Electrical wiring

[Paolissimo]

Hello everyone

I am finishing up my basement and I have the walls open and the electrician is going to run the wires. I will put my fish tank in the basement. The tank right now doesn't have a dedicated line, but in the basement it will, what should i look for, any specific set up that you guys recommend?

Thank you
Paul

 

[dbl]

I don't even pretend to be an electrician, but I would recommend ar least two dedicated circuits if your panel has the room.

@Brew12, any other suggestions here?

 

[bif24701]

I don't even pretend to be an electrician, but I would recommend ar least two dedicated circuits if your panel has the room.

@Brew12, any other suggestions here?

Two separate circuits each with separate GFI. This allows you to place critical life support of separate circuits. So if like one GFI circuit tripped with your return pump on it then the other with powerheads would still be running. This saved my but, GFI tripped due to Christmas lights plugged in the garage and started raining. The return stopped but powerheads kept the system well until I found out what happened.

Also larger systems need more that 15amps and most home breakers/circuses are 15amps. One 800w heater draws 7-9 amps alone.

 

[Paolissimo]

right now the plan is to have two 20 amps separate circuits with GFI.
Thank you

 

[JoshH]

Are you planning on using GFI breakers in the panel or just the outlets themselves?

 

[Paolissimo]

Josh H
I am not sure, I would have to ask the electrician but what do you recommend?

 

[Mark Gray]

If you are running your wire it would not hurt to go up a gauge in wire add a GFI and if I were you I would make them 20 amp circuits

 

[JoshH]

Well typically GFI breakers have a faster response time to faults although overall we are talking in the 100ths of a second time frame here. Really it depends on your local codes and what your electrician recommends to meet those codes. On a side note GFI breakers can be exponentially more money so watch out for that although in the grand scheme of things the cost is well worth it when you look at the kind of money we put into our systems as well as the overall protection they provide

 

[Brew12]

I don't even pretend to be an electrician, but I would recommend ar least two dedicated circuits if your panel has the room.

@Brew12, any other suggestions here?

Nope, that is a great recommendation.