Southern Oregon help needed

[CorkDork]

Well i'm now a homeowner, and I have a completely empty extra room that I would like to turn into my fish room. My wife is totally on board with it too.

I'm looking to either buy at least a three hundred gallon tank, or possibly, get some help building one into the structure of my house in that room.

At the moment, all I have is ten gallons just to get my fix lol.

 

[tlindsey]

Well i'm now a homeowner, and I have a completely empty extra room that I would like to turn into my fish room. My wife is totally on board with it too.

I'm looking to either buy at least a three hundred gallon tank, or possibly, get some help building one into the structure of my house in that room.

At the moment, all I have is ten gallons just to get my fix lol.

View attachment 1573911

Welcome aboard!
How long has the aquarium been setup? Are you doing a fishless cycle?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; Congratulations or condolences on being a home owner. I sort of jest and I bought my first home 16 years ago. It has been a mixed blessing. Some things picked up from life and this site follow.

A rough guide might be to figure the overall weight at 12 pounds per gallon. The water is around 8 1/2 pounds per gallon. Add the weight of the tank, stand and all to get the extra weight. 12 pounds could be a low estimate. So, 300 gal at 12 = 3600 pounds. The weight of small car.

Next is the structure of the house. Is it wood floor joists? is it a concrete slab? First floor or upstairs? Basement or crawl space? Can you get the tank in thru the door? Many more question to follow.

My first real suggestion is to consider hiring an engineer or a good general contractor if you know one. Have someone take a good look-see of the house's structure.

 

[CorkDork]

Welcome aboard!
How long has the aquarium been setup? Are you doing a fishless cycle?

I've had it set up about a week, more interested in trying out the vever canister filter. Considering doing a bunch of nano tanks too.

This new little canister filter is two stage and also has its own internal u v light. For fifty bucks, so i'm a little apprehensive at the low price, but i'm curious to see how well it performs.

 

[The 426 Hemi]

I

I've had it set up about a week, more interested in trying out the vever canister filter. Considering doing a bunch of nano tanks too.

This new little canister filter is two stage and also has its own internal u v light. For fifty bucks, so i'm a little apprehensive at the low price, but i'm curious to see how well it performs.

I have 2 vevor filters a 3 and a 4 stage they have been running for a few months now and seem to do a good job. I also was concerned about the low cost but no issues yet.

 

[Roger Mcfish]

Hello; Congratulations or condolences on being a home owner. I sort of jest and I bought my first home 16 years ago. It has been a mixed blessing. Some things picked up from life and this site follow.

A rough guide might be to figure the overall weight at 12 pounds per gallon. The water is around 8 1/2 pounds per gallon. Add the weight of the tank, stand and all to get the extra weight. 12 pounds could be a low estimate. So, 300 gal at 12 = 3600 pounds. The weight of small car.

Next is the structure of the house. Is it wood floor joists? is it a concrete slab? First floor or upstairs? Basement or crawl space? Can you get the tank in thru the door? Many more question to follow.

My first real suggestion is to consider hiring an engineer or a good general contractor if you know one. Have someone take a good look-see of the house's structure.

Was gonna say the same about the weight. I reinforced my floor where my 125 gallon display tank sits because it runs parallel to the joists plus my house was built early 70s.

 

[jjohnwm]

Good point ^ about the joists. You should absolutely plan on situating the big tank perpendicular to the floor joists, so that the weight is spread out over more of them. Checking the joists from the basement below and perhaps bracing and/or reinforcing them is a good idea as well.

Building a tank into a wall makes for a beautiful display, but it can also complicate access and maintenance. I've only done that once, with the tank being observed from an adjacent room, but serviced and accessed entirely from the rear which sat in the fish room. Mine was set up with an easily-removable background, so that I could quickly take it down and see into the tank when working inside it from the rear.

Don't forget that heating the fishroom can be easier and cheaper than heating the individual tanks. And absolutely do not ignore the potential problems of excess humidity; a dehumidifier and/or supplemental ventilation are almost guaranteed to be needed.

Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.