Tank location + Fish Room(?) Consultation

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

Hello,

Long story short, I have been fascinated with reef tanks for as long as I can remember but haven't been wiling to start a tank until my life circumstances were appropriate for doing the tank properly. I am ready now. I have been studying current reefing heavily ever since the COVID work from home mandate back in early march. I have been focusing on tank placement strategies lately, and after much thought, I think I have found the best spot in my house.

I am looking here for an expert that is willing to get on a video call/facetime/etc. to run through the details to ensure we didn't miss anything as there is likely a slight remodel necessary. The essence of the remodel is to place tile on the floor and wall near the tank and drilling a hole into the next room for fish room plumbing (assuming the area makes sense).

I am more than happy to paypal/venmo an appropriate rate for the walk through. No liabiity on your end, just looking for an experienced eye to weigh in before I get contractors, etc. out here.

Is this the right place or does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

andrewey · May 17, 2020

First off- welcome to Reef2Reef! I'm sure the gang would love it if you posted an introduction in the meet and greet section!

I'm just a hobbyist, but there are some great reefers that happen to do installs/contracting that I'm sure would be more than willing to help

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

andrewey said:
First off- welcome to Reef2Reef! I'm sure the gang would love it if you posted an introduction in the meet and greet section!

I'm just a hobbyist, but there are some great reefers that happen to do installs/contracting that I'm sure would be more than willing to help

Thanks for the comment. I will get the intro post here in a minute. As for the reefers that do installs and contracitng, is there a more focused forum section to direct my attention?

andrewey · May 17, 2020

I'm not sure-, but I'm sure #reefsquad can help!

saltyhog · May 17, 2020

I'm super jealous of the opportunity you have to plumb your tank in to an adjacent "fish room". The only place I could put my tank was against a wall with 6 feet of concrete block wall and dirt behind it. I do have a fish room adjacent and have RO/DI lines and Saltwater lines from my mixing station plumbed through the wall (underneath a sink) to facilitate water changes.

It sounds like yours will be a simple situation (installing the flooring and making access for the plumbing). I don't have direct experience with planning that though. You may be able to do something like a square cased opening through which the plumbing can go through. Where you put it will be best decided as you are planning/plumbing the tank. However, I would make the hole as big as possible without being visible to facilitate access to the plumbing if there is an emergency/leak/etc. Use lots of unions to make it easy to remove/clean and relocate if needed.

Hopefully some of the guys that have done a set up like your can chime in. Might be helpful to post some pictures of the area the tank will be going to, that room and the "fish room".

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

Okay, so I did a thing.. I just uploaded an impromptu slideshow that should help illustrate the basis of my plan (definitely some finer details to work out like available electrical, plumbing specifics, etc.)

Check out the link!

DeniseAndy · May 17, 2020

Welcome!
I am not an expert in construction at all. My husband figured out the whole other room sump and then moved to basement to new room. He did it all, with little help from me. He is great!
I hope you find the help you need. Good luck!

Fred2482 · May 17, 2020

Welcome!! Feel free to ask detailed questions here to reduce any costs of getting consultations! From the pics it looks like you have an incredible oppurtunity to make something great!

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

Fred2482 said:
Welcome!! Feel free to ask detailed questions here to reduce any costs of getting consultations! From the pics it looks like you have an incredible oppurtunity to make something great!

Thanks, I will take all of the free advice I can get but didn't want to be too needy since it takes all you guys time and effort to give tips as well.

As pictured, there are windows in the cellar and an hvac fan that should help with humidity but I am slightly worried about the humidity in the living space with the tank. How much of a risk is the humidity if I have the sump downstairs?

I am also wondering if anyone has info on the furnace/heater being next to the sump. Might be a total noobie question but can they release any sort of unwanted chemicals into the sump if its right next to it? What about the washer and dryer that are 15+ feet away?

Mastiffsrule · May 17, 2020

Welcome to Reef2Reef.

You have tons of options, but lots of planning. You can ask any questions you need to, that is what this is all about. It is all about planning and plumbing.

I will try to hit a few questions and feel free to ask as many as you want. Tile, great idea for a tank room. Humidity usually not an issue in a room with good circulation and a/c or some form of cooling. They have dehumidifiers if needed. No go on the sump by the furnace. The pipe with the valve looks like a supply line, it may or may not be useful as is the outlet.

Before starting read thru setting up the tank first. Here’s is a great read to get the basics.

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

Mastiffsrule said:
Welcome to Reef2Reef.

You have tons of options, but lots of planning. You can ask any questions you need to, that is what this is all about. It is all about planning and plumbing.

I will try to hit a few questions and feel free to ask as many as you want. Tile, great idea for a tank room. Humidity usually not an issue in a room with good circulation and a/c or some form of cooling. They have dehumidifiers if needed. No go on the sump by the furnace. The pipe with the valve looks like a supply line, it may or may not be useful as is the outlet.

Before starting read thru setting up the tank first. Here’s is a great read to get the basics.

