For Real This Time, It's the Last Tank... I Promise! (Hidden Fish Room)

[dustinc]

Hey Reefing Family!

I'm Dustin and I live just south of Dallas in Waxahachie, TX! I have a wonderful family and work in real estate. I've been in the reefing hobby for almost 20 years and had more tanks than years I've been in the hobby quite honestly. My LFS where I get all my fish has a "Crosby Section" because he has 3 different tanks of mine as displays there. So, you can imagine the title, because it's something I've told my wife on countless occasions. I just broke down my 150 gallon reef tank in our living room to build out this new system. So, on to the build information....

Tank - 72" x 36" x 30" - Tsunami Acrylic Tank w/ Synergy External Overflow
Stand - Alufab Aluminum Extrusion Stand in 15 Series
Lighting - Coming Soon...

We have an extremely large master bedroom at our house and we've constantly made changes to try and make it feel less... large. So we broke down our built in closet systems we added and moved them to our walk-in closet and that began the idea of how to better utilize this space...


A large reef tank with a hidden fish room!

So, on to the planning stages. Below are a few pictures of the room as it sits today. I was able to build the primary structure that everything else is built around, which is a Murphy door bookcase utilizing Ikea Billy Bookcases. My first crack at it I couldn't open because I didn't make the opening wide enough for the door swing, but now we are rolling! The tank and stand are officially designed and ordered (more on that down the road), so let's take a look at what we're working with!

I have a section in our bedroom that is a little over 12 feet wide and 5 feet front to back (to bring the other wall even) that I'll be utilizing for the tank and hidden fish room. I'm so excited for where this is going and can't wait to see it come to life over the coming weeks, months, and years. Below are a couple quick photos from today of the room as it sits right now. Cabinetry will go to the ceiling and will also all be trimmed out to be built in and painted/finished for that custom look. Let's roll!

 

[Lavey29]

Looking forward to your progress

 

[Jimbo327]

Pretty awesome to have a secret door to your fish room. Having too much space in my house is not a problem I have...LOL.

Just a word of advice, if you are going to enclose that small space with the tank, I would highly recommend you add some type of exhaust with humidity control. Or maybe just leave the top open, then the moisture will just escape into the master and the A/C will be able to pull out the moisture.

 

[dustinc]

Pretty awesome to have a secret door to your fish room. Having too much space in my house is not a problem I have...LOL.

Just a word of advice, if you are going to enclose that small space with the tank, I would highly recommend you add some type of exhaust with humidity control. Or maybe just leave the top open, then the moisture will just escape into the master and the A/C will be able to pull out the moisture.

Yessir, my plan at this point is to install 2-3 vents at the top to allow air to pass between both areas. Also, there is 1 of the 2 ac return vents that splits that area perfectly. I’ll definitely do something to split that as well so there is plenty of circulation. Appreciate the thoughts!

 

[Bruttall]

If I may add a little here. Fresh Air port. I have a pretty nice fishroom in my basement behind my tank, and I recently knocked out a casement window, replaced it with wood and ported it for fresh air into the room, and a line for the venturi inputs on my skimmer so it draws air from outside instead of recirculated air in my house. I have too many people and animals under one roof.

Might also think about a sink back there if possible.

I'm looking forward to seeing this progress. I love that door.

 

[dustinc]

If I may add a little here. Fresh Air port. I have a pretty nice fishroom in my basement behind my tank, and I recently knocked out a casement window, replaced it with wood and ported it for fresh air into the room, and a line for the venturi inputs on my skimmer so it draws air from outside instead of recirculated air in my house. I have too many people and animals under one roof.

Might also think about a sink back there if possible.

I'm looking forward to seeing this progress. I love that door.

Thanks for the feedback. I will absolutely have some ventilation between the fish room and bedroom. I will also possibly add a small room HVAC unit in the fish room and vent it to the attic if I feel it's getting a bit more stuffy to ensure there is plenty of circulation in that area.

A sink is unfortunately not going to happen. We are on a slab and would require very extensive plumbing and concrete demolition, wife would scrap the whole thing.... ha ha.

Thanks for following along!

 

[dustinc]

***Update Time***

Yesterday I received the custom stand I ordered from AluFab, and let me tell you, this thing is an absolute beast! Very impressed with the stand overall and how it was very simple to put together per their instructions and labeling. I have 8 angle braces as well that I'll add, the screws were unfortunately missed in the packaging, but AluFab shipped today when I noticed. This is all made from 15 series aluminum (1.5" diameter). The top rails are 1.5 x 3" and the remaining is all 1.5". Very sturdy and have no concerns about it handling the load and being durable. I also have a 3/4" white PVC top and 3/8" white PVC bottom coming as well, just will be another week or so. Would highly recommend anyone looking for a stand to reach out to Michael over there and do it!

On our next update we will talk about lighting...


Packaging (This thing was HEAVY!!!)

Parts Laid Out

Completed Stand (less the top and base top)

 

[lbacha]

Alufab makes a great stand my new 300 is one of their stands and Michael was great to work with. Can’t wait to see this progress.

 

[Dburr1014]

Wow, this should be good!

 

[dustinc]

Alufab makes a great stand my new 300 is one of their stands and Michael was great to work with. Can’t wait to see this progress.

I’m very impressed with it. Exactly what I was looking for and they were very easy to work with. Can’t wait to get the top and bottom to finish it off! Thanks for following along!

Wow, this should be good!

I definitely hope you’re right and absolutely looking forward to sharing the progress. Thanks for following along!