90 gallon build with basement fish room.

[Diamond Dave]

Hello all. Starting a reef build and would love some input on the design. Recently acquired the display tank and decided to put all the filtration in the basement. The tank is a 90 gallon oceanic tech tank. Stalked Craig's list for months and finally found one, really needed the straphire glass.

The tank was missing some plumbing so I've decided to add all new. was hoping a bean animal would fit in the existing overflow box. Anyone out there modified their oceanic tank? So first noob question, all four holes are sized for one inch bulk heads, if I upsized the pipe to inch and a half (for future larger tank swap out) would I have flow issues? So would be two 1 1/2" drains and one 1 1/2 return split to two 3/4. Any advice appreciated will post pics soon.

[Diamond Dave]

Basement cleared out where fish room will be located.

[Diamond Dave]

Tank in the man cave.

[SGT_York]

Is it a standard Reef Ready tank, or all the holes drilled in the bottom, by the picture I'm gessing yes? If so use a herbie, if they are on the side give us your overflow dimensions to answer the initial question.

Changing pipe size won't make any difference go with 1.5" if you want, generally when people swap out tanks they don't use the same pipes so I'd just keep with 1" but it's not important just a bit cheaper and you won't close off your gate valve so much with 1".

[danoreef]

tagging along. cant wait to see this grow!

[Diamond Dave]

The overflow inside dimensions are 4 x 17.5. The pairs of holes center points are 3.75 and they are 6 inches. Ordered the ro unit and bulkheads today.

[Seagals]

Welcome, its an awesome adventure and you'll probably want to jump right in - In order to give you design input we need more information - Are you new to reef keeping? What type of tank do you want sps, softies, lps? The type will help guide you on equipment you'll want to run and costs. Their is so much to consider that it would be helpful if you tell us your level of experience, type of tank, how far the tank is from the sump, etc. A softie tank is less demanding thus requiring less equipment and maintenance whereas a SPS tank will require lots more - and most of all you budget.

[Seagals]

Things you should consider for the pump room regardless of type of tank.

-multiple dedicated electrical curcuits with arc fault protection at panel and gfci outlets in room and DT.
-Room ventilation- fresh air fans, exhaust - pump rooms get humid
-PLumbing drainage for water changes and water supply for RO unit
- Pump Room Lighting
- Work station

System:
-Auto water change system, or an easy valve system to avoid bucket bergade
- RO unit - with mixing station
- If the pump room is in the basement figure out the vertical and horizontal distance to determine the pump size - May want to use an external pump with the 1.5" pipe as suggested and than reduce it at the tank to help head loss.
- Return manifolds
- Isolation valves & unions
- If you are using an apex (or other) controller - consider the wiring, devices, floats, etc. needed at both the DT and pump room.
- large sump at least a 30 gal for that size tank
- best skimmer you can afford
- ATO system
- may need a chiller unit depending on home and location

Depending on type of reef you may consider a:
fuge, lighting, Calcium and Alk supply, Carbon & GFO reactors, Powerheads for water movement in DT

Not sure your knowledge of reefing there's lots to consider.......

-

[gregandamanda]

ive got a fish room i will be building soon hope i can get some good ideas from your thread

[BOSLawGuy]

tagging along.

[Diamond Dave]

Had a good week of progress on the "tank" this week. Surface grinded the floors to prep for epoxy. Also did some exterior grading to fix water leaks. Next week I will be putting down a high solids epoxy and painting the walls with drylok. Then it's electrical, plumbing, framing....then fish at some point. Been thinking of finishing a larger space than originally planned. Working on a rough plumbing system plan. Thanks to seagals for the list of fish room ideas. More to come soon.

[Diamond Dave]

Finished the epoxy floor. And got on waiting list for lifereef. Going to work on electrical and plumbing next.

[Diamond Dave]

Cyber Monday was good to me. Starting this back up. Got some pukani from bra. Wanted to finish aqua scape so I can start curing to remove phosphates. Was looking at concrete options to make it all one piece. Going with minimalist design. Was thinking I could cure the concrete same time as the rock. Can I safely use hydraulic cement or shid I just use Portland ? Also, do you think I should muratic acid bath after concrete or before? Would muratic acid soak weaken the concrete? Appreciate any info wanted to do this tomorrow.

[clay12340]

What was the epoxy you used on the floor and what was your process/how would you describe the difficulty level? I keep threatening to take up the ugly tile and epoxy my basement floor.

What are you planning for a return pump? I'm planning out a similar deal. Going to use one of the 75s I've never found a use for and move it into my office. Think I'm going to toss a stock tank in the fish room for the sump. That should give me a ridiculous amount of room for a fuge and deep sand bed. Can't decide what I'm going to do for a return pump yet. Dealing with that much head height is a new one for me.

[Diamond Dave]

I used sherwin Williams hs 1000. Was difficult, took me a whole week. The return pump will be determined in the sump design stage. Looking for advice on glueing rocks together.

