How to Build a Fish Room
If you only have one or two aquariums in your home, you probably have plenty of space to display them. But, if you plan to breed your fish, building a dedicated fish room in your home or garage can be a smart move. A fish room also comes in handy when you need to quarantine new fish before adding them to your existing aquarium, or when you need to set up a hospital tank to treat common aquarium illnesses. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Purchase wooden, metal or aluminum shelving units for your fish room or build your own. The shelves should be high enough to accommodate the largest tank you anticipate setting up in the room. Aluminum is an excellent choice for fish room shelving, since it is both lightweight and durable. If you choose to build or buy wood shelving units you will need to apply a waterproof stain or varnish to prevent long-term damage.
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Place your shelving units far enough away from the wall so that you can easily work behind them. You will need to get behind the tanks to set up filters, troubleshoot problems and adjust the lights. You do not want to feel squeezed or take a chance of toppling over a tank while you work.
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Plug in as many power strips or surge protectors as you anticipate needing for the tanks in your fish room. Each tank will need an electrical outlet for the filter, heater and pump. You also need a separate plug for the tank lighting hood, unless you plan to use overhead fluorescent bulbs instead.
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Set up the tanks in your fish room. Leave at least six inches between the tanks to make it eaiser to work with each one. Use a minimum of decoration and accessories in your fish room tanks. A layer of gravel, a quality pump, a heater and a filter should be all you need.
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Fill the tanks with water before you turn on the filter, pump or heater. Test the water for chlorine, chloramine, nitrates and other contaminants before adding fish.
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References
Resources
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