My perfect fishroom - An ongoing design project

[JeffroM]

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS!

So if money wasn't a concern how would you design your basement fishroom?  Please share your thoughts / ideas on what should be included in the design!


Floor:
Concrete - Level where tanks are located.  Slight slope to floor drains in isle ways
Floor drains as required
Non-slip colored concrete sealant / topping


Walls:
2x4 studded walls w/ insulation
Install a vapor barrier??
1/2 plywood sheeting to cover walls


Ceiling:
Insulation between joists
Install a vapor barrier??


Lighting:


Heating:
Seperate furnace with its own make up air.
Ducted supply vents near the floor and proper returns.
Huge exhaust fan to be turned on as needed.


Plumbing:

[Ron]

Plumbing ...

No plumbing? Just fill'r up?! 

A huge dehumidifier and/or air exchanger is one critical thing I think is missing from the list ATM.

[ballpython584]

A drop ceiling is a must!! Heat will rise quickly and a drop ceiling will help keep it in the basement.

[SKISWETPETS]

Souds like some good things so far...

[Michael Zebrowski]

Add a circulating fan (to limit temperature stratification) and waterproofing to the walls and you can (dare I say it...) RULE THE WORLD!

Mike

[Marty]

If I had my perfect fishroom, it wouldn't be in my basement.  I would have it attached to my garage so it was on the first floor.  That way, I could have a "fire wall" that would separate it from the rest of the house to eliminate the potential for moisture problems.

For a basement fishroom, I would recommend the following substitutions or additions to what you have listed:

I think I would go with greenboard (moisture resistant drywall like you would use in a bathroom) as opposed to plywood.  Mostly because once whatever you paint it with to seal it is breached, you'll see the plywood start swelling up like crazy.

I would also drywall the ceiling as well to help keep in moisture.  Insulating the walls and ceiling are a good investment in keeping heat in the room.

I agree with Ron, an air exchanger is a good way to bring in fresh air, lower humidity, and keep most of your heated air.

For electrical, I would run conduit and boxes as opposed to in wall plugs (again, to help keep the room sealed up better).

LED lighting the length of each aisle.

For plumbing, I would have a tankless hot water heater.

I would also have each of my tanks drilled, with a central drainage system to eliminate having to carry buckets or pump water.  For filling tanks, I would have a piping system around the room where there would be a fill pipe for each tank.  All you would have to do is turn a valve and the tank would fill to either the top of a standpipe or bulkhead.  I would also have a way of determining the temperature of the clean water (either some type of mixing valve or automated temp sensor) to ensure the water is the correct temp when refilling.

A sink and work table with good lighting is a must.

A stereo system is another excellent addition.  My fish spawn like crazy to 80's hair bands and Metallica 

[Super Turtleman]

I think it's pretty much nailed. Like Marty, mine would be ideally in a heated garage (watch me build it after I win the lotto).  lol

[SKISWETPETS]

If I had my perfect fishroom, it wouldn't be in my basement.  I would have it attached to my garage so it was on the first floor.  That way, I could have a "fire wall" that would separate it from the rest of the house to eliminate the potential for moisture problems.

For a basement fishroom, I would recommend the following substitutions or additions to what you have listed:

I think I would go with greenboard (moisture resistant drywall like you would use in a bathroom) as opposed to plywood.  Mostly because once whatever you paint it with to seal it is breached, you'll see the plywood start swelling up like crazy.

I would also drywall the ceiling as well to help keep in moisture.  Insulating the walls and ceiling are a good investment in keeping heat in the room.

I agree with Ron, an air exchanger is a good way to bring in fresh air, lower humidity, and keep most of your heated air.

For electrical, I would run conduit and boxes as opposed to in wall plugs (again, to help keep the room sealed up better).

LED lighting the length of each aisle.

For plumbing, I would have a tankless hot water heater.

I would also have each of my tanks drilled, with a central drainage system to eliminate having to carry buckets or pump water.  For filling tanks, I would have a piping system around the room where there would be a fill pipe for each tank.  All you would have to do is turn a valve and the tank would fill to either the top of a standpipe or bulkhead.  I would also have a way of determining the temperature of the clean water (either some type of mixing valve or automated temp sensor) to ensure the water is the correct temp when refilling.

A sink and work table with good lighting is a must.

A stereo system is another excellent addition.  My fish spawn like crazy to 80's hair bands and Metallica 

Hmmm i may have to copy and paste this to an e-mail and apply every thing here. Since i have the OK to build a room like that off the back side of my garage. I just don't have the money right now. But hopefully soon enough. Maybe just after I win the lotto.

[Marty]

Why, do you think the thread is going to disappear?

[SKISWETPETS]

Nahh nothing like that. I would just probly forget all of that stuff you just listed. Then again, just a simple hmm what do i do post on here and i would be all set im sure...

[JeffroM]

Plumbing ...

No plumbing? Just fill'r up?! 

A huge dehumidifier and/or air exchanger is one critical thing I think is missing from the list ATM.

I didn't think a dehumidifier or air exchanger would be needed if the room had a seperate furnace with its own make up air.  After thinking about it, some sort of dehumidification would be needed during the summer months when the furnace isn't active much.