[clay12340]

I would soak them before binding them together. If for no other reason than you'll need less to soak them in and it'll be easier to move pieces around than dealing with huge clumps.

That said I've never used concrete to bind rock work. I've always worked with really small tanks in the past, and just used the little putty epoxy tubes. Wouldn't be very economical in a larger system though.

[fpv930]

Looks like it's going to be an awesome system. I am along for the ride!!

[Diamond Dave]

Decided to take out the overflow box and replace it. Here it is on the operating table.

[Diamond Dave]

Removed a strip of the plastic overflow to reveal the seams in the glass. Used sonic tool on low so it didn't melt.

[Diamond Dave]

Used a clamp to give constant pressure and just ran utility knife thru seams.

[Diamond Dave]

Whole project took about 2 hours. Used a spring loaded nail set and smashed the glass pieces. I'm very pleased all I need to do now is cover the holes.

[zachts]

Looks nice. You'll definitely want a beananimal overflow (3 of the holes) and the other for return flow. What are you planning for the new overflow box?

[Diamond Dave]

Haven't decided on overflow yet. Thinking of a coast to coast, bean, glass holes or ghost. Something that will leave bottom half empty. Any reason to leave any of these holes in the bottom. Was thinking a drain might be nice, or possibly use for returns?

[zachts]

Using them for returns would give some good flow behind your rock work, something most tanks don't have. Could help keep things clean and prevent detritus build up and dead spots. A drain is up to you, not sure I'd have any good use for one. It would also save on having to drill as many holes in the back glass. (side note are you sure the back is not tempered glass and will be safe to drill?)

[Diamond Dave]

Oceanic website says all their bottoms are tempered but the sides never are, so looks like I'm good.

[clay12340]

You'd have to run the pipes way up and add siphon break holes if you used the bottom holes as your returns. Could toss a closed loop on them though and move some water around independent of your returns.

[Diamond Dave]

Making some changes to my plan. No longer doing a basement fish room the temp down there is too cold. Temp of garage was in mid 40s and had ice on the window. So the only thing that will remain in the basement is the rodi and mixing barrels.

[woodnaquanut]

Making some changes to my plan. No longer doing a basement fish room the temp down there is too cold. Temp of garage was in mid 40s and had ice on the window. So the only thing that will remain in the basement is the rodi and mixing barrels.

Well that's a bummer after all the work on the basement! You could heat the basement or insulate the sump and plumbing to reduce the heat loss.

I know heating the entire basement would be expensive but you could build a small room around the fish stuff, insulate it well and heat that part only.

I live in the west. AKA a basement free zone! :) I lust after a basement! Don't give up. It would be great to get all the mechanicals where they can be handled standing UP!

[Drag Racer]

I would still do in basement and partition it off. Easier to heat the water than it is to cool it. No need for a chiller. The pumps running create allot of heat and can always add a heater.

[zachts]

insulate the room well and enclose it from the rest of the basement, don't forget a dehumidifier and you will not need to worry much about heat. (have a way to vent the dehumidifier out of the room in the summer, or use a small portable AC unit that serves dual function) A small electric heater on a thermistat will be plenty, and not run all that much, just keep it dry :lolspin:

I have all sorts of tanks in my basement here in STL, I'ts heated though, but not insulated or finished, if I close off the vents (which I typically do) it stays above 65 down there even when the temps are well below freezing as they have been lately.

A good insulation job and you'll probably never need supplemental heat beyond what your tank heaters crank out.........

[Diamond Dave]

Weighing the options for basement room. In the mean time got my rock from brs. Chose pukani, started off with a bleach water soak for a day. Had some nasty organics come out of the rocks in this soak. Next I gave them a muratic acid bath followed by a fresh water soak.https://www.dropbox.com/s/kv414hug4qxxmg5/2013-12-18%2015.48.03.jpg

[Diamond Dave]

Started scape with type I Portland and aragonite.

[clay12340]

What is the plan on top of those completely flat surfaces?

[Diamond Dave]

Wanted to create different levels for corals. Was planning to fill the whole rock with corals. My aqua scape will just be one rock. Most recent pic, just gonna add more daily.

[neuro]

ack the image is upside down my neck hurts

[Diamond Dave]

Sorry about the bad photo links. Did another round on the rock today.

[Diamond Dave]

Finished rock work, pretty happy with how it turned out. Started the curing process in my new 100 gal Rubbermaid.

[JasonMHorn]

I want to tag along with this. I'm actually planning on doing the same thing, kinda. I have a 72 Oceanic Bow on my first floor. And I have a 150 that I plan on setting up in my basement to use for a sump/filter, frag area, fug and place to breed Clowns.

[Diamond Dave]

You
Only live once. I'm going for it. Snow day equals fish room framing.

[Diamond Dave]

Ugg I'm terrible at the photos.

