Fish room setup advice...

[Orthopod]

Fish room advice

First: Any advice on where to have drains and faucets placed in a fish room - can’t really put this in DIY as I am not doing it myself.

Second: laying concrete this week - any other advice that people have in retrospect after building your fish room would be appreciated.

thanks

 

[Matteus]

basically the question is, what are you planning to set up in the fish room, it would give a bit more insight as to how to give advice


So mine has a drain in the middle of the room. Seems pretty logical at first, but if you want to set up a drip or auto changer it would mean hoses need to be run into the middle of the room and you could possibly trip on them. So in my opinion it may be useful to offset a drain or two so they don’t run hoses to the middle of the room.

also if I were to have a sink/tap I would put it closest to the main sump as possible without hindering the footprint. That way you can do maintenance with less hoses etc.

 

[Orthopod]

Fish room will be 24 by 30 feet - I am planning on stacked 8 ft by 4ft by 2 ft high tanks on one side and will attempt a rack system for random smaller fish and hypans in the middle and on the far side will place my oddly shaped 6ft by 5 ft tanks and random assortments on the other tanks.

I want to set up an auto water changer - my current set up has auto changer that uses a timer to pump out water for -a period of time an intervals during the day and is replaced into the sump by water coming into the house into the sump that is connected to a float system to prevent over flow. Would like to have even the small tanks automated - life got way better for me and the fish when I added the changer to the big setups.

I am also wondering how to set up filtration . Separate filter room adjacent to the structure or inside the structure - my current filtration has all big tanks separated with a sump running into an ultima 2000. I’ve seen pictures of vinces set up and would love to use large totes and K1 in addition to ultimas.

main focus will still be Ray’s and larger plecos (luteus , pseudocanthicus)

anyway, any advice from those of youwho have undertaken this and are more handy and more experienced than I would be appreciated.

pics of some of my haphazard cluttered current fish room

 

[Matteus]

pacu mom Randys Gpdriftwood T Tj203 R Rhyno8 may have some insights

 

[Tj203]

Go bigger then you think this way you can expand in the future. As far as the water change I think a continuous drip is the best as it Stabilises the water parameters better because you don't have swings in the parameters. Also imo much safer as you don't need to rely on pumps and timers just gravity.
Depending on where the tanks are set up I would want the filtration in a different Room I know I just moved my filtration to the basement and it is a night in day difference as far as noise. With a fish Room you'll probably be running a decent size pump like me. I am running a 1- 1/2 horsepower pump In my basement sounds like a pool Room.
The next thing I'm adding is one of those cheap plastic sinks to clean all the filter media.also You need to think electricity because pumps and heaters consume a lot I added 4 circuits in my house just for the fish tank. Another thing to consider is do you want them all on one filtration system If you have a disease it's gonna spread or do you want them separate

 

[jjohnwm]

I would have one or more drains at convenient locations along the walls, plumbed in the concrete to the main/central floor drain, so that there would never be a need for hoses across the floor. If you are 100% certain on the location of the various tanks, you might consider making flat level concrete pads at those points to simplify levelling of the tanks; much easier to do while pouring the floor rather than creating pads as afterthoughts later.

Finally, the single most overlooked and useful accessory in a fishroom, IMHO, is a floor-level slop sink for washing/rinsing/general "mess management".

 

[Orthopod]

I appreciate all the input - keep them coming thx

 

[pacu mom]

Consider trench drains around the perimeter of your fish room and some strategically placed floor drains. Years ago, someone on MFK did trench drains. I love the idea. We went with two 3" floor drains in our equipment room.


Our equipment room is plumbed with hot/cold water lines 2 ft above the tank. There will be hot/cold water to the sump and also to the utility sink. (Yup, my tank is still not set up after all these years) In your case, have enough water lines plumbed in to make things easier for you in dealing with all your tanks.

 

[dr exum]

if it were me with open walls and ability to lay it out -

one - hot / cold water 1/2” tap per lg tank

one 2” abs stub drain per tank - 5”-7” from floor for optimal draining

stained concrete floor

1-2 central floor drain to accommodate accidental spills - these would be in the slab

ventilation / HVAC - LOTS

outlets - 1 cluster per big tank

i have 2 -20amp & 2- 15amp circuits and it’s not enough

drain option for sewer vs lawn water -

lots of can lighting

storage

fridge / hand sink

TV / wifi / sitting area

GL!

 

[Matteus]

if it were me with open walls and ability to lay it out -

one - hot / cold water 1/2” tap per lg tank

one 2” abs stub drain per tank - 5”-7” from floor for optimal draining

stained concrete floor

1-2 central floor drain to accommodate accidental spills - these would be in the slab

ventilation / HVAC - LOTS

outlets - 1 cluster per big tank

i have 2 -20amp & 2- 15amp circuits and it’s not enough

drain option for sewer vs lawn water -

lots of can lighting

storage

fridge / hand sink

TV / wifi / sitting area

GL!

Shoot I meant to tag you as well good thing you are on it ?