Equipment Room Plumbing

[pacu mom]

As most of you know, we are doing a major tank upgrade for our pacu. It has been a very long slow process, and we are still a long ways off. Having spent hours browsing fish forums, looking at other peoples' setups, I've formed definite ideas of what I want for our system. Finally, finally, the plumbing is being put in this week by a subcontractor.


Two 3" floor drains to be used for water changes and purging the Ultimas. The floor is slightly sloped toward the drains.

The utility sink is going here (you can see our stand being stored in the background)

Hot and cold water at the tank. (Can't put the windows in until the stand and tank get moved in)

Hot and cold water lines above the tank will come down behind the tank and go the the sump. The sump will be primarily a holding tank for the water from the 8' overflow box of the main tank. We will be able to change out or add water directly to the main tank or the sump.

Recessed lighting will also be going in the floor joist spaces above the tank. The plan is five 6" LED and five incandescent lights--a can in each joist space.

While it seems our DIY project has been moving at a snail's pace, we have come a long way from just having a plan a year ago.

 

[TheRealAndyCook]

I like that idea, id want a dedicated fill "station" but maybe thats what your sink will be.

 

[idle0095]

how big is ur new tank going to be?

 

[pacu mom]

how big is ur new tank going to be?

15' x 4' x 4' with a 400 gallon sump

 

[TheRealAndyCook]

15' x 4' x 4' with a 400 gallon sump

holy ****

thats like 2,000 gal worth of water?

 

[pacu mom]

I like that idea, id want a dedicated fill "station" but maybe thats what your sink will be.

Don't know what you mean by dedicated fill station. The sink is strictly for cleaning purposes.

Our equipment room plumbing will enable us to add water to the main tank, add water to the sump, and remove water from the main tank and sump just be turning valves on/off. The new addition will have hot water via a tankless propane water heater, so we will have unlimited hot water. Right now, with our electric tank water heater, we run out of hot water after changing out a couple hundred gallons. This will not be a problem with the new system. Also, everything will be in place so that we can easily convert to a 24/7 continuous water change system.

 

[TheRealAndyCook]

I meant like a dedicated space to fill what ever storage your using for your water changes, for some reason I expected this to be a reef build.

 

[pacu mom]

We changed things out yesterday. Since the overhead water lines will be less than two feet from the top of the tank, they will be used to add water directly to the main tank.

The water lines on the side of the tank will be directed either under the stand or under the 3 1/2 foot platform behind the tank to be the water source for the sump.

 

[idle0095]

thats nuts. its 1790 gallons. HUGH

 

[pacu mom]

thats nuts. its 1790 gallons. HUGH

That's why it's important to have the equipment room plumbed for easy maintenance.