[Diamond Dave]

Doing the electrical, any ideas for special switches etc. so far all I have is a switched outlet for the water mixing station. Thought about a switch upstairs to turn off pump for feeding, but I can do that with apex.

[kdumph]

This is pretty sweet, I 'm looking forward to seeing how this all works out. Also thinking about doing the same to my garage floor.

[RatReef]

Doing the electrical, any ideas for special switches etc. so far all I have is a switched outlet for the water mixing station. Thought about a switch upstairs to turn off pump for feeding, but I can do that with apex.

I am no electrician, but if you have the room in your breaker box I would put in two 20a circuits to add a little redundancy.

[Diamond Dave]

yeah i should have elaborated the fish room has 3 circuits all 20 amp 2 dedicated in recipticles along the counter top. each 2 gang box will have a recepticle on a different circuit. the drain pump and mixing pump share a circuit and will install 4 recepticles behind the tank upstairs on diff circuit.

[zachhll]

any updates its been awhile

[john08007]

Could use one for the return from the sump and the other 3 for a closed loop with twin returns on it.

[Diamond Dave]

Hello everyone. Wanted to post some updates. Good news is this build is still on. Bad news is its slowww. We have a six month old, so finding time to work and make noise is hard. Anyways, to the pics. Thanks for looking.

Rodi holding tank and saltwater mixing station
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/43BB6179-BAFE-4678-B62A-13146E1EBC71.jpg

[Diamond Dave]

Old utility sink I restored. Drains to a zoeller drain pump. Also a gravity fed rodi valve.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/0202F820-3D65-4964-8804-272420D26CCA.jpg

[Diamond Dave]

Refugium, water change barrel, blueline 70 return pump, lifereef svs30 skimmer, lifereef 300 sump.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/E844C6CB-7323-4B6C-A3A4-6802EE03145C_1.jpg

[Diamond Dave]

Few update pics. Getting closer....
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/BF382F53-C6DB-4CB1-B9D9-FD5A0CEEE4AA.jpg

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/0BAB46C3-872B-4203-9D9F-C5FDC8DA9ACF.jpg

[corpjet1]

Looking great, it's coming together nicely!

[mixedreef89]

Hey man looks great. Im building a basment fish room as well. and you have given me some ideas thanks. Im tagging along to see the end product. im in lewisville NC about 2 hours

[mixedreef89]

Any updates on the build?

[Diamond Dave]

Hey guys wanted to post some updates. Getting really close!

Finished stand riser and light install.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/5B80C199-E48D-4490-B3A7-FEEF9E1A8B4D.jpg

New overflow box.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/021D2C24-BAFE-47FD-BFA5-17FAF339192B_1.jpg

Tank moved up after passing leak test.
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/13A3EC84-E9DF-43C3-A987-A89B276337E6.jpg

Return coming up from fish room
http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/5045AB53-2C5D-4D54-813E-A43F7BD182F4.jpg

[xsean911x]

Lmao man how we all wish we could have a fish room

[Shawn O]

And be able to cut into the baseboard for the fish tank plumbing without the wife killing us. :D

[wild1]

And be able to cut into the baseboard for the fish tank plumbing without the wife killing us. :D
+1 on that, I'd be living in my van with the tank, 2 Harleys & a big screen TV!....:lolspin::lolspin:

[Trollicus]

Looking very nice! Brings back memories of my fish room before the wife and I had kids. Someday I'll be able to mimic this setup again :)

[PRSPLYR]

Awesome setup! Sorry I am a newbie I amconsidering a basement filtration setup, pumped up to DT - can you explain your sump room setup for a rookie like me?

Lou

[HowUDoin]

Looks like your making a lot of progress. I'm looking forward to seeing how you finish this up. Subscribed and following.

[kw22]

Nice tank,hope all goes well with it in the future :)

[PRSPLYR]

Which light fixture is that?

[Diamond Dave]

Got everything hooked up and passed the leak test! Took about an hour to dial in the bean going up and down the stairs. Is pretty much silent for the most part upstairs. Very excited to finally get some livestock. Here's a pic of the finished plumbing, I opted for flex pvc it made it so much easier.

http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m485/David_Heishman/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-08/47ED8FBA-6817-49B9-B960-8BE62AD35830.jpg

[PRSPLYR]

What happened to the skimmer?

[HowUDoin]

Any updates on this build?

[ericarenee]

And be able to cut into the baseboard for the fish tank plumbing without the wife killing us. :D

You just gotta get her involved in the Hobby... Ohh And take the Trash out ffs.

[Zacktosterone]

i have to say this.... maybe i'm a picture scanner and not a reader but why didn't you go to like a 120 gallon at least.... you've got a pretty sweet fish room going, i would use the 90 as a display refugium or something or frag tank of some sort and get a 120 :p

[lifeoffaith]

How big is your sump going to be? Loving your setup so far!