my first marine tank build thread ...

[dipan]

I figured I might as well start one of these. Here's a drawing of what I plan to do in the next several weeks.

http://idisk.mac.com/dipan-Public/Aquarium/mt1.jpg

The main tank (blue) is going to be about 45"W x 28"D x 30"H. I'll know better measurements after the construction is finished. I was waiting for a way to "customize" our new home so that we feel it really is ours. This didn't happen for me in our old house until I had "fixed it up" to our liking after a few years. The display tank will be visible on only one side. I'm not sure yet whether or not I'll have a "window" visible on the left (top of blue rectangle in picture) side. That's the dining room on that side with the front pointing to my bedroom and main entry/foyer. There's a relatively shallow "art niche" there right now where I want to put the tank. The closet in the dining room will be sacrificed and the door will serve as an entry to my "fish room" where all the equipment will be. The room will be about 8' x 6' and will house the sump, my old freshwater tank converted into a propagation tank & refugium, and a utility sink! The return pump will prob be there under the sink. I always wanted a fish room ever since I was struck by this aquarium hobby ...

[hobogato]

looks like a good starting plan, it will be nice to have a room for everything. dont forget to plan for extra electrical outlets on at least two circuits. also, dont forget to plan for your RODI - supply line and drain line.

[dipan]

looks like a good starting plan, it will be nice to have a room for everything. dont forget to plan for extra electrical outlets on at least two circuits. also, dont forget to plan for your RODI - supply line and drain line.

I was thinking one 20 amp circuit, but maybe you're right ... I'll have two. GFCI every 6" !!!

I've already contacted buckeyefieldsupply and have plans for an RO/DI with two or maybe three 55 gallon storage barrels outside the fish room ...

[Troutmasters02]

Looks like a sweet build, take lots of photos and yell if you want some help.

[dipan]

Looks like a sweet build, take lots of photos and yell if you want some help.

Thanks for the offer! If I can't convince a builder to do it for me (time issues) I might just do it myself. I've built a 1000 sqft basement before so this shouldn't be too big a deal ...

Anyone have any recommendations for flooring? I was thinking either concrete (slab) maybe stained, or tiling the slab ...

[brewercm]

Those would be my choices. I originally had carpet in my house and eventually ripped it all out and tile put in.

[sharkboy]

definitely no carpet...it would be great if you could have a built in drain since you are likely to have a water spill at some point!

[dipan]

definitely no carpet...it would be great if you could have a built in drain since you are likely to have a water spill at some point!

Yeah, that would be ideal, but I'd have to tear apart the concrete slab to do it. I don't even know if there are any drains in the slab that I could tee into in that area either. Just a little more work than I'm willing to do and I don't want any contractors to take a jackhammer to my house just yet :) I'm at least happy that there will be a nice large utility sink in there. And if I leave a fish net or some pump parts in there or something, its OKAY!!! Hehe ...

[ReefCube]

just by the drawing i can tell this will be great

[allan]

As far as the eventual spill (I've been thinking about this since the 10 gallon saltwater rinse I gave my living room (fortunately I have a tiled first floor)) this is what I was considering for my in wall system.

The other side of my potential wall is a large pantry. I was thinking about placing a shallow plastic basin beneath the build. My washer/dryer is upstairs and the washer sits in a shallow metal basin to capture spilled water. Basically a floor made of plastic that extends about a foot further than your setup's footprint with a two inch lip.

Would something like that work for your fish room? A simple sensor is needed that when it becomes wet it will shut off your pumps and sound an alarm... or perhaps the latter and leave the former for you. I'm thinking if you aren't home though...

[dipan]

As far as the eventual spill (I've been thinking about this since the 10 gallon saltwater rinse I gave my living room (fortunately I have a tiled first floor)) this is what I was considering for my in wall system.

The other side of my potential wall is a large pantry. I was thinking about placing a shallow plastic basin beneath the build. My washer/dryer is upstairs and the washer sits in a shallow metal basin to capture spilled water. Basically a floor made of plastic that extends about a foot further than your setup's footprint with a two inch lip.

Would something like that work for your fish room? A simple sensor is needed that when it becomes wet it will shut off your pumps and sound an alarm... or perhaps the latter and leave the former for you. I'm thinking if you aren't home though...

That's a good thought. I hadn't thought of that. What I was thinking of is sealing all the walls where the bottom 2x4 meets the ground around the fish room except for one small 1ft area or so where the wall divides the fish room with the garage. That way, if water spills, it will collect a little, depending on the slope of the floor, but excess will drain into the garage where the floor is sloped to drain outside. Hopefully it will never happen as a major spill would be catastrophic for the tank if I'm not home, and I don't know what that saltwater would do to the landscape around the house.

[dipan]

Wondering what equipment I should start purchasing ... any advice?

