing for the sink but that is not priority on my list either, would be VERY nice and it will come soon as well.

[Pamelajo]

Looks good Rich.

[CanadaPleco]

Primed and painted tonight!!! whoooooooo

Now to finish insulating the rest of the tanks and get them on the stand and filled up.! getting there slowly.

[Jkhuu]

Actually that's quite fast Rich. You're almost there. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[CanadaPleco]

Getting there! Got a lot done today, well it looks that way at least, was really only a few hours of work.

I got all the tanks insulated with some cool stuff that will hopefully really cut down on the hydro.

Finished up the stand, got the centre all braced nicely now.

And put the tanks into place.

Tomorrow I clean the sand and start filling with water!
Still have a lot of plumbing work to do, and run the pvc for the air system as well.

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[Pamelajo]

You have been busy looks good.