HighChief's 225 In wall basement build

HighChiefKC

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So 12-15 years ago I had a 180g acrylic tank from IPI in Michigan which I’ve found is no longer in business. I currently have a JBJ nanocube that will probably get cleaned out and turned into a qt tank. We just had a new house built just over a year ago. We were at Aquarium Adventures a few weeks ago looking at big tanks there and after talking to some people, decided it was a better investment to spend more on such a big tank. Somehow my wife ended up walking out of there with a new puppy ‍o_O

So I started emailing acrylic tank mfgs for estimates and the most helpful has been American Aquariums out of PA. As of now I’m planning on a 225g. 72x30x24.

I’m including some pics from the area I have to work with. It’s a “nook” so to speak in part of our unfinished basement. It’s just under 8’ by 8’.
I’m leaning toward making it an in-wall build but they will take up a big chunk of the “fish room”. I’ve thought about having the tank on the other side of the wall on a stand with a canopy and plumbing the drains through the wall and having the sump and everything on the other side of the wall. Which the one nice thing about that is that I can see down the length of the tank from each side. Where as if I put it in wall, I have to
Black out each side correct? Or would it be possible to make like a vinyl flap that I could lift up if I wanted to look from the side from inside the fish room?

In the pics you will see my well system tank. I’m having that moved to the right side so I have room for tank. I don’t think they can move it completely out of the area so I’m kinda stuck with it to the right side.

I’ve also included pics from the other side of room to show how much area I havenof unfinished basement and where my sink and RODI unit is.
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HighChiefKC

HighChiefKC

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I have customers of my business that are the electrician, plumber, and hvac that built the house. They will help me with several things when needed.
One question is, is a vent fan and duct work centered over the fish room going to be adequate enough for this area? I’ve read about the ductless air units, is that necessary? It stays like 55-60 degrees year round in my basement. Theres already a furnace/air vent above the area.

I have no electrical ideas for now, nor do I know Jack about electrical. I do know that my basement has its own breaker box that’s not even half full. I assume that’s a plus?

All ideas and suggestions for the area are welcome. I’d like to have everything somewhat laid out/planned out before I start buying

Thanks for the help!
@TK_KW
 

Skynyrd Fish

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You will need a dehumidifier. Also having hvac vent is a good idea. I am thinking about doing an air line to the outside for my skimmer to help keep ph up. Enjoy the build.
 
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HighChiefKC

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You will need a dehumidifier. Also having hvac vent is a good idea. I am thinking about doing an air line to the outside for my skimmer to help keep ph up. Enjoy the build.
Oh yea I already have a dehumidifier from when I had my 180. How close to the sump area do I need to place the dehumidifier? Is 10 feet too far away?
 
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HighChiefKC

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Anyone use this exhaust vent? Don’t really know what I’m looking for exactly, but my hvac guy said that thing will definitely move some air. But everything he has is 4”, so I have to get everything in 6”
 
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HighChiefKC

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Getting well moved this week. Got everything I need to install exhaust fan, just not time yet. This is my busy season for work then I’m off all winter. Soon as I get back from Detroit next weekend I’m ordering tank and sump. Here are some pics the builder sent me of samples.
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Tank is 72x30x24. With coast to coast inside, external bean animal overflow of 24” long. Sump is 60x18x18. Has 3/4” drilled returns on each end beside overflow.

Anyone see any issues with this setup before I order?
 
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HighChiefKC

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#reefsquad
Is it possible to have tank in wall on this side, and it drain around the to the sump that is a few feet behind it, but to go along the wall in between? And if so, how strong of a pump would I need to get it back around and up to the top of the tank? 225g tank

Excuse my ghetto drawing on iPhone, but hoping it conveys what I’m trying to say. obviously sump will be lower than tank but drawing didn’t come out that way
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HighChiefKC

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Got the “fish room” area finally cleaned out. Already have a dedicated circuit mounted above where the tank will go. Waiting on through the wall vent to come in to install the exhaust fan. Already have electric ran for it. In the process of ordering tank and sump. Still debating stand height, it’s a 9ft wall and a 24” tall tank. I’m thinking 40-42” high.
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hdsoftail1065

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#reefsquad
Is it possible to have tank in wall on this side, and it drain around the to the sump that is a few feet behind it, but to go along the wall in between? And if so, how strong of a pump would I need to get it back around and up to the top of the tank? 225g tank

