325 gal set up on a budget!!

[duhfactor]

pyro 383,
I think thats a gread idea. Initially I was planning to run an 8" HVAC duct in from the outside, then another one out from the fish room to get rid of humidity. I see how to set up the fan on a humidistat for out going air, but I would love to be able to pull cool air in in the winter or cooler months, but not during the summer months. I planned on running a cold air duct in from the A/C and have it dump cold air right where the CL pumps will be, but don't have any good solutions concrete in my mind yet on how to cheaply automate this to maintain a constant set temp, and humidity in the equipment room. Any more great ideas?

Damon

 

[Knyght]

Consult your HVAC contractor. Simple I know, and you most likely already have. Just tossing it out there to see what you say.

Everything looks 1st class :thumbsup:

:beachbum:

 

[duhfactor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6369618#post6369618 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Knyght
Consult your HVAC contractor. Simple I know, and you most likely already have. Just tossing it out there to see what you say.

Everything looks 1st class :thumbsup:

:beachbum:

Thanks,
I did meet with him yesterday, and he is going to run an 8" duct outside with a flap that can be closed or open depending on temp outside. It's funny, he has the most beautiful tank I've ever seen....120 gal, just too busy to interact on these forums I guess. He had some good suggestions, like bringing in an A/C duct right over the area I suspect will have the CL pumps, and sump, etc for summer cooling, then open the flap from outside during winter months for cooler air to come in. I'm thinking of running them on not only a thermistat, but on a humidistat as well. I'm still figuring that out.

 

[pyro383]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6338222#post6338222 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CirolanidHunter
What size system (how many gallons) do you have? How often does it need to run?

Brian

I am setting up a 180 system in-wall to a fish room that is 6x10. I bought the fan & humidity controller but have yet to install. Hoping by the 1st of feb

 

[pyro383]

You can always install a fan on a timer to draw in cooler air or your HVAC guy can install a motorized louver unit tied into a temp controller

 

[duhfactor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6369769#post6369769 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pyro383
You can always install a fan on a timer to draw in cooler air or your HVAC guy can install a motorized louver unit tied into a temp controller

Happy new year!!!

Thats a great idea, I'll have to look into this further. I remember another option......
I read a great post on another forum on how to wire up a temp sensor to a relay that would activate a 120 V. fan. I've got to find this because my hvac contractor is going to run an 8" duct outside for me, and I would like to automate the temp control in the room. I could wire the relay up to the fan attached to the duct, and somehow regulate incoming cold air as you've described above. I probably need to stop by the local HVAC supplier an educate myself a little more.

I've drawn up my equipment layout on paper for this room, and think I know where I want my outlets. I'll try to take a pic of it, and post it here later today.

Damon

 

[duhfactor]

I had a few minutes to post this pic of the equipment room plans, I haven't labeled anything, just sort of positioned things, etc. I have 10 feet wide to work with, and 9 feet high. I'm starting on the electrical for the house, so I need to get the boxes in place. Any suggestions? I didn't show other walls where fans or humidistat/thermostat will be placed, just the main wall with the majority of the equipment. I'm still toying with where to run switches to turn on/off the main return pump, circulation pumps for water change water, and top off water, etc. Remember, all the equipment is in the basement, so the lines coming down from the top of the page are from the display tank.

There will be an overhead fuge of 55-75 gal in a closet behind and above the display tank that will gravity feed into the display. I will run one 20 amp circuit in the closet for the fuge, and two 20 amp circuits for the display MH lighting. I'm still vascillating between running 220 V. or 120 V. for the MH ballasts. Most people tell me run the 220 V., but I'm still not sure. Maybe I'll run both

 

[duhfactor]

Well,
It's been a crazy holiday season, and we're going gangbusters on building the house. I've placed the electrical boxes in the closet behind the tank for the overhead refugium, lights, and display tank MH ballasts. I've also found a trick little way of exhausting heat out of that upper closet area via a temprature controlled inline fan at the depot. You set the temp, and when you reach that temp, it sends power to the inline fan which then blows hot air up into the attic. I then will have three large capacity temperature controlled fans in the attic, blowing to the outside. I also plan on using an 8" duct from the fish tank room outside with a flap that also has an inline fan. I'm still working on a way to attach both a humidistat and the temp contoller to the same inline fan. Haven't worked that out yet, worst case scenario is that I run two 8" ducts out with fans, one controlled by the humidistat, the other by the temp controller. Seems a bit unnecessary to do that, and I can't run another duct in the future because the room the duct passes through will be finished. i plan to post pics of the rooms in the next couple of days.

