Building a Fish Room; Guidance Needed.

[KevC]

Have the perfect area - walled off in my dasement; 20 x 18, with 14' ceilings. Have a double basin laundry tub being installed. Here are my questions...

- Do I need to install mold/moisture resistant dry wall?
- Do I need to install a plastic (visqueen) barrier first? Insulation too?
- What is best way to change water for all tanks at once?
- What do I need to do to set up air flow? Best pump, etc.?
- Where can I find "detailed" fish room building information with plans, step-by-step instruction and recommendations for air pumps, water changes, stand construction, etc.?

Forgive me, but up until now I have been a recreational hobbyist. I would really like to get into breeding African (Malawi) Cichlids full time. Any help will be greately appreciated! Many thanks in advance.

Kev

 

[repair]

I built mine and I just used faced insulation behind the wall board. At first I didn't have a dehumidifier and my humidity ran between 80 to 90% so I got a huimidifier and now it's around 50%.

I made a drip system and it changes the water in my tanks, I highly recomend it.

If people want me to I'll write an artical about building my fish room and people can add their experiances.

I live in Indy and your more then welcome to come down and see how I did mine.

 

[Ornatapinnis]

Where in Ohio are you? I have many items you might want to do this project that I would part with at a very reasonable price (main pump / blower / plumbing / etc.) I'm in southern Dayton area (Centerville), I also could show you my central systems at my shop for some ideas for your set up.

You most likley will need a de humidfyier or an air exchanger to keep the humidity down. If you keep the humidity down, you shouldn't need any special wall board, regular gypsum (dry wall) should be fine. Insulation is not a bad idea for sound and temp controll.

Let me know if I can help additionally...

Joel

 

[Miles]

Im interested in a blower/air pump and maybe some information on the best/most effecient way to set one up.. I have been looking at blowers and stuff for a while now, but can't really decide or find info on what the best route to go would be..

Someone PM me if they want to help a brotha out

 

[rallysman]

Repair has a sweet fish room. If you have some time post the construction repair, i've seen the finished product but i'd like to see how it happened. plus I'm thinking of turning my storage building into a room for tanks and a pond....who knows maybe you could get another sticky!

 

[Nic]

i would be interested need some ideas for my garage and the back of my basement

 

[KevC]

I'm in Mansfield. Repair has offered to show me his fish room and I need to find time to get over to Indy. Appreciate both your offers for help! My schedule this month is the only thing holding me back.

Kev

 

[danny boy]

give some consideration to coveing all the tanks to keep humidity low and perhaps a pair of shower fans installed? you can buy ones that work on a humidity setting as the water level rises the fans automatically turn on. this is a far better solution that using backer board in the room. stopping the fault is better than preparing for it if you know what im trying to say you could consider maaking the room a wet room if you have the budget with central drainage that would mean just empting water on to the floor to remove.

 

[repair]

My tanks are covered but keep in mind that as you aireate the water it passes through the air and it will raise the humidity and since my room is well insulated and the room is fairly airtight you can't help have a raise in humidity.

Wet/drys are even better at adding air to your water and they will raise the humidity even more.

I didn't make my fish room a wet room I used panneling for the walls.

I think that the only real answer is to have a dehumidifier because you have to keep the room at a constant temp.

 

[gomezladdams]

Im just putting my fishroom back together now.
1 paint everything with mildew resistant paint gloss or semi gloss for ease of cleanup
2 paint or tile floor to ease mopping up spills,caulk around bottom of walls to keep spills in
3 cover all tanks well and use a dehumidifyer,use some small fans to keep air moving around
4 outlets lots of outlets I put mine high 5' up so they are easier to get to and form drip loops..dont want water to run down the cord into the outlet.
5 I was going to plumb everything together for a common sum and easy waterchanges but felt it left me too open to catastrophic filter failure and disease spread

6 dont forget room for a chair when placing your racks its not a petstore youre gonna want to hang in there
good luck and have fun