Remodeling my fish room

[DiabloCanine]

This will be a journal of the progress setting up my fish room. The room I have been issued is only 11.5 x 7 and also serves as the utility room (wish I had a basement). Currently in the utility room are the hot water heater, HVAC, water softener, brine tank, and my water storage unit (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...r-system.html). I will attempt to shoehorn 14 tanks totaling 255 gallons into this room. I have purchased 2 gorilla racks, (rack 1) a 72” x 30” and (rack 2) a 48” x 17”. The 72” x 30” is installed around my water storage unit and will house five 20 gallon long tanks. The 48” x 17” rack will be installed across from rack 1 and will house four drilled 20 gallon high tanks, a 55 gallon sump, and four 5 gallon hex tanks. I believe this setup will take a few months to complete so I will update this post often. I will start with rack 1, once it is up and running I will be able to transfer tanks/fish and install rack 2.

I needed to move the RO unit for access and to make room for tanks.

From



To



Next step was making cross braces for the rack to help support the tanks. The cross braces will fit within the rails.



Dave (davrkw) came over to help make the 38 cross braces I needed for both racks. The cross braces look like this.



They are notched on each end to fit within the rails of the gorilla rack.





Close up



This is how the cross braces fit in the rails.



Closeup





A piece of 3/4" plywood will sit atop the cross braces.

I will update this thread with posts as I complete steps.

[James From Cali]

Thats awesome. Cant wait to see the updates! Always wondered what peple with a lot of tanks put them!

[mahamotorworks]

Lucky I wish I could set up a fish Room. Good luck. Cant wait to see more pics.

MAHA

[A Hill]

Knowing your DIY skills this should come out REALLY good! Should keep you busy at least for a little while....

Can we see a full room picture?

Thanks for sharing!
-Andrew

Shrimp are doing great btw!

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Fish Newb

Knowing your DIY skills this should come out REALLY good! Should keep you busy at least for a little while....

Can we see a full room picture?

Thanks for sharing!
-Andrew

Shrimp are doing great btw!

Cannot get the whole room on one picture, here are some pictures taken before the remodel though......DC

Looking right through garage entry door where rack 1 is going.



Where rack 2 is going

[fish_lover0591]

I'm Subscribed I want to make sure i see how this turns out

[Aquamanx]

Sweet! I can't wait to see how it comes out also!

[A Hill]

I think I've seen some pictures of that room before. Can't wait to see how it comes out!

-Andrew

[DiabloCanine]

A little progress today.

Put the cross braces in the stand.



Lined them up to be under the frames of the tanks.



Ran the electrical for the water storage unit.



Placed the 3/4" plywood down, put one row of screws in and test fitted a tank









Next step is shimming the cross braces and figuring out the tank accessory (lights, CO2 manifold http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...-manifold.html, airlines, electrical, etc.) mounting......DC

[mahamotorworks]

That is a good start. Looking forward to more progress.

MAHA

[Architect1]

Wow amazing idea. Like it. And its so neat and clean. Hope to see more pics soon.

[filipnoy85]

If only I had room for a fish room.....

[turbosaurus]

Hey DC, what is going in the tanks? I just wonder becasue only the short side of the tanks will be viewable, with the long side facing the other tanks on the shelves, so I assume it won't be for sacpes, or will it? Will this be for breeding something? farming plants? Whats the plan?

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by turbosaurus

Hey DC, what is going in the tanks? I just wonder becasue only the short side of the tanks will be viewable, with the long side facing the other tanks on the shelves, so I assume it won't be for sacpes, or will it? Will this be for breeding something? farming plants? Whats the plan?

This rack will be plant farms with 1 or 2 Galaxy Rasbora tanks, 1 or 2 RCS colonies, will transfer my 3 strains of Endler's and hoping to have a couple of Apisto harems. I know once I get it set up and going rmc will help me stock with fish and I will have several more tanks to farm plants.

Already have the filtration and CO2 identified, trying to figure out what lighting I want to use. So far I am looking at:
IceCap 60 inch VHO Retrofit Kit - 3 Lamps - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store
I have these retros on 4 tanks and really like them. I bought a couple of these to try out EFI's Online Store for Lights of America | LOA Fluorex™ Flood Light and plan to use them on rack 2 over the 20H tanks. It is going to be tight getting everything in there to support the tanks. I am trying to figure out how to shoehorn it all in there now........DC

[A Hill]

Few Questions,

Did you buy just the frames for the gorilla racks? If so where, if not what did you do just take the shelf part out and keep the frame from it?

I really like the floodlight, that's a great price! I'm not too sure I would buy the IceCaps though, It seems like you are paying a lot of money for what you're getting, but I haven't used them personally and know you have so thats a personal choice. I think the shoplights from HomeDepot or Lowes are fine generally... But that's a personal opinion.

What plants are you going to be farming? That would mean the difference in lighting to me. I'm figuring that your going to be growing some highlight weeds so you're probably going to want the IceCaps, but for that much money can't you get some T5s?

It looks really nice so far!

-Andrew