Damon

 

[Lordhelmet]

look forward to that.
one question. why would you want to duct the air into the attic then from the attic outside. why don't you just duct it outside. maybe i'm missing something here?

 

[duhfactor]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6472607#post6472607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lordhelmet
look forward to that.
one question. why would you want to duct the air into the attic then from the attic outside. why don't you just duct it outside. maybe i'm missing something here?

Actually, I'm running a straight vertical pipe from the closet up into the attic because it is a short run (about 5 feet). I personally don't like the "turtle" vents found on most houses to passively vent hot air out of the attic, so I've used two or three larger temperature controlled fan vents (on past homes) positioned on the roof in the back of the house. They are powered, and can be painted black to match the shingles. The nice thing is that they use very little power, and you can set the temp. It helps to decrease energy costs for the whole house function, not so much for just the tank. I actually have to do it anyway, it just helps to lessen the runs required from the closet refuge area, etc.

Damon

 

[duhfactor]

Now that my framers are mostly done, you can see the wall that my tank will go up against. It goes against the wall on the left with the closet behind it. You can see the electrical boxes in the closet behind the tank wall, mounted up high. There will be (2) 220 volt circuits 20 amp., and (2) 120 volt circuits 20 amp. My hvac guy is going to run a 6" duct into the top of that closet so I can have cool air go in there in the summer time. If you pan to the right, you can see through the stairway into the basement, and the tank equipment room is located on the right. I hope that is not too much distance and head to run for plumbing????

Any thoughts on something I should consider or have forgotten?

Thanks,

Damon

 

[duhfactor]

I also have gotten a 16 circuit sub panel for 20 bucks that I plan to mount in the fish tank equipment room. I will run a 100 amp circuit to it from the basement sub panel. I do the electrical work myself, so it's only the cost of supplies. Here is the framed equipment room.

D

 

[duhfactor]

Some new events have transpired. I'm in the process of opening up a new clinic, and a good friend of mine is wanting a large fowlr tank in the waiting area. I've been concerned about the used acrylic tank, and getting the scratches out for fine viewing of a reef. He's offering me a good lump sum of money to buy this 325 acrylic tank from me, and me getting another tank for this room. One concern I have is how hard it will be getting in to clean and move coral around in a tank that's so tall. I certainly can't reach the bottom without a mask.. What should I do? He's offering me 800.00 for the tank, 100.00 for the power compacts (without bulbs), 100.00 for the iwaki pump, and 100 for the protein skimmer. Thats 1100.00, and I keep all the live rock and sand!! I already sold off about 150.00 worth of stuff I didn't need. This thing just keeps getting better......potentially. What should I do??

 

[BrianPlankis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6487871#post6487871 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Damon1
Some new events have transpired. I'm in the process of opening up a new clinic, and a good friend of mine is wanting a large fowlr tank in the waiting area. I've been concerned about the used acrylic tank, and getting the scratches out for fine viewing of a reef. He's offering me a good lump sum of money to buy this 325 acrylic tank from me, and me getting another tank for this room. One concern I have is how hard it will be getting in to clean and move coral around in a tank that's so tall. I certainly can't reach the bottom without a mask.. What should I do? He's offering me 800.00 for the tank, 100.00 for the power compacts (without bulbs), 100.00 for the iwaki pump, and 100 for the protein skimmer. Thats 1100.00, and I keep all the live rock and sand!! I already sold off about 150.00 worth of stuff I didn't need. This thing just keeps getting better......potentially. What should I do??

