Fish Room 64 Build Thread

[OnlyGenusCaps]

On 8/13/2021 at 8:40 PM, Jimmy said:

I’m semi freaking out to the point I’m restless at night LOL

So,not the same thing, but I have built growrooms (no not for that!) using the "fomular" board before.  Mine have been for various climate zones, so I've covered the bases in terms of conditions.  Honestly, yours looks good.  I'm enjoying the updates.  Keep them coming!

[Jimmy]

On 8/13/2021 at 7:34 PM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

So,not the same thing, but I have built growrooms (no not for that!) using the "fomular" board before.  Mine have been for various climate zones, so I've covered the bases in terms of conditions.  Honestly, yours looks good.  I'm enjoying the updates.  Keep them coming!

That sounds fun. Learning as I go. I can’t return to work for another week for coming in contact with someone who was sick so I’m going to utilize this time.

[Jimmy]

Bad lighting, room is little less than 8 feet square on the interior but lets call it an 8x8 for simplicity. Wall left of the door will have 21 10 gallons and the other corner will either have 2 racks of 4 20 longs or only 3 high, haven’t decided yet. It’s TIGHT but I put a lot of thought. 20 longs will be panoramic.

chair leaned up against the wall is where my wall heater will be. Above it will be a fold down work table. Haven’t designed that yet but it will lay snug against the wall until I need to use it and it will be on hinges and a chain.

we are looking at 27 aquariums, that’s all this room will fit. I need to buy 3 more 10s.

 

some might find this limiting only utilizing 10s and 6 20 longs but there’s so much I can still do. 
 

I need a good exhaust fan recommendation that I can wire in the circuit or plug in. Can I just vent it into the rest of the shop or am I asking for trouble? If not I will need to run a shoot out the side and cut a hole.

[Jimmy]

Update

So today was absolutely exciting. Making the best of my quarantine. Thanks to the help of a few forum members and lots of YouTube I was able to successfully wire 5 outlets in my fish room and a additional outlet for my shop. I started the circuit with a GFCI outlet for safety.
Again, working with minimal amperage I have carefully planned out my total consumption with lights, linear piston air pump, heater, dehumidifier and a exhaust fan. I mocked you my layout and put a good amount of time in where i position them. I believe it will work comfortably.

 

Hopefully I won’t need an AC if possible. It’s likely that by the time this room is wet and has any inhabitants it will be the tail end of the summer. Next year I will address that when I get to it. Im open to keeping different fish also seasonally.

since two of the walls have a inch gap behind them and the exterior I choose to run the wire between the walls kinda of lazily and then use the appropriate staple to affix them to the exterior wall (not pictured). The other two walls I drilled and ran them correctly.

I choose after much consideration to run 14 gage rather than 12 due to the fact I never will run more than 1400 watts. Let me tell you, 14 is so much easier to work with. I really got a rhythm and enjoyed the process thoroughly.

room temporarily lit by a beamswork da fspec I had laying around! Lol

tomorrow I’m insulating the walls.

 

 

 

 

[Jimmy]

Update

got insulation in the walls. Turns out it’s pretty easy. I was careful to not bunch it up. Once I got one or two pieces in I got the feel for it.

unfortunately the first outlet in my series, the gfci doesn’t have power but the rest of the circuit is good. It was the only outlet I didn’t test. I will trouble shoot that later. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

the exterior two walls inside the shop, what should I wrap it with? I originally was going to just use leftover synthetic roofing felt but I now realize it’s not breathe-able.  I temporarily wrapped the bottom portion as to keep my children out.

should I just do a think 1/4 drywall and call it good? Should I do green board? I intend on using green board on the interior. 
 

feedback always appreciated!

 

[StevesFishTanks]

looking good.

 

on the gfci make sure you have your line and load wired correctly. most also need to be "reset" once supplied power.

1/4 drywall likely too flimsy would recommend using standard 1/2 or 1/2 moisture resistant

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by s1_

[ArchwayAquatics]

With the high moisture content potential the room will carry, you are better off treating it like a bathroom and going with green board vs regular drywall. Build is looking great! 

[Jimmy]

On 8/15/2021 at 11:21 AM, s1_ said:

looking good.

 

on the gfci make sure you have your line and load wired correctly. most also need to be "reset" once supplied power.

1/4 drywall likely too flimsy would recommend using standard 1/2 or 1/2 moisture resistant

 

That’s exactly what was wrong, I pig tailed it like a normal outlet. I took it back and told them it was broken. When I got the new one, get this. I read the instructions and figured it out LOL.

 

I went with 1/2 inch green board. I’m mostly done I will take pictures. My drywall skills are meh and to be honest I’m not aiming for dead accuracy. The room is for me. I will tape it up and paint with I think a semi gloss and call it good.

the two exterior walls I’m wrapping with regular gypsum so my kids will stay out of the insulation. I won’t be finishing it in any manner.

