600 gallon NEW BUILD
- Thread starter Ricardo18
- Start date
tom obrecht
Active member
SECRET PASSAGE TO EQUIPMENT ROOM
This is AWESOME! Just ran across this thread! I love well planned out builds with inventive stuff that is new and fresh! Well done!
Ricardo18
New member
Hey, Thanks Tom......I built this house with my aquarium in mind..lots of planning...so I had the chance to get it right the first time. I built in a lot of redundancy (mostly electrical outlets and wall drains)..and now that I am in the "sit back and wait" mode, I have not too often said to myself: "damn..I wish I had......"
Ricardo18
New member
Wow..very archaic!..thanks Dave
cesarjimen
New member
Hi Ricardo,
How are the nitrate levels? Did you find a solution that works for you?
Would be great to see an update video! I have my new tank on order and will be using several of your ideas.
Cesar
How are the nitrate levels? Did you find a solution that works for you?
Would be great to see an update video! I have my new tank on order and will be using several of your ideas.
Cesar
scott11106
New member
i just found this thread and i am taking notes as i am planning a 400 gallon build with a fish room now. just purchased property and close on it in 60 days then the house construction begins and i also have planned the house around my tank and fish room.
couple questions that i may have missed so i am sorry if these are redundant:
1. is it a glass or acrylic tank and why?
2. i was going to hook the house AC into the fish room with a separate return and vent so i was wondering why you did not do that and how is your stand alone working for you.
3. i am also going to make my setup automated with an APEX so how do you rate it today?
4. i am trying to figure out if i want to have the tank flush to the wall or have it sticking out like yours, how are you liking yours that way and would you change anything if you could?
thanks and great job with your entire setup!!!
couple questions that i may have missed so i am sorry if these are redundant:
1. is it a glass or acrylic tank and why?
2. i was going to hook the house AC into the fish room with a separate return and vent so i was wondering why you did not do that and how is your stand alone working for you.
3. i am also going to make my setup automated with an APEX so how do you rate it today?
4. i am trying to figure out if i want to have the tank flush to the wall or have it sticking out like yours, how are you liking yours that way and would you change anything if you could?
thanks and great job with your entire setup!!!
scott11106
New member
McPuff
New member
The way you are showing the tank in the wall, it probably makes sense to have it flush with the wall. If it were in the middle of a wall, I'd say go ahead and do it half in/out. Either way, you'll want to be able to get a side view of your tank. I find myself looking through the sides all the time!
Acrylic or glass is personal preference. Since the tank is 300 gallons I'd recommend going glass as it's easier to clean and less worries about scratches. But if you do starfire, DO NOT use metal scrapers to clean the glass!
Last piece of advice is to use a ghost overflow (or similar) versus an overflow box. That's one thing I wish I could have done with my own tank.
Acrylic or glass is personal preference. Since the tank is 300 gallons I'd recommend going glass as it's easier to clean and less worries about scratches. But if you do starfire, DO NOT use metal scrapers to clean the glass!
Last piece of advice is to use a ghost overflow (or similar) versus an overflow box. That's one thing I wish I could have done with my own tank.
Ricardo18
New member
-Glass, all starfire- no scratches or yellowing (do not keep a magnet in the DT all the time)
-DO NOT hook this room into your home system!!! It will cause excessive humidity throughout the entire house.If you do not want a dedicated system, have the house system FEED this room, but do not RETURN it. (positive pressure only)...ALSO..install a 200 cfm exhaust fan (Bathroom type) in the ceiling.Exhaust to outside. Keep it running 24/7 or hook up a humidity switch to it.You will need this.
-Install the DT flush with the viewing wall if you do not want it sticking out. Your drawing shows it recessed.HOWEVER...This is the main reason I custom built my cabinet.My side viewing panels knock this design out of the park!If you have the room ,have it sit in the viewing room so that only 10" sits inside the equipment room for servicing..Build a cabinet around it like mine.(Or at least a top) Mine sits 30" inside the office, 10" inside the equipment room.
-install electrical outlets on top of DT..for the light ballasts.
-clad the room in 3/4" plywood, everywhere(behind the drywall)...so you can hang anything/anywhere without annoying drywall plugs (you will just need regular wood screws).
-Apex is excellent along with GENESIS RENEW.
-I find it hard to believe, but I guess because I planned it out so carefully before I built(like you)..I have no regrets.Any changes I made were just layout and service stuff,(I cannot stop improving things!) and I had enough drains and plugs to accommodate any changes. I did add a lsecond salt water container for water changes.Now I have 2 which is perfect. One to mix in..then occasionally I pump to the second one which supplies my DT.This way I can make new water at my leisure without rushing out a new batch because I only have 1 holding tank.
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Ricardo18
New member
I have my BioPellets on line now and they should kick in in another month or so..... my nitrates are steady at 5-7 right now.BUT EVERYBODY SEEMS HAPPY!
I will post an update video of my equipment room soon...thanks for asking.
Good luck with your tank...ask any questions ....
Ricardo18
New member
a block of wood in a "U" shape. So the aluminum leg is wrapped in this and attached to the panels from the back.
cesarjimen
New member
Hey Ricardo,
A few questions after going through your build (again):
1) when planning the plumbing like you did with the green tape, did you have to lubricate the pipe somehow so that it would slide in appropriately?
2) what did you use for your light rack and how did you hang it? I noticed some corner and end pieces that looked interesting.
3) how did you use the dr Tim's products to cycle your tank? How much and just the armonÃa solution or also the nitrifying bacteria? The directions on the product seem vague.
4) did you use any cement or rods in building the aquascape?
5) Is that a emperor 80w UV? I like how you set it up. Is that just some foam in between the UV and the support piece?
Thanks!
Cesar
A few questions after going through your build (again):
1) when planning the plumbing like you did with the green tape, did you have to lubricate the pipe somehow so that it would slide in appropriately?
2) what did you use for your light rack and how did you hang it? I noticed some corner and end pieces that looked interesting.
3) how did you use the dr Tim's products to cycle your tank? How much and just the armonÃa solution or also the nitrifying bacteria? The directions on the product seem vague.
4) did you use any cement or rods in building the aquascape?
5) Is that a emperor 80w UV? I like how you set it up. Is that just some foam in between the UV and the support piece?
Thanks!
Cesar
