Help with 240ga mixed reef build w/fish room

[glennwrong]

I'm in the early stages of designing a mixed reef system after being away from the hobby for almost 7 years. The most exciting part of the build for me is the fish room. I have ample space in an area of my basement to build what I want so the goal is to do it right the first time. I plan to have an additional 300 gallons of water in a sump/refugium/frag tank. My plan is to get the fish room setup and stable, then add the display tank after we do some work in our family room.

I need help and a lot of it. I've talked to our LFS' here in Birmingham but don't feel confident they're the right choice to help me. Someone may tell me different and I'd appreciate that feedback, but I'd really like to find someone that has built something like I've described and pay them to consult on the build.

Any suggestions?

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Hi Glennwrong

It sounds like I am in the same situation as you. We moved back to Birmingham about 1.5 years ago and I just started the re-build about a month ago.

We had our house built, so I was able to get things added to help with the fish tank. I had 2 20amp dedicated circuits added as well as a hole drilled in the floor for water changes.

The tank is a 125G and a 180G with a 150G Rubbermaid tub in the basement (next room over). I actually had to get the builder and subcontractor move the furnace from where they were going to put it because it would be in the way of the tank build.

Even though I am nowhere close to being done, you are more than welcome to come over and check out what I am doing. It may give you some ideas of where you want to go with your build. Basically with this build I am trying to make maintenance easier than it was last go around.

Thanks
Randy

 

[Liquid360]

Hey I've got a protein skimmer for sale that's be perfect for your setup. I live in downtown bham.... Check it out. New it's well over $1500.

Environmental Tower Super Skimmer (ETSS) $400

http://bham.craigslist.org/for/3670167778.html

 

[Chameleon]

I wish you luck on your fish room build. My wife and I are closing on house next monday and I am in a similar boat as I will be building a fishroom as well. I am more of a do it myself and learn as I go kind of guy so I am going to take my basic knowledge of framing walls, and roughing electrical and jump right into the project as soon as possible. I'll try to let you know of the problems and issues that I encounter along the way. Unfortunately I do not have any good recommendations for who you can use as a consultant on the project, but you are welcome to learn from my mistakes as I go. I have done a lot of reading of other peoples projects on the forums as well as visited a few fairly locals and kind of gone from there. One thing to definitely plan on is a way to remove the humidity from the room.