Basement Fish Room

uny2bld · 10/11/2011, 03:51 PM

Could anyone advise us (my fish partner and I) on our setup?

We currently cleared out the entire basement and have applied the first coat of floor paint. We will reseal the walls with dry lock and then we need to insulate (I was thinking Foam Board)??

I am mainly concerned about ventilation. I live in upstae NY (Hudson Falls) and its really humid for 3 out of the 4 seasons. I planned on some ventilation but there isn't much access and the room is pretty large. My main worry is that if we pump the air out of the fish room just to pull air from the outside in and it's high humdity taht it would be counter-productive... Am I missing something>?

I thought of using a dehumidifier but I read that they can raise the rooms temperature. Since we need the temp to be as low as possible (so we don't have to invest in a chiller) this probably won't be an option. Also, we will have close to 300 tanks when we are done so we'll already have lot's of radiant heat from the existing equipment...

Any thoughts?

Palting · 10/11/2011, 04:50 PM

I was going to help with an opinion since I have my tank in the basement, until I read "300 tanks". 300 tanks!! In a basement!! I think you'll need an expert, like an architect or an engineer, bud. Good luck in your venture!

chilwil84 · 10/11/2011, 05:49 PM

if you are able to use your house ac system and acess the return line so that it returns some or more air from the baasement it will reduce the humidity in the basement. you may want to have someone make the calculations to how much your unit is supposed to process to make sure you get even return throughout your house. more often than not systems are under returned so the system is making up by sucking air through the seams in the ducts.

Toddrtrex · 10/11/2011, 06:00 PM

I really hope that you meant 300 gallons and not 300 tanks. If it is truly 300 tanks, there is no way a normal dehumidifier would be able to keep up. Not sure if they sell commercial grade ones or not, but would think something like that, or a decated A/C unit -- wouldn't want it tied into the main house one.

Think that you are going to have some serious mold issues with that many tanks. You might want to post in the "large tank forum" those guys are better versed with dealing with that much humidity.

jimmy frag · 10/11/2011, 06:01 PM

i would NOT sheeth the walls as concrete will not hold mold and all elce will. dont worry about heat in the winter as your equipment will keep things warm. summer might need a portable AC unit down there, maybe, depends on house temp. a fan at a window will work well with another window open a crack for humidity. im in southern ontario and have the same climate as you.

jimmy frag · 10/11/2011, 06:05 PM

keep in mind that you will most likly be running two RODI units non stop and the new water will help cool the tanks. i run all ro lines submerged through the sumps to help cool

tcbarr · 10/11/2011, 06:35 PM

i use a dehumidifier in a confined space (a large dehumidifier too) and I have no problems with heat or humidity. thats my suggestion

tcbarr · 10/11/2011, 06:37 PM

300 tanks z0mg!

10/11/2011, 03:51 PM	#1
uny2bld Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hudson Falls, NY Posts: 219	Basement Fish Room Could anyone advise us (my fish partner and I) on our setup? We currently cleared out the entire basement and have applied the first coat of floor paint. We will reseal the walls with dry lock and then we need to insulate (I was thinking Foam Board)?? I am mainly concerned about ventilation. I live in upstae NY (Hudson Falls) and its really humid for 3 out of the 4 seasons. I planned on some ventilation but there isn't much access and the room is pretty large. My main worry is that if we pump the air out of the fish room just to pull air from the outside in and it's high humdity taht it would be counter-productive... Am I missing something>? I thought of using a dehumidifier but I read that they can raise the rooms temperature. Since we need the temp to be as low as possible (so we don't have to invest in a chiller) this probably won't be an option. Also, we will have close to 300 tanks when we are done so we'll already have lot's of radiant heat from the existing equipment... Any thoughts?

10/11/2011, 04:50 PM	#2
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I was going to help with an opinion since I have my tank in the basement, until I read "300 tanks". 300 tanks!! In a basement!! I think you'll need an expert, like an architect or an engineer, bud. Good luck in your venture! __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/11/2011, 06:00 PM	#4
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I really hope that you meant 300 gallons and not 300 tanks. If it is truly 300 tanks, there is no way a normal dehumidifier would be able to keep up. Not sure if they sell commercial grade ones or not, but would think something like that, or a decated A/C unit -- wouldn't want it tied into the main house one. Think that you are going to have some serious mold issues with that many tanks. You might want to post in the "large tank forum" those guys are better versed with dealing with that much humidity. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Building my Fish Room- (will need lots of help/advice)	T-dub	Large Reef Tanks	28	11/16/2011 08:58 PM
Why should I convert my closet to a fish room?	Pprice01	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	02/27/2011 12:58 PM
My new project: 120 Gallon reef with basement fish room!	gregt	Reef Discussion	999	04/17/2007 10:06 AM
Looking for pump to go in basement fish room	hkochusp45	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	0	04/02/2007 05:05 PM
Basement fish rooms and humidity	Hal	Reef Discussion	1	10/08/2006 10:36 AM

10/11/2011, 05:49 PM	#3
chilwil84 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: down the shore Posts: 780	if you are able to use your house ac system and acess the return line so that it returns some or more air from the baasement it will reduce the humidity in the basement. you may want to have someone make the calculations to how much your unit is supposed to process to make sure you get even return throughout your house. more often than not systems are under returned so the system is making up by sucking air through the seams in the ducts.

10/11/2011, 06:01 PM	#5
jimmy frag Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: burlington ontario Posts: 845	i would NOT sheeth the walls as concrete will not hold mold and all elce will. dont worry about heat in the winter as your equipment will keep things warm. summer might need a portable AC unit down there, maybe, depends on house temp. a fan at a window will work well with another window open a crack for humidity. im in southern ontario and have the same climate as you.

10/11/2011, 06:05 PM	#6
jimmy frag Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: burlington ontario Posts: 845	keep in mind that you will most likly be running two RODI units non stop and the new water will help cool the tanks. i run all ro lines submerged through the sumps to help cool

10/11/2011, 06:35 PM	#7
tcbarr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: bloomington IN Posts: 36	i use a dehumidifier in a confined space (a large dehumidifier too) and I have no problems with heat or humidity. thats my suggestion

10/11/2011, 06:37 PM	#8
tcbarr Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: bloomington IN Posts: 36	300 tanks z0mg!