New rack thoughts and ideas.

[blainep]

In order to accommodate fish room growth and making maintenance easier, I'm considering/planning a new fish tank rack in a different area of the basement.

The move will give me easy access to water and sewer lines, allowing me to more automate water changes and create a drip system for a consistent source of fresh water.

The area is L shaped with 16 feet of foundation wall on one side and about 8 feet of usable foundation wall on the other.

I have 48 24 inch tanks available, ranging in size from 15 to 24 gallons, 8 of them not drilled. So 40 drilled tanks to work with.

The plan I am working on right now is to build 3 - 16 foot long shelves, 27 inches wide. Allowing for about 12 to 15 tanks per shelf (depending on tank width).

Each shelf would be on its own sump and pump, allowing for 3 separate water systems.
Heaters and pumps on a set of GFCI protected plugs and low profile T5 slimline lighting on timers.

The sumps would be stacked along the section of 8 foot wall, three high. The idea behind this is to make the pumps do as little lifting of the water to get as much flow as possible. ( Least amount of pump head as possible.)

Each sump will have an overflow stand pipe that will drain into the floor drain, so when the drip system is working, or during a water change, extra water will simply drain out.

With a set of ball valves and PVC pipe, I can build a manifold system to allow water changes right off the laundry tub taps, filling each system from the top down. Using valves, I will be able to make the pumps drain the sumps into the laundry tub as well.

The idea for the freshwater drip is to have one small tank on each water system that the freshwater will drip into. A heater to warm the water and a bubbler to vent off most of the chlorine. Once the tank is full of water it would drain into the sump thru a stand pipe.

A big project certainly, but attainable.

Anyone have any thoughts of improvement or potential problems ?

[CACAdmin]

Questions from a clueless guy who has never used (much less designed) a fishroom, or even a sump or drip system so feel free to tell me I know nothing about what I am talking about (probably true :yes: ).


Are you still planning on being able to remove any particular tank from the main system as you currently have the option to do, in case of illness and the need to treat one tank in the system?
Where are you planning on placing 'freshwater drip tank" in the loop for each shelf?
With regard to the stacking of the sumps "to make the pumps do as little lifting of the water to get as much flow as possible.", how much of a drop are you planning to each sump from the tank shelf?
Why are you planning on making "the pumps drain the sumps into the laundry tub as well"?With regard to the last question, wouldn't it be more practical to drain the sumps directly into the basement drain?

PS... you know it's killing me knowing you have the basement to do this with. <green with envy>. If I was in the neighborhood, I'd love to be part of helping you set it up.

[blainep]

I think it's probably a good idea to keep the valves on each tank, even for the possibility of a leaky tank.

The sumps may take a little experimenting, the hope is to have them just a few inches lower than the tank rack shelves. Just enough for gravity to do it's job.

The freshwater drip I'm not sure of yet, I originally planned to just make it the first tank on each shelf, but that will take up 3 tanks on the rack.
Depending on how many tanks actually fit on the rack, I might put them on the side with the sumps.
Theory and measurements are one thing, making it fit together can be another.

Having the pumps be able to pump out into the laundry tub is just an option if I ever need to drain the sumps out, it's just a matter of opening valves that are already there.

[CACAdmin]

Stupid question: Is there any reason to have to dedicate a tank to the freshwater drip? Could you not have it drip into the sump? (forgive me if I'm being incredibly dense.:Confused: :Embarassing: )

[blainep]

Stupid question: Is there any reason to have to dedicate a tank to the freshwater drip? Could you not have it drip into the sump? (forgive me if I'm being incredibly dense.:Confused: :Embarassing: )

It might be fine to drip directly into the sump, my thoughts were to warm up and aerate the water. The aeration should get most of any chlorine out of the water before it enters the system.

I've read that a drip system can go directly into the tanks or sumps because the amount of chlorine is minimal.
I'm just thinking that if you get the chlorine out of the water before the water goes into circulation - even better.

I don't know if it really matters, but this will also give incoming water a chance to 'age' a little. I know some believe it is better to age water than to condition it with water conditioner.

And NO, it is not a stupid question, I made this post while I am in the planning stages to try to predict and work around problems that might arise.

Keep the questions and thoughts coming !

[CACAdmin]

I've read that a drip system can go directly into the tanks or sumps because the amount of chlorine is minimal.
I'm just thinking that if you get the chlorine out of the water before the water goes into circulation - even better.

I don't know if it really matters, but this will also give incoming water a chance to 'age' a little. I know some believe it is better to age water than to condition it with water conditioner.

Definitely sounds like a good idea to age the water before it enters the tanks. :yes: Does aging water also remove chloramines?

When I get a chance, I'll discuss your plans with a local lfs shopkeeper and pick his brain (if he doesn't mind... don't want to put him on the spot, of course.)

[blainep]

Chloramines won't age out of water, you need water conditioner if your water supply has chloramines in it.

If I recall correctly, chloramines are chlorine and ammonia, that's why you need to use more conditioner with chloramine, first to break the bond of the chlorine and ammonia, then to deal with the chlorine and ammonia.

If your water has chloramines in it, you could still age the water. Instead of having fresh water constantly drip, set the tank up so you can fill it, add water conditioner then have it drain into the sump.

I've read threads from people trying to figure out a way to automatically dose water conditioner into a drip system, but sounds like a huge PITA.

[blainep]

After a few days of thinking and measuring, I think my original idea just won't work as I had hoped it would.

To much squeeze for the space. There is lots of room there, so I think I'm going to go with 3 individual racks.

No point to squeezing things together when I have lots of space to use.

So basically, 3 racks like the condo, 2 in one direction, 1 the other direction, creating an L shape.

http://www.calgarycommodore.com/tanks/11.JPG

I wanted to make some upgrades to this rack anyway, so it will fit right in.

That will cut construction costs and time a little also.

[Melody]

Perfect! I think you'll be glad you allowed more space.


To much squeeze for the space.


I have that problem when I try to put on the jeans that I wore 10 years ago.:laugh:

[CACAdmin]

That will cut construction costs and time a little also.

Good plan. Anything that you can use/re-use with or without modification from your existing fishroom will help with cost reduction.