I was thinking a nice quiet powerful efficient return pump. Maybe a Snapper, Iwaki? I have a Blueline pump, but it's probably not powerful enough and it seems to heat the water at least 3-5 degrees ...

I was going to talk to Jeremy at B&B about a standalone skimmer. Hope he's doing OK. Maybe a Profilux, RKE, or the new Neptune system, but I'll probably wait on the computer for now. Still at least a few months away from a completely setup system.

[dipan]

Wow ... closed loop recirculation. A revelation when you find out something new that just makes sense. Another newbie discovery! Hmmnnn. Anyone have any opinions on a couple of Reeflo Snapper's for a 200 gallon 45"x30"x36" tank ... one for circulation (closed loop) and the other for the filter/sump circuit? That way, I could bridge the two circuits with a ball union that is normally closed and if one pump dies, I can just use the other to drive both circuits until a replacement arrives. I like the redundancy idea.

[JeffCo]

For the return, the snapper may be fine, but you probably want a bigger pump for the closed loop. Maybe the barracuda or something around that size.

[dipan]

For the return, the snapper may be fine, but you probably want a bigger pump for the closed loop. Maybe the barracuda or something around that size.


Probably sound advice. Ordered 2 Reeflo Dart Golds to handle the closed loop and return needs. Picked up a used Dart as a backup in case also. Have to order the OM 4way, maybe today. I've spent days here and on RC just learning about the many facets of this hobby in the last few weeks. So much to figure out. Hopefully building permits will be acquired from the city for the fish room in the next week or so. I've started buying stuff, including an aquarium controller and an RO/DI system.

I've got to order the water storage tanks, probably today.

Not entirely sure about skimmer at this point. I've researched many of the "great" (expensive) skimmers out there, but was hoping someone would chime in and recommend an affordable, energy efficient, reliable (not too much tinkering) one for a large system. Not sure I want to spend megabucks on a skimmer ...

I wonder if I need a chiller, also, but I'll probably just set up the system first and wait & see. Maybe pick one up used.

[brewercm]

I'm using the Octopus Extreme and have been happy with it. Not sure what your total water volume will be put you could check on the Model 300.

Lots of skimmers out there but this and the ASM are the only two I have a lot of experience with. The ASM would be another nice choice I just like the build of the Octo better myself.

[dipan]

So bummed ... Just found out how much it will cost to have the fish room built. Not sure I can do it now. :(

I figured maybe 3-6K for a 12x5' room in the garage, with plumbing, AC/heat, and 2 20amp circuits. What do you guys think this should cost? I can do stuff myself, but time is a big factor and I don't really want to do the electrical/plumbing.

[Jarob]

Just ask around here on MAAST!! We have a ton of skilled people who im sure could save you money in the end. Sounds like a really cool build, hope it happens!

-Jarob

[PhilipB]

this build sounds awesome! cant wait to see it go up. what price range are you trying to stay in? im not soliciting but im a general contractor and am willing o give advice or tips if needed. there are actually quite a few of us on here. let me know what i can do for ya. again i cant wait to see this go up!

[PhilipB]

and definetely multiple 20 amp circuits. i have 2 dedicated quads each on their own 20 amp breaker. makes me sleep better. im probably going to add a subpanel but im waiting for time and extra parts from one of my electricians

[JeffCo]

also may be a good idea to put your chiller on a separate breaker. If your still looking for a skimmer let me know, I still have my old huge dual beckett.

[PhilipB]

lol

[PhilipB]

for some reaso instaed of chiller i thought you wrote children! thats the reason for the lol btw. multiple 20 amp dedicated circuits

[dipan]

this build sounds awesome! cant wait to see it go up. what price range are you trying to stay in? im not soliciting but im a general contractor and am willing o give advice or tips if needed. there are actually quite a few of us on here. let me know what i can do for ya. again i cant wait to see this go up!

So there is this art niche that needs to be modified for the tank. Behind half of it is a closet in the dining room. Behind that is the garage. Behind the other half is a kitchen counter that we are not going to mess with. I'm planning on two viewing panes. The front, obviously, visible in the main foyer/hallway, and a short side visible in the kitchen and further, from the great room. Well, the major cost will be putting a room up in the garage (done right by pulling drywall down and tying the walls into the existing walls). The cost I was quoted was with an air conditioner/heater, a long counter for my frag tank and hospital tank above the remote sump, and complete finishout inside. Two dedicated 20 amp GFCI runs, and an existing 15 amp circuit. Plumbing will be run via the attic. A drain will be tied into the water softener drain ~15ft away. I was going to leave the floor as concrete. I'll probably epoxy paint it ... This is all being done officially with permits and all, also adding to the cost.

Well, like I said, I was figuring 3-6K, but turns out to be more than twice that. :( I'm not saying it's unreasonable, but just more than I figured. I'm working with a general contractor already, and I trust him. We've worked with him in the past a few times and he's always been good to us and we get along well.