Excuse my ghetto drawing on iPhone, but hoping it conveys what I’m trying to say. obviously sump will be lower than tank but drawing didn’t come out that way
1E8481E6-33A4-492F-A282-C2F505BBAD9F.jpeg
I don't see why you couldn't do what your thinking, allot of lfs have sumps plumbed with sumps in totally different rooms. Running PVC wouldn't be to difficult. One thing to possibly consider is a future controller. I have my sump directly behind the wall and accessory cords aren't very long. I'm not sure about pump sizes or what you would need so I will let someone else chime in.
 

Fudsey

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You would just need to check the head pressure for what ever pump you are looking at. IIRC for every 10 feet of horizontal run you add 1 foot to head pressure. My sump is in my basement directly below my tank. I needed a pump that could handle 12 feet of HP and still have 4-6 x turnover. Every 90 adds 1 ft as well.
 

Ron Reefman

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@TK_KW, I had a 400+ gallon system in my dining room and a 1hp chiller about 15 feet away, outside the house in the backyard. It was along a north wall, so in the shade all the time and inside a plastic storage cabinet. There wasn't more than a 3or 4 foot vertical component, but 15' out and 15' back in. I used a Jebao DC12,000 (3,000+gph) and it worked fine for the 5 years I had it set up.

Good luck, it's a cool looking build!
 
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HighChiefKC

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Minor slow update. I’ve started ordering some equipment. Balling on a budget, so I’ve got some items used. Will soon have 2 Atlantik V4’s (gen1) with gateway for lights. And a Vectra L2 for the return pump. Saving money on those to afford a new quality protein skimmer. Still need to figure out what to do for flow in the tank.
First project was to get an exhaust fan over the fish room area. I assumed this one I ordered from Amazon was going to be a beast and super loud since it requires 6” duct. I even ordered a programmable switch so it would only run every so often because I thought it was going to be so loud. But man this thing really is whisper quiet and the first time we turned it on we didn’t even think it was working. I have it blowing out the side of the house and it really pushes the air out!
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Next up on the project list before the tank gets here (which I’m guessing is going to be late Dec or Jan) is to organize the rest of the basement. My wife has like 30 storage totes all piled up on the floor and it drive me crazy. Building shelves to get everything off the floor. Then I’ll have plenty of room to build tank and sump stands
 
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HighChiefKC

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Slow build is going slow. Tank delivery will be delayed a couple of weeks. Now first half of January. I’m in no rush though. Got the tank and sump stands built and in position. Tomorrow we cut a hole in the wall! I can’t tell you how excited my wife is (it’s a new house and Im putting a giant hole in the wall).
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God bless my neighbor who is retired and loves to build stuff. I keep him busy and he enjoys it.
Here is the shelves we made to organize the unfinished side of the basement
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here is a entryway coatrack he built for my wife for her birthday last week
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Will update after putting hole in wall!
 
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HighChiefKC

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Tank is here! Just finished the trim around the hole in the wall today. Moving tank to the basement tomorrow afternoon hopefully. So far very impressed with American Aquariums. I like to save money when I can and as I was taking apart the crate for the tank, I realized I could save all the wood and use it to build a electrical wall above the sump and put a shelf under the DT stand with the plywood! Will post pics after getting tank in wall!
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TK_KW

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Tank is here! Just finished the trim around the hole in the wall today. Moving tank to the basement tomorrow afternoon hopefully. So far very impressed with American Aquariums. I like to save money when I can and as I was taking apart the crate for the tank, I realized I could save all the wood and use it to build a electrical wall above the sump and put a shelf under the DT stand with the plywood! Will post pics after getting tank in wall!
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Nice....I loved when I finally got mine up into place. Cant wait to see your tank in the wall man. So gratifying
 
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HighChiefKC

HighChiefKC

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Tank in hole! Absolutely love the work by American Aquariums. That overflow is sweet, and it has recessed lids that cover slots on top of it. Will take better pics of sump once I get that stand done. Going to get some anti vibration pads to put under it.
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next project is putting trim around and a lid that opens up to the front of tank to allow access.
 

Mastering the art of locking and unlocking water pathways: What type of valves do you have on your aquarium plumbing?

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