Ultimate Fish Room designs/locations

[bigmac]

Long story short, we are thinking of purchasing a new home. If this happens I want to create a masterpiece fish room.

What I know so far is that I'll upgrade my tank from 100 gallons to probably twice or triple that size. In addition it will be an inwall design.

Basically what I'm requesting opinions on is:
1. What is your idea of a perfect fish room? Please include any details/pictures/wish list equipment.

2. If this house is purchased, there is an opportunity to have the tank on the main floor utilizing the "formal dining room". Obviously I would have the builder enclose this space with moisture resistant drywall. There is a window for ventilation and I would ask the builder to reinforce the floor. My question is should I consider this as an option? My preference is to have the tank/fish room in the basement for floor strength, heat issues, etc. however there wouldn't be any plans of finishing the basement anytime soon. My family loves my tank and I would like to display it accordingly; but they hate the occasional smells from feeding time, skimmate, etc. I would also be able to utilize the basement floor drain if it was located in the basement; not to mention I wouldn't be constantly worried about water spillage on hardwood. Suggestions?

[naesco]

I would suggest that the you go the living room option so that you can observe you tank all the time.
If possible, arrange so that your sump with skimmer, pumps, ro/di, refugium and other equipment is below the tank in the basement. That way you do not hear noisy pumps and all of the maintenance equipment is handy below as well.
Have the electrician wire extra heavy duty plugs in the area and the plumber plumb water and maybe a sink so your maintenance area is nice and organized. Use stainless steel nails in the area as well. Good Luck

[mark]

Other than just the space that my basement fishroom provides, what I'm really happy with is the utility sink.

Like Naesco suggests, consider the tank on the main floor with basement sump. For a center build like this walk around (plus lots of other nice displays in the Waterpix forum). Still can do a in-wall upstairs against a closet for access or backing into another room (Dez's) and still have basement sump. What I did was a room divider type (picture in my signature).

[Milad]

im a noobie so my advice kinda sucks probably
my whole outlook on these fishies is.... put the damn thing right infront of everyone

im spending more than too much money on building/maintaining a tank and i dont understand why people put them in their basements. Mine is going to be in the main living area of the home where someone is all the time because its relaxing and beutiful. its not just a tank, its a work of art.

flaunt what you got! you ever see women getting "inner nostril job" no! they get boob jobs so everyone can see it and appreciate them. put it in your living room.

[monza]

I've had and ran a fish tank from a fish room in the basement, I would not do it again.
It can be done and done right, but one word WATER. It'll be on your main floor one day, no matter how good you are or your set up. Also lots more plumbing and pumps.

I did large scale 320 gallon display tank and yes it be easier on a smaller scale, but.... water.

[Dez]

Originally Posted by monza

I've had and ran a fish tank from a fish room in the basement, I would not do it again.
It can be done and done right, but one word WATER. It'll be on your main floor one day, no matter how good you are or your set up. Also lots more plumbing and pumps.

I did large scale 320 gallon display tank and yes it be easier on a smaller scale, but.... water.

I would have to disagree on this one. My basement is finished but no one really spends any time down there. I have my tank on the main floor pretty much viewable from everywhere on the main floor except the laundry room and washroom. It's even viewable from the front yard and back yard. There is no way I could have made maintenance and water changes/frags etc this simple without the basement fish room. I only have about a 4 foot by 10 foot room as my fish room but it makes everything easier. 7 minute water changes (about 40 gallons). Large sump - easy access to everything. There is no floor drain but the sump pump is in there so anything spilled of large volumes would get pumped outside. Temperature fluctuation is not much of an issue because the basement is cool. I have one pump that pretty much runs everything (skimmer, frag tank, water change tank, another 20 gallon tank, main tank and the valve is still closed off slightly). Noise of equipment is not an issue if it's in a closed basement room.

I wouldn't change anything about my set up except the fact that I should have custom ordered my tank instead of using an old used tank with scratches in it.

Hope this helps, you can check out my tank build (Mark had a link to it earlier in this thread) for all the details of the setup).

[Red Coral Aquariums]

Originally Posted by bigmac

Basically what I'm requesting opinions on is:
1. What is your idea of a perfect fish room? Please include any details/pictures/wish list equipment.

2. If this house is purchased, there is an opportunity to have the tank on the main floor utilizing the "formal dining room". Obviously I would have the builder enclose this space with moisture resistant drywall. There is a window for ventilation and I would ask the builder to reinforce the floor. My question is should I consider this as an option? My preference is to have the tank/fish room in the basement for floor strength, heat issues, etc. however there wouldn't be any plans of finishing the basement anytime soon. My family loves my tank and I would like to display it accordingly; but they hate the occasional smells from feeding time, skimmate, etc. I would also be able to utilize the basement floor drain if it was located in the basement; not to mention I wouldn't be constantly worried about water spillage on hardwood. Suggestions?

It would take 2 or 3 pages to address this fully.

So you can wall off the formal dining room to put a tank in-wall???.

Most important in my view;

Floor drain
Utility Tub
Water in and out
Additional Electrical (GFI)
Ventilation to outside

I would recommend basement sump (heat, mess, smell, aesthetics)

I will add more as time opens up.

An early congrats on the new house.
Kevin