I named the thread fish room 64 but knowing it’s short of 8x8 but it kept referring to it in that manner. It’s slightly over 7x7 on the interior. To be honest nearly finishing the drywall it’s closing in on me. My ego doesn’t want to let anyone know that I have a room this small. It’s all the space I have available and I’m years away from buying a new home.

Stick along for the ride, let’s see what I can make work.

I pulled the trigger on a exhaust fan. It’s small but at 50 sq ft I don’t need much. It’s a plug and play unit not hard wired. I went with this so I can have it on a controller that I like rather than a humidistat.

 

[Jimmy]

On 8/15/2021 at 5:35 PM, ArchwayAquatics said:

With the high moisture content potential the room will carry, you are better off treating it like a bathroom and going with green board vs regular drywall. Build is looking great! 

I did just that and it’s not that much more expensive. Thanks for the feedback 

[lefty o]

On 8/15/2021 at 8:56 PM, Jimmy said:

That’s exactly what was wrong, I pig tailed it like a normal outlet. I took it back and told them it was broken. When I got the new one, get this. I read the instructions and figured it out LOL.

 

I went with 1/2 inch green board. I’m mostly done I will take pictures. My drywall skills are meh and to be honest I’m not aiming for dead accuracy. The room is for me. I will tape it up and paint with I think a semi gloss and call it good.

the two exterior walls I’m wrapping with regular gypsum so my kids will stay out of the insulation. I won’t be finishing it in any manner.

I named the thread fish room 64 but knowing it’s short of 8x8 but it kept referring to it in that manner. It’s slightly over 7x7 on the interior. To be honest nearly finishing the drywall it’s closing in on me. My ego doesn’t want to let anyone know that I have a room this small. It’s all the space I have available and I’m years away from buying a new home.

Stick along for the ride, let’s see what I can make work.

I pulled the trigger on a exhaust fan. It’s small but at 50 sq ft I don’t need much. It’s a plug and play unit not hard wired. I went with this so I can have it on a controller that I like rather than a humidistat.

 

dont sweat the square footage. you make do with what is available.  i dont understand this whole reading instructions thing!!!😈

[Jimfish98]

On 8/15/2021 at 11:28 PM, lefty o said:

dont sweat the square footage. you make do with what is available.  i dont understand this whole reading instructions thing!!!😈

I wish I had 64sqft available, so in my mind he's already ahead of me. If I lived where you could have a basement, then maybe a fish room for me some day but until then FL slab life it is. 

[Jimmy]

On 8/15/2021 at 8:28 PM, lefty o said:

dont sweat the square footage. you make do with what is available.  i dont understand this whole reading instructions thing!!!😈

My wife had a good laugh about me reading them 

[Andy's Fish Den]

It's coming together nice, and rather quick. I would exhaust the fan to the outside rather than just into the shop. I would treat it like a bathroom and have it go to the outside, you don't want that warm moist air hanging out in another room. 

[OnlyGenusCaps]

On 8/15/2021 at 8:56 PM, Jimmy said:

My ego doesn’t want to let anyone know that I have a room this small.

Besides space for a couple of display tanks in the house, I have room for one Husky rack.  One.  That's it.  Enjoy all the space in your room.  I'm envious!

[Jimmy]

On 8/16/2021 at 4:15 AM, Andy's Fish Den said:

It's coming together nice, and rather quick. I would exhaust the fan to the outside rather than just into the shop. I would treat it like a bathroom and have it go to the outside, you don't want that warm moist air hanging out in another room. 

I’m apprehensive about drilling a 6 inch duct and vent hole but I’m going to do that. With it fully insulated it got pretty hot in there yesterday. Mind you the door was open, I had a beamswork on for light which gets hot and I was working like a beast. I will 100% need a exhaust LOL. It was high 80s here. I’m really not interested in putting an ac in it so I’m curious what temp I can keep it down to next summer when it’s wet.

I want to do killifish and pseudomugils but they really like it at only 75~. I may have to change my room out seasonally. I will only have 300~ watts in led and I hope the fixtures that I’m buying don’t run hot. If they do I may run them on alternate or staggered schedules. Or just light the tanks with ambient light on the hottest days.

 

I came in contact with someone who was sick 8 days ago and told my employer. They are making me quarantine for 14 days so that’s why it’s going fast. 

[Jimmy]

On 8/16/2021 at 4:38 AM, OnlyGenusCaps said:

Besides space for a couple of display tanks in the house, I have room for one Husky rack.  One.  That's it.  Enjoy all the space in your room.  I'm envious!

Thanks for sharing that. When I purchased 17 ten gallon tanks and 6 twenty gallon longs  tanks in 3 separate trips I panicked that it wasnt enough LOL. My current layout should only fit 3 more 10s.

i have just the one 40b. I maintained a 6 foot 150 in my living room for 6 years prior to setting it up. For 3 of those 6 years I also had a successful reef aquarium but decided I couldn’t give it the attention it needed.