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium

The Supreme Guide To Setting Up A Saltwater Reef Aquarium Introduction The marine environment is one of the most complex systems on the planet. The aquarium you are about to set up is only a tiny sliver of the vast ocean, but it is nowhere near simple. This task is going to take patience, a...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks for the link. As mentioned, I have been studying up immensely over the last few months as I am finally ready to jump in.. I am pretty calculated on my hobbies so I have definitely outlined the basics but I am confident I am at the point now where I need final signoff from you guys to get the ball actually rolling.. Great callout on the sump not being able to be next to the furnace.. i had suspicions but its good to confirm. How far back should it be from there? More questions to come but 1 at a time I guess.. haha

Mastiffsrule · May 17, 2020

BigReef2020 said:
Thanks for the link. As mentioned, I have been studying up immensely over the last few months as I am finally ready to jump in.. I am pretty calculated on my hobbies so I have definitely outlined the basics but I am confident I am at the point now where I need final signoff from you guys to get the ball actually rolling.. Great callout on the sump not being able to be next to the furnace.. i had suspicions but its good to confirm. How far back should it be from there? More questions to come but 1 at a time I guess.. haha

Sounds good. No way to give a distance for sure. I could guess at least 4 feet. It depends on the heat radiating from the unit, the ambient temp in the room, and the circulation. What I would suggest is just put a thermometer on a chair a few feet away and monitor it for a few days. if it reads same as rest of room it should be good. What is the average temp of the basement?

Once you have your sump spot the rest is really just drawing it out. Start by keeping it simple and go from there. What tank are you using and draw it into that spot by the door. What sump are you using and draw that into the spot you found downstairs. Then you need a drain line and return, so draw in a route that the pvc will take. They need to run along a wall or structure. Somewhere they can be braced along the route. Then you draw in the pump and type of drain on the tank and so on and so on.

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

Mastiffsrule said:
Sounds good. No way to give a distance for sure. I could guess at least 4 feet. It depends on the heat radiating from the unit, the ambient temp in the room, and the circulation. What I would suggest is just put a thermometer on a chair a few feet away and monitor it for a few days. if it reads same as rest of room it should be good. What is the average temp of the basement?

Once you have your sump spot the rest is really just drawing it out. Start by keeping it simple and go from there. What tank are you using and draw it into that spot by the door. What sump are you using and draw that into the spot you found downstairs. Then you need a drain line and return, so draw in a route that the pvc will take. They need to run along a wall or structure. Somewhere they can be braced along the route. Then you draw in the pump and type of drain on the tank and so on and so on.

I will check on the temp officially but like most basements it keeps a somewhat constant temp, even with the windows.

The plumbing is the most daunting part of the install for me and where I would find great value in getting a live consultaiton. The link you provided earlier seems like it has a lot of great info but I am still super paranoid. Will a typical professional plumber have knowledge of what to do for a tank here or is that a foolish assumption?

saltyhog · May 17, 2020

A few thoughts.....I'm still jealous, especially with the floor drain.

1. I would not put the sump in the space between the water heater and the wall....too cramped and if it's a gas heater not enough ventilation? Heat transfer would also be a question I would have. I would use 45°s to move it over about where the TV box is .

2. Is the floor beneath the tank concrete slab or crawl space?

3. I would have the Coax cable/box moved several feet further down the wall it's on away from the tank.

4. I would think about tile/stone in the entire living area....no carpet at all.

5. Where would water go if there was an unlikely event like a tank failure with the water spilling in to the living space? If down that wall that would be a little bit of an electrical concern. Plan for it...it might prevent an electrical fire.

saltyhog · May 17, 2020

BigReef2020 said:
I will check on the temp officially but like most basements it keeps a somewhat constant temp, even with the windows.

The plumbing is the most daunting part of the install for me and where I would find great value in getting a live consultaiton. The link you provided earlier seems like it has a lot of great info but I am still super paranoid. Will a typical professional plumber have knowledge of what to do for a tank here or is that a foolish assumption?

I don't think a plumber would be necessary at all. PVC plumbing is very easy to do with a little practice/research. Lay out a design drawing and I bet the experts around here would have some good suggestions/critiques.

BigReef2020 · May 17, 2020

saltyhog said:
A few thoughts.....I'm still jealous, especially with the floor drain.

1. I would not put the sump in the space between the water heater and the wall....too cramped and if it's a gas heater not enough ventilation? Heat transfer would also be a question I would have. I would use 45°s to move it over about where the TV box is .

2. Is the floor beneath the tank concrete slab or crawl space?

3. I would have the Coax cable/box moved several feet further down the wall it's on away from the tank.

4. I would think about tile/stone in the entire living area....no carpet at all.

5. Where would water go if there was an unlikely event like a tank failure with the water spilling in to the living space? If down that wall that would be a little bit of an electrical concern. Plan for it...it might prevent an electrical fire.

Answer to 2: Concrete slab baby! (as far as I can tell.. i will know more when the carpet is swapped out but I am 96% sure its the actual concrete foundation of the house based on what I see in the basement and the exterior of the house)

Answer to 3: Not sure if possible? Where the coax comes out of the wall is only a few inches from the outermost wall, and going the other way is where the tank will be

Answer to 4: I am all for it but the wife needs convincing..

5: spilled water would go onto the floor, which is why carpet is a no-go in my opinion. I can't really do a marble test on the carpet so I cant say for sure where it would trickle but my guess would be away from the wall because the foundation is settled that way as we found out during inspection.. so that's better than the other way i guess

saltyhog · May 17, 2020

You should be able to run the cable in the outer wall....just some sheet rock work to do it. Not expensive. Where it is will be a pain if the tank is filling most of that space...if it isn't...shame on you!