The beginnings of the Fishroom!

[CanadaPleco]

Well I moved into my new house about a month or so ago now. After being here for a while I have changed my plans where I am going to put my fishroom. Anyway, I began work on it yesterday, got it all framed in and finished that up this evening. Tonight I also painted the floor (concrete) with some good oil paint to seal it and protect it against water spills, which I know are going to happen.

Room is approx 10' x 10'. Next is to get all the electrical stuff run and some plumbing for a big deep sink in the room.

Plans are to build a very very big sump to filter the entire room (sump size is going to be 8'x2' (so about a 240g tank) modeled after Hans Discus' setup. Basically a plywood box with a pond liner in it and all the media.

Also going to be running sponge filters in every tank.

Everything will be plumbed with separate shutoff's for each tank. Going to the system is going to be changing water 24/7 at a rate of prob 5 gallons an hour.

Should be running around 700 gallons of water in the tanks when it's all up and running.

Going to take lots of progress pics, so will post some up tomorrow of what I have done so far.

Rich

[jackson]

The only thing I dont like about the plan is the sump for all the tanks. Not dogging your ideas I just think it is taking a huge risk should one of the tanks become sick all of the will potentially get sick if not caught fast enough.

Have you thought of what to do if this happens?

Where did you see Hans Dicus's set up? I would like to take a look :)

[Pleconomous]

I agree with jackson with the health issue being spread from tank to tank which could generate into a serious problem :(, but otherwise, sounds like it's going to be a very sweet room. Can't wait to see some pictures!

[klc]

Good luck with the project - sounds like a lot of work! Are you getting new tanks or keeping your old tanks and getting them drilled? You're also going to have lots of "old" cannister filters laying around collecting dust. Maybe you should have a yard sale.

[CanadaPleco]

mainly using the sump for continous water changes. Will have to dig up that link to Hans Discus.

In my office I will have 3 90 gallon tanks all on 1 sump also.

Yup, going to have a lot of Eheims sittin here doing nothing that will need to be sold for sure. Got about 4 of the pro 2222's will prob hang onto the larger ones.

But I will be drilling some of my old tanks and purchasing some new also. Its not something I plan on rushing, do it right and I'll be happy for a long time hopefully with it.

VIEW THE PICS OF THE ROOM HERE (http://picasaweb.google.com/Rich.Hevesi/Fishroom)

The link above will be updated as I get more and more done.

Got a bunch of electrical done tonight as you can see from the pics. Ran a new line from the main breaker for the GFCI's. Installed 9 of the 12 of them so far. Hoping I will have enough outlets, should be alright as most of them will just be for running powerheads in the breeding tanks.

[CanadaPleco]

Okay here is what Hans Discus has done for a filter/sump setup. I have some of the same foam already but will need more :(

Anyone know where I can get some 2L coke carrying plastic trays like he's got?

[jackson]

The pic's are ok but hard to get an idea as to what he has done.

What are the tray's for and how does the water spread over all of the spunges or foam?

is there a site that this set up can be seen on?

Thanks

Did you try and call coke to see if they would sell you some? I dont think a store can give them away. I think they need to return them with each drop off.

Could milk crates work?

[KnaveTO]

From the idea as to what is going on wth that... the coke crates are good as they are only about 5 or 6" high each and thus can create a steped effect that will match the stepped effect of the sponge. If you can't get those pop crates I am not sure where youi could get something similiar.

[ameekplec]

Did you try and call coke to see if they would sell you some? I dont think a store can give them away. I think they need to return them with each drop off.

Could milk crates work?

They have to give back milk crates too.

I couldn't think of anything specific to use, but along the lines of plastic, I'm sure you could find something like those cheap plastic organizers from ikea to hold up the foam?

[CanadaPleco]

wow I forgot about this posting. Well I haven't done much more at all on this room. Been many other projects that have put this one on the back burner. But I am going to slowly start moving ahead with it again.

[moon]

How are you going to control humidity? If you are planning a drip system will the water be heated?

[CanadaPleco]

dehumidifier with a hose that goes into the floor drain. and yes will be using a drip on all the tanks. The whole room also vapour barrier so the humidity doesnt leave the room.

[CanadaPleco]

OKAY I have a real update.

After getting home from the Catfish Convention with all kinds of new fish and not too many good homes for them I got going on my room.



The Right Wall. (110" long, so just over 8')
Lower rack:
2 x 90 Gallon tanks
Tank 1:
1 x 6" L330 (he was getting beaten up by the male in the other 90)
3 x 3-4" LDA33
4 x 3-4" L400
1 x L289
5 x Black Bar Silver Dollars

Tank 2:
4 x 5-7" L330
4 x 1.5-2" L204
10 x 1.5-2" LDA31
and a few other random small Panaques
6 x Silver Dollars
6 x Congo Tetras

Upper rack:
2 x 23 Gallon tanks, there's room for 2 more of them, I just haven't moved them yet (dimension are 24x18)
Tank 1:
1 x Cherry Shrimp

Tank 2:
Group of my 5 LFBN that have been breeding like crazy
4 x Albino Red Guppies

Tank 3: (coming)
12 x Albino Neon Tetras

Tank 4: (coming)
Yellow Shrimp (same species as cherry red, but bright yellow)

The Back Wall. (102" long, so just over 8' again)
Lower rack:
1 x 90 Gallon tank, 3 x 10 gallon tanks
Tank 1:
Not sure whats going in here yet.

The 10 Gallon tanks are empty and will be for a bit. They will be for fry grow out.

Above the 10's there is a small shelf that holds 2 x 3.5 gallon tanks as well as a bunch of food and such. There is also a big sink there and a big garbage bin that will be a filter for all of the 90's.

Upper Rack:
8 x 20 Gallon Tanks (all future stuff) I have 5 tanks now, but nothing to fill them up with.

Left Wall (not built yet) but it will be where the step ladder is. Its 6' long.
This wall will have 1 x 125 gallon tank and 2 x 40 breeder tanks. My group of L240's in the 125. In one of the 40's will go my group of White Seam L183's from Barbie :) (i think my fav. pickup from the convention).

Anyway, more shrimp to try to catch so I can get this room more setup. Will post updates.

Rich

[cichlidguy]

Looking really good Rich, are you going to drywall the room with aqua-board?

-John

[CanadaPleco]

thanks, no not going to drywall it at all. I figure even the aqua stuff is just mold resistant (still is a paper product) so I am just going to leave the ultra thick vapour barrier up. That at least cant mold up.