Fishroom Electrical- 11th hour doubts

[User]

Hi Guys

Im about a week out from running electrical in my fishroom, but im starting to second guess my plan and could use a hand.

Ill have two dedicated 20 amp lines running upstairs for DT led lights and 2 x xf250 gyres.

To the basement fishroom, ill run 2 dedicated 20amp circuits, one for each of two Apex EB8 powerbars. Ill then use THHN wire and conduit to extend the outlets to various points around the room for a clean integrated looking install. There are a couple of very nice examples of this on the boards.

Also going to the fishroom is another 20amp line powering 4x 6" recessed LED can lights, and a 1 amp, 6 inch in-line exhaust fan hooked up to a humidistat. Combined, theyll literally use 1.8 amps at full load.

I was thinking of running some outlets around the room from this line, in case i ever need to power an extra non-controlled powerhead, pump, light, etc etc, but im stuck as to how many. Ill definitely be adding a 3 x duplex outlets for the independent QT/ observation tank, but its ATO, filter, etc will be on a couple of the apex outlets.

I can either run 4 quad outlets and 2-3 duplex outlets around the room at 5' height (above the water lines of all the tanks) , or i can go simple and do 4 duplex outlets up high and use extension cords down to the benches if i ever need to run anything. Or i could go zero extra outlets (not a fan of this).

Any thoughts/ tips from your own builds?

Cheers

 

[ca1ore]

That's a lot of 20 amp circuits - do you really need that many? I have three on my system only.

 

[User]

Hi

I figured I’d have 1 each for the eb8’s, then 2 for my lights and gyres (they’ll be run upstairs next to DT). Want to isolate at least one bank of lights away from the gyres (plus they’ll have battery backup too). That leaves 1 more for room lights and fan.

I could run both eb8’s on one circuit, since I’ll never get close to even 75% load, but running 2 x 12-2 Romex is just as easy as 1. Plus I like the redundancy.

Am I overdoing it?

 

[User]

I guess I could run both eb8’s off 1 circuit, since they have their own breakers. That’ll still keep them isolated.

 

[ca1ore]

Trying to recall what I did. 3/4 chiller is on one dedicated 20 amp; all display lights and pumps on a second; then two more 20 amp circuits for all the energy bars, etc. OK, so I lied: four not three LOL

 

[User]

Any thoughts on adding receptacles in addition to the eb8 junctions? 2-3 duplexes on opposite walls or do a full quad outlet box every 6 feet around the perimeter?

Cheers

 

[AlexStinson]

I'm running 3x circuits for my new tank with a 4 gang box full of outlets on each. I figure that along with the outlets a controller will provide I should be plenty covered. Outside of a chiller, tanks just don't use the same amount of power they used to.

 

[alton]

Since the return pump is the life line of any tank, I would vote to keep it on it's own AFCI/GFCI circuit. Since heaters always seem to be the culprit of issues, definitely keep it on its own inline GFCI/AFCI receptacle .

 

[User]

Yeah- return pump and the heaters will be on separate apex eb8 powerbars.

 

[tank o tang]

Sounds like a lot. I understand that's how it used to be but without all the power hungry mh lighting and very efficient equipment today not many are needed.

 

[User]

Sounds like a lot. I understand that's how it used to be but without all the power hungry mh lighting and very efficient equipment today not many are needed.

So should I run the fishroom lights, fan, some outlets and two apex eb8’s on 1 circuit?

It’s a fair number of circuits, but I’m isolating the room electrical from the apex controlled equipment, and the DT lights and flow are 30 feet away up a floor so figured send 2 that way too. I’ll have 12 amps of lights on n one at peak and 6 amps of light and 4amps of gyre flow peak on the other. I know I won’t be pulling peak, but I obviously can’t run 22 amps of potential pull on one circuit and just make sure I don’t dial anything past 70%...

 

[Greybeard]

Hm. I've got 1 dedicated 20A circuit powering 2x 2 GFI outlets, running my entire 150g system, and it's never drawn more than 10 amps. Nothing wrong with redundancy, but you may be over complicating a bit.

