Fish Room Necessities?

[wardworld]

I'm in the "researching" phases of putting up a 210 (I have a 120, 90, & 30 cube). I will have the ability with the new tank to have it back up to an outside wall. On the other side of the wall is a partial screened porch. It has a concrete floor, aluminum roof, and screening on 2 sides (brick and wood on the other).
What things/ideas would anyone have for making sure a fish room has in it?
Thanks,

 

[rocknreef]

A sink

I need to add one too.

 

[wardworld]

Good idea, rocknreef...I also thought it might be cool to find a cheap used washing machine to put out there for my filter socks...my wife always makes a weird face when I use our current one

 

[GlassReef]

Many, many, many electrical outlets.

BTW, you're a lucky man if you've got enough room for a washing machine.

 

[FISHSTICK745]

counter-top or work table.

 

[vsnph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13078299#post13078299 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FISHSTICK745
counter-top or work table.

+1 Makes tank water testing easier if you have a nice table with a chair beside.

* an exhaust / vent

* tap water source / faucet

* cabinet/ shelf for organizing details

* a floor drainage ( in case some cleaning / washing is needed )

 

[wardworld]

vsnph, explain the need for the exhaust vent...thanks,

 

[vsnph]

Hi Daryl,

The exhaust vent might be useful during hot / summer days in your area. As this room will be full of equipments soon, pumps, lightning equipments etc.. produces heat. You dont want this heat trapped inside and transferring into your system ( Okay during the winter months ). The heat inside this room can be vented outside so as not to further affect the temperature of your tank or tanks inside your fishroom.

The vent can also be useful in preventing humidity issues inside it.

 

[wardworld]

great point...thanks (and living in Central Florida it makes perfect sense).

 

[wardworld]

Also, if anyone knows of any great build threads that also highlight a fish room construction, please link away

 

[vsnph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13079441#post13079441 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wardworld
great point...thanks (and living in Central Florida it makes perfect sense).

You're welcome !! HTH

btw, Have you seen DARYL ? The movie,

Data Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform

 

[wardworld]

Yes I've seen it, but nothing beats the greetins I get due to the Newhart show:
"This is Daryl...and my other brother Daryl"

 

[vsnph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13079829#post13079829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wardworld
Yes I've seen it, but nothing beats the greetins I get due to the Newhart show:
"This is Daryl...and my other brother Daryl"

 

[dgasmd]

Re: Fish Room Necessities?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13077497#post13077497 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wardworld
I will have the ability with the new tank to have it back up to an outside wall. On the other side of the wall is a partial screened porch. It has a concrete floor, aluminum roof, and screening on 2 sides (brick and wood on the other).
What things/ideas would anyone have for making sure a fish room has in it?
Thanks,

Given you are in FL with much better weather extremes than most of the country, you will need very little. First, I would cover your sump and any other open water container there. It will make for much more stable evaporation volumes and also help with temp swings between night and day. It will also help with the sun shining on your water directly and heating the heck out of it. You will need a chiller likely. This will be a perfect place for it, so the heat stays outside of the house. A sink is nice and so is a table to work on. You might find it very very useful to have a big fan blowing around the covered porch area, especially during the day, as it will help with the heat. Not necessary to have it a full blast, but rather to circulate air some. Outlets as stated above is a necessity whether you have the entire thing indoors or the way you will have it. Obviously, I would have ALL the equipment out in the porch as their heat and noise creation will also stay outside of the house. Another use for the fan.

 

[LOTUS50GOD]

backup generator for the hurricanes..
lots of power. I dropped 3x20 amp GFI circuits when I got my new house
water supply/ drain for water changes and to hook up the RODI unit.
Cabinets to keep all of your testing supplies/ turkey basters/ etc...

 

[wmilas]

Check out my build to see the progression of my fishroom.

In summary:

Slopped floor down to floor drain.
Insulated walls, greenboard or cement board.
2 Part epoxy paint on walls (You can literally take a hose at that point and spray the whole room down to clean it.
Sealed baseboards (caulk and rubber/vinyl)
Exhaust, AND fresh air intake. Exhaust doesn't do any good unless you have makeup air... and since its a sealed room you'll need it to come from somewhere.
Possibly, a split AC unit. Won't need a dehumidifier at this point with the exhaust and the ac.
Sink.
Work space.
Utility lights over the tank (recessed) that are not the MH's t5's.
GFI 20 amp breakers and runs. Put the GFI breakers in your panel and you'll save a ton on gfi outlets. You'll want minimum 4 circuits, although you can put the lighting and utility outlets for the room on on.
Sealed door, door should not be steel. Use wood (liberally stained and polyed!) or fiberglass.
Wire the room for ethernet.

Those are the real biggies imho.

 

["Umm fish?"]

A refrigerator/freezer for fish food (your SO will thank you later), and a dedicated blender for making said fish food.