Tom Michael
Member
- Joined
- 16 Nov 2014
- Messages
- 271
Hi all
I’m considering converting and knackered old concrete garage (approximately 5.8 x 2.8 m) into a fish room. I have already done some research so understand the importance of insulation, heating the air and minimising maintenance.
My aim is to have 15 - 30 aquariums to be stocked with a variety of small interesting/rare fish for aquascaping. I’m happy to source these far and wide and I might look to sell some to cover the running costs.
I don’t mind investing more up front, if this will pay-off long term. I will probably plumb water into the room and wire electrics. I think I will heat the room via electric heaters, although I know this isn’t cheap.
Filtration - the cheapest option seems to be a large air pump with sponge / matten filters cons being noisy and perhaps not the best looking. I will of course have live plants including floating.
Water changes- the big negative is that due to my location I have a water meter. No way around that, I am considering whether I can somehow recycle the old water in some way, such as in a greenhouse (would this be edible?). I might also collect some rainwater, however this would only be for a couple of soft water aquariums as we don’t get that much rainfall on the south coast.
Automatic water changes- this is probably the way forward, although the thought of drilling tanks isn’t the most appealing!
Lights- probably some cheap led strips- will be mostly low tech.
Thoughts /ideas most welcome?!
I’m considering converting and knackered old concrete garage (approximately 5.8 x 2.8 m) into a fish room. I have already done some research so understand the importance of insulation, heating the air and minimising maintenance.
My aim is to have 15 - 30 aquariums to be stocked with a variety of small interesting/rare fish for aquascaping. I’m happy to source these far and wide and I might look to sell some to cover the running costs.
I don’t mind investing more up front, if this will pay-off long term. I will probably plumb water into the room and wire electrics. I think I will heat the room via electric heaters, although I know this isn’t cheap.
Filtration - the cheapest option seems to be a large air pump with sponge / matten filters cons being noisy and perhaps not the best looking. I will of course have live plants including floating.
Water changes- the big negative is that due to my location I have a water meter. No way around that, I am considering whether I can somehow recycle the old water in some way, such as in a greenhouse (would this be edible?). I might also collect some rainwater, however this would only be for a couple of soft water aquariums as we don’t get that much rainfall on the south coast.
Automatic water changes- this is probably the way forward, although the thought of drilling tanks isn’t the most appealing!
Lights- probably some cheap led strips- will be mostly low tech.
Thoughts /ideas most welcome?!