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After being in our new home for about 2.5 years, and getting Potomac Reef 1 up and running smoothly, I’ve decided to bite the bullet and replace it with a built in 96x27x30 inch tank connect to a downstairs fishroom. Total volume will be in the 500g range.
Potomac Reef 1 was a Red Sea Max 650 S tank that I installed when we moved in. It’s been great and I will miss it.
Planning has been going on in earnest since MACNA this year, and we have set Super Bowl Sunday as our complete-by date. Mark Callahan has been my partner in crime in this endeavor, and my wonderful wife Lynn has provided much needed guidance on requirements: fit the decor, you will maintain it religiously, don’t destroy the house. I can work within those!
The tank fits into a 12 foot alcove in our family room - where we spend most of our time. After iterating on configuration, we decided to build it in completely with cabinets around and above so it matches the kitchen and bar, but in white. Large cabinet doors above will provide access. Two feet on each side will conceal pumps and provide storage and access.
All major equipment will be in the basement, in a remodeled area of our Hvac room dedicated to the purpose. It will be bright, clean, ventilated and a place I will be happy in while maintaining the tank. It is none of those things now.
Because I was unable to envision this when we built the house, we needed to reinforce the floor underneath now that we’ve decided to put a big tank in place. We sistered the joists and added extra ones to the specifications provided by a structural engineer. Fortunately, we were able to dovetail this into a basement remodel project that we were doing anyway. We had the contractor run plumbing from the wall behind the future tank to the basement. This work is complete.
Additionally, while Mark has been having fun with selecting sumps and skimmers and the like, he’s left me to remodel the basement fishroom. Two dedicated circuits have been added, existing wiring has been rationalized and reconfigured, and all manner of network and speaker wires have been rerouted. It is almost done. I cannot imagine explaining what was needed to a contractor had I wanted to outsource this. The wall was a total mess. In the weeks ahead, my water heater will be moved, drywall will be hung, paint will be applied, and g floor plastic flooring will be laid. That should make a nice and cozy fishroom. Just in time for equipment arrival.
The system will have a large refugium, frag tank, Royal Exclusiv skimmer, sump with UV, and if it works out, a Sea Visions roller filter. My goal is to minimize maintenance while providing an optimal environment to the inhabitants.
Looking for any pro tips on fishroom configuration. The brs videos have been helpful. Still looking for things that will make life better once it’s installed.
Next up is finishing the wall and installing flooring!
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