Breeding Facility in Tennessee

First topic message reminder :

I have started an improved breeding facility because my fishroom isn't big enough. I decided since the aquarium trade is down at least 40%, why not throw a bunch of money and time into it and see what happens.

All I have done to this point is the floors, which have already been a headache. I tried to acid stain and seal, but I couldn't get the cr@p up good enough for it to look good. So I got a colored sealer the same color and went over it again.

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I am going to have 14 racks of tanks with each rack holding 4 30g breeders, 2 125g, and a 55g reservoir tank on top. One row of tanks will be dedicated to Wild Tanganyikan breeders, and I will have a buffer doser to drip a brine solution into the reservoir tank. I will only buffer all other tanks with crushed coral or something similar.

My room now is on a central system, which has in the past been cross contaminated. To avoid this, this new set up will be an auto water change system, getting a daily change on a drip. The reservoir will gravity feed to the tanks below and that water will drain out to outside ponds. All tanks will have individual lines coming down so tank water won't mix.

I plan on heating the entire room, and I am spending a bit extra in insulation which I hope will pay off in the long run. I am planning on mostly africans, but I might work in a row of new world, angels or discus.

I know the fish biz is hard, and because of the economy in decline. At the same time there are more wholesalers than ever online which makes it even tougher. I plan to focus on the southeastern part of the country, especially where I can get next day ground, and hopefully at least recoup the setup cost and such.

So anyway, you guys will get a first hand look at something starting and doing well, or you will see me go all in on a pair of deuces. Either way, hopefully it will be entertaining.

I will keep a photo journal of progress.

wow. hello bigtime.

holy moley

very nice!

WOW wish I had that much room! Great job. Can't wait till it's done.

Dude!! That looks awsome!! Wish I could do that just for what I want to keep! Never enough tanks or space for the varieties I want.

I may have to build myself out of a work shop!!

looking good

Nice!!! Looks like about 90 tanks. Can't wait to see more. keep the pics coming!

Very nice! I wish I had room to play with that many tanks!
Are you going to leave the tanks painted or scrape the paint off? Personally I HATE painted tanks, but that's just me.

I am scrapping the blue off keeping the black, black. The ones I scrape I will tint black or repaint black. I am not a huge fan of paint, but I like it better than the fake back grounds. I can't afford anything else. So They will all be black, with black stands and a dark room. Hopefully that will make the colors of the fish pop.

Unless you are backing the tank rows up to each other I would leave them unpainted. Its nice to be able to look in the back of a tank IMO.

Garage setups are the best, can spill water and nobody cares. You are going to be able to produce a lot of fish in there. Nicely built stand for 8 tanks but how are you going to clean them and catch fish with 2" clearance above the tanks? Be careful with the treated wood, arsenic is used to do that and it won't mix well with fish. I paint all my tanks blue on 3 sides and bottom, just makes for a cleaner look, I use a cheap latex and brush it on.

The tanks in the pic are 40g breeders and I will be using 30g breeders. I plan on using the same type paint you use just in black.

Do you think painting the stands will help seal off the treated wood? I don't see that being an issue unless I have one leaking from the top, soaking in the wood and absorbing chemicals, and then dripping straight into a tank below.

I always use pine and stain and finish them so they are sealed from the water. Paint should help seal them too. As long as there is nothing dripping into a tank you should be good, it was just an FYI. Also, the lumber is far stronger standing on the thin edge instead of laying down on the wide egde. You may get some bowing in the middle the way it appears in the picture over time. If you don't have about 8" of clearance above the tanks you will do a lot of cussing when cleaning and catching fish.

fantastic job; just like the way I'd like to see it set up. best of luck

Thanks for the input Bristlenosedude, I am taking all advice I can get because I only want to do this once. I have the clearance issue on a couple tanks at my house now and you are right, I say a lot of words I shouldn't.

After you build the stands hit them with 2 coats of urethan and they will last a very very long time and be fully sealed. When building your stands screw and glue!! Waterproof wood glue will be your friend! Get the yellowish kind, that has some wood fiber in it that makes it stronger. If you urethane after you build you can seal in your screws so you don't have to get stainless.

W.O.W.!

***Update***

I have been working 10 hours a day with my job, and putting in 3-5 hours a night and weekends on the room. So I have been laying low on the couple forums I normally chat on.

But anyway here is some pics of the progress.

32 tanks have goldfish for cycling and 42 more will have fish in them by tomorrow.

I have 50 more tanks on the way and then won't add any more until spring. I think I will have room for about 40 more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkBRm0CA9K0

wow that is amazing

I'm green with envy!!! That is a very very sweet fish room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I built my racks out of pine 2x4s and 1/4" plywood. I then primed and painted them and they have held up real well. Watch using treated wood because it could leach chemicals in to the bottom row of tanks if you spill water or have a leak. (I would send pics but I havn't figured that one out yet.) My racks are 9.5' long and hold 6 30 gal breeders on the top and 6 40 gallon breeders on the bottom. I have 2 racks like this bolted together for a 19' rack.

Try Turbo Frits for freshwater to cycle your tanks. I have used it for years with great success. A 4oz. bottle will treat 150 gallons and is great in emergency situations. www.fritzpet.com/turbo-start-700

Thanks for the info, I did goof up and use treated wood, I will only have 3 racks of them now. If we can find more steel racks in time we will use them instead.

I have been fighting drips and leaks for the past couple weeks. A couple tubes of silicone later, I think it might be under control.

I have some commercial grade pallet racks for sale, 8-9' long and 4' deep, they will have to be trimmed on height though. Its what I have my 240g on.

Treated wood imho is going to be a mistake as its full of moisture. As it drys it will warp and twist. For glue use titebond 2, one of the best glues for outdoor use made, used where there moisture/humidity. Sealing the treated lumber won't help btw. Also as most know unless you have a planer your going to have imperfections in your 2x4's. Cut to fit sheets of the blue insulation board to put under the tank, will not only help to level it out but also will help a little with insulating the tank. Are you going to use a dehumidifier? Would take a big one for that size of room. Otherwise looks great, good luck in your endeavor.