Tanks in the basement; yeah, or nah?

[duanes]

I had all my tanks in the basement for decade, then I got divorced, a different house, and I put most of them upstairs.
About 1500 gallons on the 1st (ground) floor, and a 1000 gallon pool in the basement.
Although it made my life easier, and seeing fish more convenient, it also raised a number of consequences.
Water changes became easier, because I arranged for old water to flow by gravity outside to the garden, but on the downside, I occasionally would forget to turn off new incoming water, and instead of ending up on a concrete floor, it ended up on the wood floors.
The ambiance of the house became very tropical, ie humid, and when I moved out a while back, major remediation, and serious repair accompanied the move, on floors from spillage, and ceilings and walls, from the constant humidity. And most all furniture ended up in the garbage.
I think if those humidity and water issues would have been dealt with ahead of time, proactively instead of re-actively (venting, float or check valves, etc) it would have been less complicated and a pain in the arse in the end.

 

[Pharaoh]

One of the main reasons we moved a few years back. I bought a house with a basement, finished it out myself, and then never went down there. I only went tot eh basement to feed the fish and do water changes. The idea of a man cave seems great, but really isn't useful. I enjoy spending time with my wife and kid, therefore I am/was upstairs with them, not in my cave.

In the new house, I only have my smaller breeder-focus tanks. My display tank is in the common area so we can all enjoy.

 

[shookONES]

Most of my tanks are in the basement. I'd almost prefer it this way as I can be as messy as I want to be. I don't have to worry about getting water on the carpet, or fish splashing on my walls. Plus, the adjacent slop sink makes maintenance a breeze.

 

[CORVETTE]

Basement is by far the best way to go. Make it your entertainment hub. I put in a bar sunk my tank into a wall added a Big T.V. and a few pictures and its no longer a basement. My wife and friends prefer being down stairs and the wife likes that the up stairs is a lot cleaner...lol also our houses here in Canada go way up in value if the basement is completed. I have pic's if interested.

 

[wannadivesteve]

I have plans to put a big tank in the basement and have some of the same worries, my solution, projector. Like the poster above, I'm working on a bar, the HUGE tv isn't quite enough to get me down there all the time when it's cold just yet. I'm working on creating a primary living space down there that will draw us there. It's very comfy in the hot months, I figure the tank alone will bump up the temp in the winters, but the plan is to finish and heat the space.

I think you have to make the space as interesting as possible to make it worth the "trip" down there... Reminds me of the hot tub we had a hundred feet away at our last house, rarely got used, if we do another it'll be on our bedroom patio 10 feet from the bed.

 

[David R]

Well here's pic of my space, the sheet is on the couch because the dogs spend more time sitting on it than I do!


There's nothing uncomfortable about it, and my brewing room complete with kegerator is next door, so there's no excuse for not spending more time down there I guess...

 

[CORVETTE]

just need a big TV or projector and your done.....lol I spend more time watch fish when the wifes watching her shows

 

[krichardson]

Corvette that looks really nice.The Star Wars decor makes a nice theater room theme.

 

[spiff44]

that does look good..neon lights even! I prefer the true cave experience though.. cold and dark. The tank is usually the only light source..

 

[krichardson]

that does look good..neon lights even! I prefer the true cave experience though.. cold and dark. The tank is usually the only light source..

Got any photos?