Damon,

You buy something for 800 that most people would pay 3 times for, and then you get to sell it for 1100 AND already sold 150 worth. WOW. Of course, consider the cost of buying another tank, you will need to probably pay a pretty penny for a new one of the same size.

Personally I would go with a tank that isn't as high and is as wide as possible with what fits your budget. Unless you win the lottery you'll probably be using whatever tank you end up with for a long time, so make sure it is what you want.

At any rate, I envy your position!

Brian

 

[duhfactor]

Brian,

Your suggestion is what I'm considering. I could go with a 210 very easily, and have enough cash with this sale to go get it, but I'm considering a 96x24x24 240 gal tank instead. Envision quoted me $2200.00 for it, and ~ 700.00 to ship it. I think I would like glass though because I have 4 kids and lots of little cousins....Scratches....argh.... What do you think I should do?

Damon

 

[BrianPlankis]

Damon,

Without knowing your financial situation, I can't really give you my opinion. Do you have all your debt paid off, a nice college fund started for all four kids?

Personally, I know my budget would not allow me to spend 2900 on just the tank (although 1200 off by selling the old one makes it more affordable at 1700). But still, with my budget and spending priorities I could not afford what you are thinking of doing. Look at your spending priorities, finances and hopefully you can see what to do

Brian

 

[Lordhelmet]

I agree with CirolanidHunter, not knowing your financial situation I really can't make a judgment. Personally if i had gotten a 325 gal tank for 8 hundred with all the equipment i might hold on to it. you wil probably spend 2-3k more on getting all of that equipment back new.
It is up to you though. if you can swing it, go for a longer wider tank that isn't quite as deep to make it easier on you.

my 2 cents

 

[duhfactor]

Well,
I have no debt other than the house I'm building, but I'm pretty frugal, thus DIY most of the items that I can....My wife doesn't really like the big tank now that we're talking about a different shape, and a 210 would be no strain financially. All of the expensive stuff, mostly live rock and sand I still keep. I would have to buy MH lights, and pumps with the basement set up anyway, with either tank. I'm waiting for a bid from a place in cal that custom makes glass tanks, our local lfs has a 750 made by them that looks good. I couldn't get the number, so I had to go through a friend...............if you know what I mean. The bid is for a 96x24x24 with center behind back overflow. If that bid is fairly high...I think I would go with the 210 (for 749.00 at the LFS). This is a system on a budget.....I see too many people get huge tanks and then run outta' dough....I have a fair bit saved and available to use for this (in addition to the 1100.00 if I sell it), but that would go quick in lights and pumps. The other 1500.00 we've got set aside for the tank has been shifted by the wife for the kids something or other.....(big screen I think.....)

Damon

 

[Lordhelmet]

I would say then do whatever the wife is OK with

I know how much fun that can be and am very thankfull my wife supports my addiction.

it sounds like you can do whatever without any problems so, think about it a lot. you wouldn't want to rush making a descision then regret not getting a the right sized tank or what not.

probably doesn't help much but my thoughts on this.

 

[duhfactor]

I appreciate your thoughts;
I've been concerned about using acrylic in my house primarily because of all the small kids that are around. I had one nephew that liked to wipe boogers on my 75 glass tank.....:sad1: That was great asking his Dad to clean them off...Ha Ha, We joke a lot with family...he didn't mind I've been told by a few local guys to stay away from acrylic with small kids, but mine are very careful around the tank. Unfortunately, cousins of my kids aren't as careful, and their parents don't always watch them very good. That's why I'm leaning toward glass. Also, the financial outlay and maintenance cost of just doing water changes on a 325 display isn't cheap.......:eek1: I can do it, but I'm not sure I want to. I'm still waiting for a bid on the glass 96" long tank. The wall it will go against is 10 ft long, so an 8 ft tank would be way cool. We'll see how the bid comes back, then decide. I'm strongly considering it. My wife seems to like the size and dimensions of the 210, she loves the tank, and misses the 75 that is over at my brother in laws now while we're building the house.

Damon