I _hate_ running extension cords, so I'd vote for having duplex outlets placed strategically around the room. In my case, I have a fish closet, not a room, and in addition to the two EB8's, I have 1 plain old surge suppressor strip hung on the wall. Use it for mixing station pump, whatever other temporary device I might need plugged in.

 

[User]

It’s not so much the *amount* of power I’ll be using, it’s the *distribution*.

Say I run all my fishroom outlets through the apex eb8’s, then decide I need an outlet for a pump to add 30 gallons to my QT... do I string an extension across half the room, or do I use the outlet I put in at the QT location during framing? Or if I add a WiFi cam to look at my frag tank. Extension cord strung over the door, or ceiling outlet above frag tank location?

 

[tank o tang]

Yes run multiple outlets. If your building a fish room try to build to code in case you ever get an appraisal inspection on your house. Better to have them and not use them than need them and not have them. Again check your local code. I have 10 receptacles in the room but sump and frag tank only uses 3. Rest are just in case I ever change it up. Also I prefer to use a gfci for every plug (pigtailed) rather than run through the first one or by breaker this way they trip individually. The room lighting and exhaust should be able to be tied into your existing light circuit.

 

[User]

Yes run multiple outlets. If your building a fish room try to build to code in case you ever get an appraisal inspection on your house. Better to have them and not use them than need them and not have them. Again check your local code. I have 10 receptacles in the room but sump and frag tank only uses 3. Rest are just in case I ever change it up. Also I prefer to use a gfci for every plug (pigtailed) rather than run through the first one or by breaker this way they trip individually. The room lighting and exhaust should be able to be tied into your existing light circuit.

Electrical in the room will be certified by my FIL who is a certified electrician, exactly for the appraisal potential for dropping our mortgage PMI after reno.

what are you powering off of three receptacles that you can do your sump and frag tank on that few?

I hadnt thought about putting the lights and exhaust on the basement light circuit, thats a good tip. ill look into that.

 

[theMeat]

One breaker for upstairs, one for downstairs, and one for “extra” downstairs is more than enough.
With that said the more outlets in fish room the better, especially close to sump.
Have circuits gfci protected and use ground probes in tanks.
Would also use 12 gauge romex cable and run all electric inside walls
Check with codes to make sure your heigher than typical is ok.

Do you have central air? You running a duct for fish room?

 

[siggy]

Sounds like a lot of juice to me. I am guilty of over doing it on occasion, I thought because I am an electrician. I have since changed to a minimalist and my system runs on 1 circuit until demand requires another.
Now If I did a fish room I would run a 60 amp sub-panel (8-space $25) and take off from there. your other concern with recept. spacing and layout , here is from the CODE for kitchen counters, also pictured is a surge outlet
for your electronics. Good luck on your layout.
A receptacle outlet must be installed for every kitchen and dining area counter wall space 12 inches or wider. Receptacles must be installed so that no point along thecounter wall space is more than 24inches (2 feet), measured horizontally, from areceptacle outlet.Apr 25, 2017

 

[User]

a 60 amp panel is EXACTLY what ive planned for this!

you think kitchen code applies to this? i was planning a 2 foot spacing along the 2 7 foot walls, but then only at the ends of the 10 foot wall. the rest of that wall is directly above the 125 sump and 29g overflow tank. wasnt planning on anything above that other than plumbing.

 

[User]

sorry- outlets spaced about 4 feet on each 8 foot wall, none on the tank 10 foot wall, and 3 boxes on the 10 foot wall opposite (frag, testing bench and frag tank)

 

[siggy]

a 60 amp panel is EXACTLY what ive planned for this!

you think kitchen code applies to this? i was planning a 2 foot spacing along the 2 7 foot walls, but then only at the ends of the 10 foot wall. the rest of that wall is directly above the 125 sump and 29g overflow tank. wasnt planning on anything above that other than plumbing.

What that means a receptical every 4' and what I mean is install suppanel and install circuit as needed