I
wanted to expand my fish room (to let me see the fish and to have
both cold and warmer water species of killies), so I took over the
integral single car garage and built a real one outside. Was not
big enough for a car anyway. I had three objectives: (1) cold water
room, (2) Front view and eye level – so as not to have to
lie on the floor), and (3) ease of maintenance. To allow temperature
control, I insulated the room on the outside wall with blue board
Styrofoam, and installed a thick insulated garage door. I installed
an 8 k BTU/hr air conditioner in the cellar window. Since I did
not have enough warm water space, I installed heaters in a few tanks
to allow me to move warmer water killies into a “viewable”
setting. My stand design was to provide (a) face view, (b) viewable
height, and (3) accessibility for egg picking and cleaning.
Ross Cronkhite had a stand design that fit the bill, except his
was 3 tanks high (Me bein’ a bit shorter than him, I went
for a 2 tank high version, and put a shelf low to house egg boxes.
I took a nasty fall onto my side in the other room while reaching
an upper tank standing on a real stable stepping stool (ok, so it
was an old slide projector with the adjustment leg up--OSHA never
saw it and I’d deny it)
Lighting in the new room is provided only by room lights, ceiling
fluorescents, and the standard for killikeepers, a good flashlight
or two.
For ease of maintenance, I plumbed in RO water from the primary
fish room via1/2 inch PVC. I provided 3 ceiling drops with plastic
valves and quick disconnects for water changes, but since the main
supply is in the warm water room, I will be filling a 32 gallon
Rubbermaid garbage can which will house a pond pump to return the
water to the plumbing for distribution once it has cooled to the
temperature of the new room. Just some re-valving and another pump-no
big deal. Air is supplied via 1.25 inch PVC from my 1/3 hp blower.
Costs too much to run, but wow, plenty of air and pressure!
A 9 ft plastic hose is attached to the appropriate quick disconnect
for filling any tank in the room. Emptying is done into 1 inch PVC
which goes out the basement wall to my downspout piping (prevents
overwork of my lousy septic tank drainage field).
The room is maintained at 68 degrees within a degree or two. For
slightly warmer or cooler water, I just select an elevation or modify
tank covers. Finally, my ogoense are laying well, the Diaptrons
seem happy enough and the warm water fish can remove their sweaters
and start to work!
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