A drop ceiling is a must!! Heat will rise quickly and a drop ceiling will help keep it in the basement.

I assumed a finished ceiling of some kind, but it can't drop too much unless the its 15' high.

Add a circulating fan (to limit temperature stratification) and waterproofing to the walls and you can (dare I say it...) RULE THE WORLD!

Mike

During winter months when the furnace is frequently active - if the air distribution and air returns are designed properly there should be a need to circulate it any more.  Correct?  In summer months when the furnace doesn't activate much then yes it probably would be needed. 

Regarding the walls I'm debating between green board finished with gas station bathroom wall material or plywood with a water proof paint.  I like the idea of plywood only because I like to mount things in periodic locations without having to worry about stud location.  (How much you want to bet Blair uses the last sentence as his signature now?)  Probably leaning towards green board.

If I had my perfect fishroom, it wouldn't be in my basement.  I would have it attached to my garage so it was on the first floor.  That way, I could have a "fire wall" that would separate it from the rest of the house to eliminate the potential for moisture problems.

For a basement fishroom, I would recommend the following substitutions or additions to what you have listed:

I think I would go with greenboard (moisture resistant drywall like you would use in a bathroom) as opposed to plywood.  Mostly because once whatever you paint it with to seal it is breached, you'll see the plywood start swelling up like crazy.

I would also drywall the ceiling as well to help keep in moisture.  Insulating the walls and ceiling are a good investment in keeping heat in the room.

I agree with Ron, an air exchanger is a good way to bring in fresh air, lower humidity, and keep most of your heated air.

For electrical, I would run conduit and boxes as opposed to in wall plugs (again, to help keep the room sealed up better).

LED lighting the length of each aisle.

For plumbing, I would have a tankless hot water heater.

I would also have each of my tanks drilled, with a central drainage system to eliminate having to carry buckets or pump water.  For filling tanks, I would have a piping system around the room where there would be a fill pipe for each tank.  All you would have to do is turn a valve and the tank would fill to either the top of a standpipe or bulkhead.  I would also have a way of determining the temperature of the clean water (either some type of mixing valve or automated temp sensor) to ensure the water is the correct temp when refilling.

A sink and work table with good lighting is a must.

A stereo system is another excellent addition.  My fish spawn like crazy to 80's hair bands and Metallica 

I don't want to have to go outside to get to my fishroom.  I would end up neglecting them too much.  An addition to the house is a possibility on the right house - most of the time it doesn't seem realistic though.  This is way I'm looking at the basement fishroom.

I agree with your concerns on the plywood, which has me re-thinking that on the walls.

I planned on a finished ceiling, just haven't gotten the time to fill that part in.

When you say " I would run conduit and boxes as opposed to in wall plugs" are you referring to running the conduit and mounting the boxes on the surface of the walls and ceilings?  This is for limiting air transfer through the wall?

Why LED lighting?  Benefits, etc.?

I agree auto water changing is a must!  Not sure of the best method though.  Constant drip to all tanks?  Water change controlled with sprinkler system controls?  Supply water temp issues?

Sink, bench / desk, storage cabinets, and refrig / freezer are must haves as well.

Stereo would need to be for Liza and Barry though!  LOL.

[Regalblue]

Lol yes Jeff I WAS gonna use that as a new signature...  until you said I would.
I'll just let Ryan grab it

My dream fishroom would be an updated version of the belle isle aquarium.  The same structure/ building with all new state of the art equipment

[Vamptrev]

great thread!

I'm going to be doing a new fish room soon at our new house.

separate room in the basement, all green board, an air exchanger for the winter, a dehumidifier for the summer, drip systems on all the tanks, etc

the only thing I'm stuck on is the ceiling.  with all the lights, outlets, and air exchanger hanging from the ceiling its gonna be a pain in the arse

[Nick]

I would also have each of my tanks drilled, with a central drainage system to eliminate having to carry buckets or pump water.  For filling tanks, I would have a piping system around the room where there would be a fill pipe for each tank.  All you would have to do is turn a valve and the tank would fill to either the top of a standpipe or bulkhead.  I would also have a way of determining the temperature of the clean water (either some type of mixing valve or automated temp sensor) to ensure the water is the correct temp when refilling.

I've seen a couple times when people use a drip line in each tank and have it adjusted for about a 5% water change every day. Each tank would have an over flow of some kind from being drilled...as mentioned. but would also be drilled in the sump so as the water trickles in and raises the water level it slowly drains out at the same level. Long as you are using water right out of the tap anyways it would work great...I guess thats one of the benefits of having good well water where im at.

[Marty]

Another idea for walls and ceiling (since money is no object).  Use durarock (cement board) covered with the glazed sheeting you see in gas station bathrooms. 

I stopped by to visit my brother at work (he's a commercial carpenter and he's building out a CVS about two miles from me).  I actually got the idea from him when I asked him about the drywall they use in the bathrooms (it's purple as opposed to greenboard, but it's essentially the same thing).  He indicated the sheeting is pretty expensive at about $30.00 an 8' sheet, but it will last forever.