My Dream Build for the pool house

[Watkins60]

I’ve been in the hobby 8yrs. 150g or less, research here often etc.

Th wife and I run a business out of our homes and decided to build an office/Gym etc out back on our property and it gave me the opportunity to finally do the 500g room divider peninsula mixed reef tank I’ve always wanted to do

Thought I would give back and share this build with the community. Will share all the goodies, all questions fair game related to the build and plenty of pics and thoughts on my process to come.

Quick highlights on where I’m at.

Tank PA 96/36/36 open top viewed all 3 sides set slightly 3.5” into a fish room that is 6x10x10’ directly behind the tank for easy access to quick water changes and other needs. The tank has a shadow V2 overflow and my goal is to automate as much as I can but where I need the manual work to be done it can be done with a lot more ease.

The pool/office house is dried in and prob about 6-8wk from being done. Tank is currently approved and should be 6 to 8 weeks out.

I will be upgrading my 150g cube and moving everything inside that does not have GSP on it to the new tank. Will never do the GSP wall again lol - tho I like the look.

Other items on purchase or in consideration.

Sump - Bashsea 60pro. Went with this one in case I do a roller mat, but not convinced on roller mats. Either way I’ll have the option.

Lights - Orphek Natural Icon 4x might do 2 more, but I’m mainly LPS with sticks up top. The Orphek customer service guys highly recommend this over there other lines based on my build and needs.

Skimmer - Octo 300ext

UV - still planning

2 Return pumps - still deciding, I’ve had great success with Jeavo and hated my Echo and Apex pumps that cost a ton and died. Will run 1 to tank and another to Manifold and then to far side of the tank as added rerun. The far return will be hidden by trim around top of the tank and just drop in the lines to push water back. May also set up a Gyre for added flow, but trying to avoid pumps on the far glass.

Mix station - 2 125g set up in fish room. More pics and details on fish room to come.

Lots of Marco Rock just shipped from BRS plan to build some rock formations and cycle with M-Pure blocks I’ve been soaking in the current tank that’s 6yrs old. Will also break down much of the rock in my tank with GSP I. It and cycle the rock with it. Killing the GSP and helping the new rock.

 

[smitten with ocean life]

this sounds amazing! following along!

 

[Watkins60]

Quick shot of the 1st floor plans where tank will leave and give some perspective on the space.

 

[Watkins60]

Need to figure out how to edit these post on the app - freaking typos.

Hopefully the grammar police are not one and the same with the tang police and the grammar police are not a thing in this hobby.

Maybe……

 

[smitten with ocean life]

that design will be so neat!! what a beautiful place!

 

[Watkins60]

Fish room

The fish room is 6x10x10’. I have planned for 2 dedicated 20amp quads and in addition to a few other 15amp on the same circuit as the bath room behind the utility room.

I also had a commercial grade exhaust fan installed to help with old air in and new air in via the hvac return.

We put in a waterline in for the Rodi and so I could was things off as needed. I didn’t have room for a traditional sink, but in a pinch I’ll can spray into a bucket and empty down the drain. I could also use the green house as it has a hose line and drain as well.

I actually have 2 drains in the floor. One is really for leak/flood and the other is specifically plumbed out to the yard with creek. I’ll have the Rodi waste and water changes run down this drain because the main floor drain must go to septic. Septic and salt water do mix.

I plan to build a stand to hold the fuge so that it sits directly behind the main tank and will only need about 2-3’ of head pressure for return.

I plan to use PVC wall panels or just FRP floor to celling in the room. The floors are drained concrete.

 

[Watkins60]

Rock showed up - about to start building structures.

Pics to come.

 

[Watkins60]

Template done.

 

[Kazumi]

While your plan is nice, I will bet that once you get all the stuff in there, you will wish that your fish room was bigger. At 6x10 yours is a little bigger than mine, and I wish I had added a couple more feet to the 6 foot side. If you want a frag tank, QT tank or a sink later, you don't have a lot of room.

 

[icedgxe]

Looks like a great build so far. Following along!

 

[smitten with ocean life]

looks so neat!

 

[|Frank|]

Pumped for ya, following along as well!

 

[Netfish and Chill]

Cant wait to see the updates on this! Looks great so far!

 

[Watkins60]

While your plan is nice, I will bet that once you get all the stuff in there, you will wish that your fish room was bigger. At 6x10 yours is a little bigger than mine, and I wish I had added a couple more feet to the 6 foot side. If you want a frag tank, QT tank or a sink later, you don't have a lot of room.

We work with what we have. It’s all I could squeeze in - would love to have 10x10 etc but it’s what I got.

I am blessed to be able to do much, but going to keep things pretty simple all things considered.

 

[Watkins60]

While your plan is nice, I will bet that once you get all the stuff in there, you will wish that your fish room was bigger. At 6x10 yours is a little bigger than mine, and I wish I had added a couple more feet to the 6 foot side. If you want a frag tank, QT tank or a sink later, you don't have a lot of room.

We work with what we have. It’s all I could squeeze in - would love to have 10x10 etc but it’s what I got.

I am blessed to be able to do much, but going to keep things pretty simple all things considered.

I also have a bathroom, garage and green house feet away. So while it’s nice to have it all in the fish room, the garage is super close and temp controlled.

The green house with hose and drain - the wife said I can wash all the fish crap down that drain lol.

 

[mfama417]

any updates?

 

[lubeck]

Sweet build!

 

[ReefTankENG]

Awesome to see a build from the ground-up, with the tank part of the construction design. Mine took some serious modifications to the existing house. Look forward to seeing it progress!