Author Topic: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)  (Read 10737 times)

Offline Nick

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • Mt. Pleasant
DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« on: November 16, 2012, 10:46:16 PM »
It has been a long time coming but I finally got around to creating the first of two racks in what will be my mini fish room. I used dado cuts for more support and braced the two shelves on the right with an additional board crossing the center of the each.
The rack measures 8ft long and 2ft. deep. The two shelves have an opening of 53" long 2ft deep and 30" high. Basically enough to where I can comfortably fit 55gallon tanks or pretty much any smaller size in several combinations. My goals was to make this thing as versatile and user friendly as possible. I cant stand not having enough room to net fish or fiddle with filters so I made the openings a bit tall. I plan on making another racking with a similar design that will connect to this one perpendicular and off to the right side it will work as an extension of the original.
As a precaution I decided to paint the rack with 3 coats of exterior paint /w primer. This baby should be sealed up pretty good to protect from water damage.
The whole thing is built with 2x4s and plywood for the tops. I also have some of that thick pink styrofoam to help insulate and self level.










Nothing but a few empty tanks.

Offline Regalblue

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5971
    • Livonia
    • MCA
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2012, 04:16:28 AM »
Lol WTF, Nick?!?!?!?
You trying to make fishroom of the year?   :P

Seriously - that is a nice rack system&  it looks "built to last"

Offline Ron

  • African Cichlid Aficionado
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2739
    • Howell, MI
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2012, 10:28:07 AM »
What's the purpose of the OSB?

It also appears you didn't paint the bottom of each leg? IMO that's the second-most likely place for water contact/damage.
"All men are equal before fish."
- Herbert Hoover
Planted 100 Gallon Tank
550 Gallon Hap Tank

Offline beach

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 90
    • Michigan
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2012, 11:47:42 AM »
Looking good!!  Cant wait to see the tanks up and running!!!    ;D

Offline Nick

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • Mt. Pleasant
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2012, 11:48:23 AM »
What's the purpose of the OSB?

It also appears you didn't paint the bottom of each leg? IMO that's the second-most likely place for water contact/damage.

lol. The bottoms are actually going to be coated in a rubber coating. Some stuff I used when I was in the oilfield. I forgot to buy it while I was at the store and just got done what I could. Far as the OSB goes...I could have gotten away without because of the Styro but somewhere in my head it felt as if I needed to have it.
Nothing but a few empty tanks.

Offline Nick

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • Mt. Pleasant
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2012, 11:51:03 AM »
Lol WTF, Nick?!?!?!?
You trying to make fishroom of the year?   :P

Seriously - that is a nice rack system&  it looks "built to last"

Thanks Blair. "built to last" was as exactly what I was going for.
Nothing but a few empty tanks.

Offline Nick

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • Mt. Pleasant
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2012, 12:56:49 AM »
Here is the semi is the finished product. The tropheus you see are my Ilangi fry. Just stripped 11 more today!! I am so unbelievably happy with how this turned out. Now all I need is to ditch the 35g and put a 55 there and a 75 underneath. I see more tropheus in my future.





I'll post some better. Non profit phone pics latter.
Nothing but a few empty tanks.

Offline Steve

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3167
    • Royal Oak
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2012, 01:50:01 AM »
Lookin' good, nice and sturdy 8)
Better to have a short life full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way.

-Alan Watts

Offline jcunningham0295

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2437
    • Newport, MI (48166)
    • Cunningham Cichlids
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2012, 11:21:42 AM »
Nice work Nick, thanks for sharing.  This is what I need to get off my butt and do.  Always need room for more tanks.....
Josh Cunningham
Cunningham Cichlids, LLC.
Over 5,290 gallons of quality African Cichlids

Cunningham Cichlids
Facebook
Youtube

Offline jamarini

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 269
    • 48657
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2013, 11:27:20 AM »
Hey Nick, you're off to a fine start on that fishroom. Looking forward to more pics - or an actual visit sometime when I'm over that way.  (See you on the 19th).  Jim

Offline Nick

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • Mt. Pleasant
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #10 on: February 10, 2013, 09:30:59 PM »
Thanks again. I actually decided to go with only tropheus and maybe....maybe one other type of fish so as of right now I have a 125, 30 cube, 30, and 55 on the rack. Ill get some picks out soon. I love the setup right now. Just stripped some more Ilangi fry two nights ago too.
Nothing but a few empty tanks.

Offline four_by_ken

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2138
    • 48002
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2013, 08:54:54 AM »
Nice set up.

Offline Nick

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 370
    • Mt. Pleasant
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2013, 12:14:46 AM »
I know its nothing like Jeff's room,  :'( but it works for me  8) The plan is for using this setup for raising tropheus.
Nothing but a few empty tanks.

Offline SKISWETPETS

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 761
    • Alpena
Re: DIY Fish Room Rack (Several Pics and more to come)
« Reply #13 on: February 12, 2013, 09:35:17 AM »
Looking good... Im jealous... My room is still just in bare stud walls... :( :( But at least its started ;)
No longer fishroom, I have a FISH BASEMENT!!!