Fish Room Layout Feedback

[bobbravo2]

Hey there! Working on a big build, and looking for some experts to weigh in on fish room layout and design.


Context / Scale / Mockups Seen in pictures:

1. The PVC frame is a 110 Gallon Inductor mixing tank (Base: 30" x 30". Height: 70")
2. The sump is a BashSea 60 Pro sump.
   1. The box in the mockups is the shipping box
   2. It has a ~2" margin on each side, and won't be quite that tall.
3. The frag tank is 36" wide 24" deep by 10" high.
   1. The cardboard mockup is the height of the Frag Tank in pics.
4. The doors in the wall are for a energy recovery ventilator (ERV), that must be able to open fully / unobstructed so that the ERV door can open up / vertically.
   1. All of these mockups are in a place where the doors can open 100%, some of the tradeoff options require the 110 Gallon mixing tank to be moveable to service the ERV, and provide enough space for service.
5. Human Scale: I'm 5'10", and relatively trim. The mixing station and sump have enough space for me to sneak in, however not enough to really bend down, unless I opt for making the mixing station moveable.

Option A: "The more aesthetically pleasing option"

Option A Pros:

• Guests walking into the basement will see the Frag Tank
  • The Fish room does not have it's own door. The wall that the sump will share will be on the other side of the Tank. Plumbing will be cut through the wall.

Option A Cons:

• The 110 Gallon mixing station (the mocked up tall thing) may need a base + wheels + spa flex to accommodate space restrictions
  • In normal mode, it'll be up against the radiator
  • In "Energy recovery ventilator service mode", it will be able to roll/slide 6" away for access.
• Tight squeeze between Sump <-> Mixing Station <-> Energy Recovery Ventilator Service

Option B: "The more spacious fish room" layout

Option B Pros:

• Large Area to have a chair, service protein skimmer, and frag corals

Option B Cons:

• Guests will see an ugly mixing station.
  • Mitigation: Cover it in a drape or something?
• Servicing the RODI unit will be tighter
  • May still require a rollable mixing station. Ugh.

Please weigh in on the pros / cons, as I'm looking for feedback as I plan to add FRP panels over the next weekend or two, and start building countertops.

I'm personally leaning towards Option A, despite it making the fish room "cave" a lot tighter.

Edit: fix uploads.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I have absolutely no idea whether this is a help to you, but 'horizontal leg' mixing tanks are stackable; or can be fit under a table top.

 

[bobbravo2]

I have absolutely no idea whether this is a help to you, but 'horizontal leg' mixing tanks are stackable; or can be fit under a table top.

Those look nice!

Unfortunately I’ve already ordered the tank. Going with a 110 gallon with inductor bottom for fast mixing of SW in case of emergencies (diseases, etc).

Those look really neat stacked. Wish I had the room for two of them.

 

[Jungle Blue]

I feel B is more aesthetically and spacious, but A has good work-around too.
Likely to touch the frag tank more than the sump in the long run
+ less travels in terms of RO/DI lines

hmm, I do like seeing the frag tank at entrance = more immediate monitoring
+ the stacking reservoir looks good ^^^

 

[bobbravo2]

I feel B is more aesthetically and spacious, but A has good work-around too.
Likely to touch the frag tank more than the sump in the long run
+ less travels in terms of RO/DI lines

hmm, I do like seeing the frag tank at entrance = more immediate monitoring
+ the stacking reservoir looks good ^^^

Great points. One of the things I like about A, too, being able to hang out / be around while fragging when I have guests over.

 

[Jungle Blue]

Great points. One of the things I like about A, too, being able to hang out / be around while fragging when I have guests over.

I can see that, B does gives more space to hang out (2-3). While A is good for 1 while guest is at door.

 

[bobbravo2]

It’s not too bad to move when empty, used some spa flex for flexibility