Fish room build log
I set up my first system about 4 months ago and immediately fell in love with the hobby. For me it’s perfect blend of natures natural beauty and Functional technology all while trying to accomplish the goal of creating and maintaining a perfect slice of the ocean in a place that is so, so far from it.
(First tank, picture at 4 months)
I started out by building mixing station. Originally purchased 2 55 gallons totes that were previously used for storing fruits. You can find them around the cities for $20-30/piece.
(Set up a simple RODI filter)
Siphoning the RO into the salt container got old fast. Purchased a couple ac pumps and used tubing for the first couple months then decided to plumb up a proper mixing station.
(Initial dry fit for mixing station)
$100 in plumbing and a cheap DC pump off amazon and were up and running. Also ended up setting up an Apex and plumbed up a DOS through the floor for auto water changes. This was a game changer no more hauling buckets up and down the stairs.
(Added DOS and a float valve for RODI)
After hours of YouTube and forum research I came to the conclusion that I was going to need more than one tank to have all the different fish coral and inverts I’m interested in caring for. Found a good deal on some old marine land 75 gallon tanks.
(A bit rough but $100 for all 3)
I have used my basement for so many different things (bar, racing sim, arcade, etc) but this seemed like the perfect excuse to make it into something special.
(Getting an idea on the layout one of the tanks cracked on transport but only needed 2)
I wanted to take a little inspiration from how LFS’s keep multiple systems in one sump. Larger water volume is easier to maintain (within reason) and only having to test and dose once for 2 unique systems was appealing.
(Picked up a frag tank for $40 on fbm and mocked up a couple stands)
The plan is to drill the left tank like a peninsula and the right tank as a standard center overflow. This would give two different ecosystems but still one and the same. I was having trouble finding a suitable sump option because I wanted to have bean animal style overflow boxes on both tanks meaning I would have 6 drain lines and 4 return lines and a pretty large sump.
(Starting to come together got a free UV sterilizer with the last tank I got)
Found what looked to be the perfect solution for a sump. Reef co about 15 minutes north was selling a 40 gallon Fiji cube that has 4 drain inlets and enough room for a large refugium and two return pumps. $200. Score!
(Don’t mind the short term quarantine tank)
Got the sump cleaned up a had some dry live rock laying around from the first tank I bought will still have to bleach it but wanted to get some motivation for the vision.
(Was a littler bigger than I thought but it fits nicely!)
Ended up stumbling on a good deal for a large skimmer on fbm for that I cleaned up and put in the sump
(Found these for $1.23/sf at Home Depot)
I was very tired of looking at these tiles but due to the material they are made of it would be costly and expensive to remove. In comes carpet tiles! Peel and stick they are super easy to install we’ll see how long they last.
(This was all already laying around the house so this was more of a fun side project than anything)
I was on a bit of a pause with the large system as in needed to get lighting for 8 feet worth of glass. Got three 15 gallon rimless tanks for $10 each from reef co and decided it would be fun to do the same concept at a smaller scale I already have a couple pumps and a spare skimmer.
(The deal of a lifetime)
I’m trying to keep the budget of this system as low as possible and lighting was the part I was the most nervous about because I wanted be able to support all coral lighting needs. I found a guy up in Duluth that gave me a really good deal on 5 Ai hydra 52’s. I think 4 of them will do nicely.
(how it sits now there will be more support added to the stand legs)
There is still so much left to complete both systems. But I’m hoping to have them wet within the next few months. I’ll post the next update when I have some more progress to share. Feedback and ideas welcome! I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m sure there are things haven’t considered.
-Jack
I set up my first system about 4 months ago and immediately fell in love with the hobby. For me it’s perfect blend of natures natural beauty and Functional technology all while trying to accomplish the goal of creating and maintaining a perfect slice of the ocean in a place that is so, so far from it.
(First tank, picture at 4 months)
I started out by building mixing station. Originally purchased 2 55 gallons totes that were previously used for storing fruits. You can find them around the cities for $20-30/piece.
(Set up a simple RODI filter)
Siphoning the RO into the salt container got old fast. Purchased a couple ac pumps and used tubing for the first couple months then decided to plumb up a proper mixing station.
(Initial dry fit for mixing station)
$100 in plumbing and a cheap DC pump off amazon and were up and running. Also ended up setting up an Apex and plumbed up a DOS through the floor for auto water changes. This was a game changer no more hauling buckets up and down the stairs.
(Added DOS and a float valve for RODI)
After hours of YouTube and forum research I came to the conclusion that I was going to need more than one tank to have all the different fish coral and inverts I’m interested in caring for. Found a good deal on some old marine land 75 gallon tanks.
(A bit rough but $100 for all 3)
I have used my basement for so many different things (bar, racing sim, arcade, etc) but this seemed like the perfect excuse to make it into something special.
(Getting an idea on the layout one of the tanks cracked on transport but only needed 2)
I wanted to take a little inspiration from how LFS’s keep multiple systems in one sump. Larger water volume is easier to maintain (within reason) and only having to test and dose once for 2 unique systems was appealing.
(Picked up a frag tank for $40 on fbm and mocked up a couple stands)
The plan is to drill the left tank like a peninsula and the right tank as a standard center overflow. This would give two different ecosystems but still one and the same. I was having trouble finding a suitable sump option because I wanted to have bean animal style overflow boxes on both tanks meaning I would have 6 drain lines and 4 return lines and a pretty large sump.
(Starting to come together got a free UV sterilizer with the last tank I got)
Found what looked to be the perfect solution for a sump. Reef co about 15 minutes north was selling a 40 gallon Fiji cube that has 4 drain inlets and enough room for a large refugium and two return pumps. $200. Score!
(Don’t mind the short term quarantine tank)
Got the sump cleaned up a had some dry live rock laying around from the first tank I bought will still have to bleach it but wanted to get some motivation for the vision.
(Was a littler bigger than I thought but it fits nicely!)
Ended up stumbling on a good deal for a large skimmer on fbm for that I cleaned up and put in the sump
(Found these for $1.23/sf at Home Depot)
I was very tired of looking at these tiles but due to the material they are made of it would be costly and expensive to remove. In comes carpet tiles! Peel and stick they are super easy to install we’ll see how long they last.
(This was all already laying around the house so this was more of a fun side project than anything)
I was on a bit of a pause with the large system as in needed to get lighting for 8 feet worth of glass. Got three 15 gallon rimless tanks for $10 each from reef co and decided it would be fun to do the same concept at a smaller scale I already have a couple pumps and a spare skimmer.
(The deal of a lifetime)
I’m trying to keep the budget of this system as low as possible and lighting was the part I was the most nervous about because I wanted be able to support all coral lighting needs. I found a guy up in Duluth that gave me a really good deal on 5 Ai hydra 52’s. I think 4 of them will do nicely.
(how it sits now there will be more support added to the stand legs)
There is still so much left to complete both systems. But I’m hoping to have them wet within the next few months. I’ll post the next update when I have some more progress to share. Feedback and ideas welcome! I’ve never done anything like this before so I’m sure there are things haven’t considered.
-Jack
. Once you start testing 3/4 sets of water chemistry, you might instead be happy to have only a couple systems going. 
Amazing progress Jack! 