Upgrading my system

[milonedp]

We are moving in the fall to a new home and I'm having my aquarium built into the wall so that I have a maintenance room. I currently have a 180 that is also built into the wall so I've learned a little about what I like and didn't like but wanted to through this out there. I'll probably be looking at a 300 or 375 gallon tank.

What I'm interested in is any suggestions for things to include in the "tank room". For example I'm including a humidistat on 80 cfm vent, I'm having a drain installed in the floor, a hose bib (separate from the sink) for the RO/DI unit.

Should I do a raised floor so its easier to get into the tank or just use a little giant type ladder?

Any and all thoughts are appreciated!

 

[jerpa]

I would just use a ladder so you don't lose the space to a lifted floor. You may want to think about incorporating a fragging station into your setup. The floor drain and sink are the biggest advantages to a fish room IMO so you have that down. Just make sure you plan and make drawings so you can have outlets and switches installed in suitable locations. I'd also probably plan your outlets then add 50% because it seems you always run out of plugs.

 

[milonedp]

Any thoughts on how high I should have the stand built? In the maintenance room I'll have 9 ft ceilings but in the view-able space it will be in a two story room.

 

[BfishLpond78]

Could you incorporate a catwalk around the tank so you don't have to bring a ladder in all the time? Build it into the stand on the tank room side. I've seen that done before.

 

[milonedp]

Thanks for the input, I've actually started to think that might be the option I take, I'm just shy of 6ft and the ceilings will be 9ft so I'm thinking 3 but I may just need to see the tank in there to figure it out, the hard part is figuring out the stand height. I've started a build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2172042 and I'm getting some feedback there too, it'll be a slow build as the house constuction is just starting now, planning to move in around the end of October / early November. Join me on the build thread!