The focus of this room is the fish and breeding not the aquarium. They may all be bare bottom but I haven’t decided. Most will utilize plants. I’m also propagating 2 types of pothos for the room, I will grow pothos in every aquarium. Here’s my recent trimmings

[Jimmy]

Here’s my reef that I maintained. Also a passion of mine but not the right time in my life to keep a reef. This is a picture of my 42g cadlights. I invested probably twice the money in this than my small room with 27 aquariums I’m currently working on building out. 

[Jimmy]

Update

 

got drywall done today. It’s not perfect but good enough. Hope to tape tonight after the kids go to bed. I went for speed so if you hang for a living for paint keep scrolling LOL. I foamed all the exterior gaps and hung board on the outside of the room. I’m not finishing that.

 The door is a cheap prehung MDF and it sucks. It started to settle slightly. My lack of skills might be a contributed but honestly it’s not a huge deal. I’m going to sand it til if fits and hope that works.

it feels like a closet to be honest.  Hope to install exhaust fan tomorrow.

 

my oldest is underwhelmed LOL. Room temporarily lit by beamswork da fspec still lol

[OnlyGenusCaps]

Nice you got some help! 😀

[Jimmy]

Side note. Paint color suggestions? I kinda want to do black but I don’t want to turn it into a dark enclosed hole. Semi gloss I assume. I’m mostly paint to protect and wick the walls.

secondly, the one wall with 21 ten gallons 3 high. If it’s a 7 foot rack do I need a center support.
 

What if I did dado cuts? Or 2x6 rails? 

how do I account for the minor slop, do I just shim it?

 

lastly for today, just purchased lights. Doing all barrina led shop lights. 4 foot 20w and 2 foot 10 watts. Super low consumption, low heat, linkable and really convenient . Pretty exciting 

here’s a baby possum in the pool

[Hobbit]

Wait what? A baby possum in the pool? And now for something completely different!

I’m super impressed that you’re getting everything done so quickly. That’s amazing, even considering you’re home for quarantine!

In terms of paint colors, just off the top of my head, I’d paint the walls a dark blue and the ceiling a light blue—light enough that it doesn’t scream “blue!!”

Ceiling idea: 

Wall idea: 

That’s what we painted our kitchen. You can see the color on the top of the wall:

If you think there will be too much blue already with the blue in the lights, you could go for a dark gray. 

Basically I agree that black would be too dark and make you feel like you’re in a hole.

Whoops I’m up too late. You color-sniped me. 😅

[lefty o]

have fun taping and mudding them walls. that is one thing i hate, and suck at.  for paint, while i would normally say flat white as flat and white is the brightest, but for protecting the walls  a semi gloss or gloss will be better with water. id ask the paint people what they recommend for bathrooms or kitchens.

[Jimmy]

On 8/16/2021 at 8:27 PM, Hobbit said:

Wait what? A baby possum in the pool? And now for something completely different!

I’m super impressed that you’re getting everything done so quickly. That’s amazing, even considering you’re home for quarantine!

In terms of paint colors, just off the top of my head, I’d paint the walls a dark blue and the ceiling a light blue—light enough that it doesn’t scream “blue!!”

Ceiling idea: 

Wall idea: 

That’s what we painted our kitchen. You can see the color on the top of the wall:

If you think there will be too much blue already with the blue in the lights, you could go for a dark gray. 

Basically I agree that black would be too dark and make you feel like you’re in a hole.

Whoops I’m up too late. You color-sniped me. 😅

I like both the gray and blue suggestions good ideas 

[Jimmy]

On 8/16/2021 at 8:47 PM, lefty o said:

have fun taping and mudding them walls. that is one thing i hate, and suck at.  for paint, while i would normally say flat white as flat and white is the brightest, but for protecting the walls  a semi gloss or gloss will be better with water. id ask the paint people what they recommend for bathrooms or kitchens.

I got a good feel I’ve never really taped this much before only like a patch job. My wife was ok with me going out there and working on it late but unfortunately I bought premix compound and ran out! I got about 85 percent done. Blows cause it puts me a day behind now because of drying!

[Jimmy]

On 8/16/2021 at 8:27 PM, Hobbit said:

Wait what? A baby possum in the pool? And now for something completely different!

I’m super impressed that you’re getting everything done so quickly. That’s amazing, even considering you’re home for quarantine!

In terms of paint colors, just off the top of my head, I’d paint the walls a dark blue and the ceiling a light blue—light enough that it doesn’t scream “blue!!”

Ceiling idea: 

Wall idea: 

That’s what we painted our kitchen. You can see the color on the top of the wall:

If you think there will be too much blue already with the blue in the lights, you could go for a dark gray. 

Basically I agree that black would be too dark and make you feel like you’re in a hole.

Whoops I’m up too late. You color-sniped me. 😅

I’ve been busting my butt at home this last week for my wife the best I can and trading time for it. I’ve been able to do 4-5 hours a day