Don't build a fish room without this! What else would you add?

[revhtree Verified Admin]

So my first fish room has been GREAT! It makes maintaining a reef aquarium so much easier. I realize that a fish room is not an option for everyone but if you were like me you always dreamed about having one. Since having a dedicated fish room I've grown accustom to utilizing some simple but effective tools that would be hard to live without now.

What's your favorite part about having a dedicated fish room including the tools you utilize the most?

If you don't have a dedicated fish do you have plans to have one in the future and why do you want one?

For me it's a simple addition. Most people add a mop sink which I did but I also incorporated a faucet, hose and sprayer. We all know how hard it is to get certain pieces of equipment under the flow of water to get it nice and clean so the hose and sprayer make this easy. You might say that a built in sink sprayer would do the job but with the hose I get a really strong spray that will remove even the toughest skimmer scum! Also I can stretch the hose to anywhere in the room, clean the sump etc.. It something you should have!

 

[Meldrath]

Tile or EVP|LVP

Apparantly I didn't even think about concrete floors (stained/epoxy etc...) as multiple people suggested below. Honestly probably the BEST floor solution if the room is single purpose for fishies.

Floordrain

 

[WVNed]

A large deep utility sink. Mine has a bare concrete floor. If water gets on the floor. I let it evaporate and dont worry about it.
The beginning.

I covered the walls with heavy T-11 siding. Water resistant and I can attach to the walls anywhere I want.

 

[motortrendz]

Eventually, when I have enough room in the basement of my next home , I'll add a floor drain, hot and cold water. An epoxy floor for easy clean up and moisture barrier walls and ceiling with an exhaust and intake fan for fresh air circulation and to reduce humidity.

 

[lapin]

I have a fish room. Concrete floor sunk 4" with a floor drain. Epoxy coated floor. FRP covering places on the walls where water could be splashed. Utility sink with hot and cold water. 4ea 20amp circuits with outlets above the tank for lights and any equipment thats above tank height. Platform around the back sides of the tank (corner tank) so I can walk around and reach inside. Exhaust fan and heater/ac vent.

 

[rocsec1]

In my fish room I have a sink, floor drain, and a fan. The only thing I would do differently would have been to made it bigger.

 

[TheHarold]

Floor drain.... would be nice to directly drain water instead of dumping trash cans outside. Though honestly I could probably plumb something to siphon outside if I put the effort in.

 

[Skard]

Hello, I am almost done with my dedicated fish room! Things that I installed that I would not do without: Epoxy Floor, floor drain and large janitor style sink, RODI/salt mix storage station, water friendly walls (in my case I used FRP shower panel walls), an exhaust fan or an ERV recovery fan for humidity control.

 

[SDK]

I have not had a full fish room since having kids, but hope to again at some point.

I will give my "outside the box" suggestions, as there are a few things I did not think of when setting mine up. It's easy to get fixated on the technical stuff, and totally forget:

1- Comfortable raised seating that is mobile. You will be creating this entire room, and will want to curl up with some coffee and your favorite aquarium mag and enjoy it, right?

2- Music (if like me you are so inclined). Put some wireless speakers in there for when you are working or relaxing.

3- A TV is also great if you want to mount one in your work area. It's nice to have those instructional videos going hands free if you are trying to put something together

4- Depending on your domestic situation, a strong lock inside and out

 

[lavoisier]

This is what I will add in the new year.

 

[Peace River]

As others have mentioned, I would be more intentional about water management, slope of the floor, in-floor drain, air flow/air turnover, counter space, storage system, and electrical system.

 

[stanleo]

I am about to start construction on mine in the basement. Going to have a sink with hot and cold but no floor drain. It will be concrete cause that is what is there now. Do I need a floor drain? The sump will be DIY and have a large fuge and frag tank. QT will be setup on a different system and a mixing station. I also hope to have room for a desk to do testing and microscope exploring. I love finding all the little critters in the tank.

 

[lavoisier]

I am about to start construction on mine in the basement. Going to have a sink with hot and cold but no floor drain. It will be concrete cause that is what is there now. Do I need a floor drain? The sump will be DIY and have a large fuge and frag tank. QT will be setup on a different system and a mixing station. I also hope to have room for a desk to do testing and microscope exploring. I love finding all the little critters in the tank.

It probably depends on how difficult it would be to put in a floor drain (I would imagine it might be prohibitive) and the size of your system. My floor drain has saved me a lot of labor over the years and I run my dehumidifier and my skimmer drain into it as well as an occasional overflow from my sump. Though one can certainly plumb into a sink.

 

[jda]

Sink, cheap dishwasher and a stackable "apartment" washer and dryer in mine... although we use the washer and dryer for other "dirty" stuff like hot tub towels, garage rags and pet beds and stuff.

 

[castires]

It probably depends on how difficult it would be to put in a floor drain (I would imagine it might be prohibitive) and the size of your system. My floor drain has saved me a lot of labor over the years and I run my dehumidifier and my skimmer drain into it as well as an occasional overflow from my sump. Though one can certainly plumb into a sink.

Are you on city or septic?

 

[WetPets]

Floor drain.... would be nice to directly drain water instead of dumping trash cans outside. Though honestly I could probably plumb something to siphon outside if I put the effort in.

Off topic but cool looking stand and canopy

 

[stanleo]

It probably depends on how difficult it would be to put in a floor drain (I would imagine it might be prohibitive) and the size of your system. My floor drain has saved me a lot of labor over the years and I run my dehumidifier and my skimmer drain into it as well as an occasional overflow from my sump. Though one can certainly plumb into a sink.

Yeah it would probably cost as much as my whole system has so far. I am going to put a drain pan under the mixing station for a safety measure. I have to get behind the wet wall down there before I can figure out how everything is going to work. That's step one.

 

[WetPets]

I highly recommend power up high and make sure you have gfci breakers to protect your house. I would also say if possible multiple circuits so if 1 trips your tanks still run or at least some of them.

 

[Bandito Aquatics]

Currently building/redoing my fish room. Keep you guys posted with some pictures

 

[stanleo]

I highly recommend power up high and make sure you have gfci breakers to protect your house. I would also say if possible multiple circuits so if 1 trips your tanks still run or at least some of them.

That's the plan for power down there. I haven't thought about multiple circuits though. I have things hooked up to multiple battery backups and the whole system is on a dedicated 30 amp circuit already.