Evolution From Greenhouse to Fish Room

[discusfire4]

Here's the one of the early pictures of converting a greenhouse to my fish room. This 12 x 24 green house was built in 1974. Originally it had coragated panels and a gravel floor. Before this picture, I removed about one foot of gravel and good topsoil out around the footings. I'm going to pour a slab and have one floor drain several drains for the tanks. Right now, I am building new trusses for the roof. The "old" roof had a 3 on 12 pitch. The new roof is going to have a 12 on 12 pitch to match the roof on the main house. More photos to come.....

[discusfire4]

outside photo

[discusfire4]

inside with drain

[Timbo]

wow that looks like a great project! are you doing the work yourself?

[Jarrod]

That's gonna be a sweet setup!!...especially if you add running water to it.. nice!! :)

[Chrisb]

Good luck. Looks like it will be a great fish room.

Chris

[discusfire4]

wow that looks like a great project! are you doing the work yourself?


I'm doing everything myself, except mixing the concrete. I'm leaving the western side wall exposed so the concrete truck can back down my driveway and drop his chute straight inbetween the studs.

It already has water, Only one line though. I can mix the hot and cold to make it the temp I want from the main house.

I do have to run a new power source to it. The existing power source was used to run a few fans and lights. I'm going to need a beefier wire to run my pumps, air exchanger, heaters etc.

[jim_shedden]

That looks like a great project..........please keep us informed as you go along.
Thanks
jim

[discusfire4]

Got rained out today. I'll be sure and take photos as I go!

[discusfire4]

Off with the old, on with the new. After having bad weather whe nI was off and beautiful weather while at work, I finally removed the old trusses and got the first new one up.

[RichieE]

Heres an Idea you may or may not have thought of and this is the time to do it.....Put your water storage bins up in the "attic" and support them well. This is a good idea for several reasons. First you have the option of setting up a drip system now or in the future. Second gravity will fill your tanks for water changes, no need for pumps. The best reason for doing this is more room for tanks or a bigger workbench. Cleaning the tanks may be an issue so you will need a way to get them out. Rich

[CAGE-RATTLER]

With that much pitch on the roof ...... im sure he has plans for something up there .... lol.

Heck ....... he could even have the greenhouse plants up there ............ should have plenty of humidity from the tanks!

[discusfire4]

Heres an Idea you may or may not have thought of and this is the time to do it.....Put your water storage bins up in the "attic" and support them well. This is a good idea for several reasons. First you have the option of setting up a drip system now or in the future. Second gravity will fill your tanks for water changes, no need for pumps. The best reason for doing this is more room for tanks or a bigger workbench. Cleaning the tanks may be an issue so you will need a way to get them out. Rich


I am putting two closet tanks in (450 gallons each), but after seeing how much ceiling height I will have, it does cross my mind about putting something up there. I'm going to put several outside on the rear of the building to store the bulk of my water. Then in the winter, use the ones inside, now in the "loft".

[discusfire4]

Here are some more pictures.....

[discusfire4]

.

[discusfire4]

last one for now. More tomorrow....

[discusfire4]

I poured the pad for the generator. I bought a 15Kw standby generator fueled by natural gas. My home and fish house will tied into the generator

[Chrisb]

Looking good can't wait to see it when it's finish. Good thinking about the generator. Keep us posted.

Chris

[discusfire4]

One of the Home Depots around here was getting several of these in from around the southeast. They were closing out several models and I was going to get a 12Kw, but after talking to a few of my friends who had them they told be to go ahead and bump up to a 15Kw. I'll run the fish house and some of my home.

[Gold Mt Discus]

Ed,
Looks Great!!!!
Keep posting photos as you go. This is nice seeing it in the beginning and can't wait to see the finish.
Just take your time and always think ahead about plumbing and electrical needs, both inside and outside the hatchery. Its a pain trying to add major stuff later.
Best advice I can give you is do not have your feet in water when your hand is on a hot wire. Its only been recently that I have been able to comb my hair back down on my head!!! hahahahaha
Respectfully,

[discusfire4]

I already have curly hair, so I think I'm in good shape. LOL

[discusfire4]

Here are a few pictures from the past week or two.

[discusfire4]

This is as of yesterday. I am going to put felt on the other side this morning and hopefully start putting shingles on this afternoon or Monday.

[discusfire4]

this bad boy purrs like a kitten. I had it hooked up during the week.

[marilyn1998]

I am in so much awe of those folks that can do things like this!!! I cant stand on a chair, or take the switchplate off the wall without getting shocked. :D
Keep up the good work and many more pics please!!!!

[1977]

Awesome project. The things we do for these fish huh!

[discusfire4]

I got these up today to tie me over until the remaining 33 bundles are delivered tomorrow morning.

[discusfire4]

Half way finished with the shingles!!!

[CAGE-RATTLER]

Lookin Good!!

[discusfire4]

thanks! A nail gun makes things go so much faster.

[chago09]

when your done you can come up to Windsor and start making mine LOL good job

[discusfire4]

I wish I was in the business to build fish houses. Its been fun so far.

[discusfire4]

The roof is complete. I nailed down the last of the hip and ridge shingle yesterday morning. On to the concrete now!

[Jarrod]

It's gonna be totally awesome!! I envy you being able to do that!

[GulfCoastDiscus]

Sky lights would have cut the cost in lighting the tanks during the day.;)

[unfamous]

wow that looks like it is coming along great!
how many tanks u plannin on keepin in there?

[discusfire4]

Sky lights would have cut the cost in lighting the tanks during the day.;)


I thought about that, and still may install some. It wouldn't be a problem at all putting some in. If I were to put some in, they would be the ventilating ones instead of the fixed. That way I can open them up to let some of the heat out during the summer.

[discusfire4]

Here is what the north side will look like. I have a few more pieces of trim to put up, but you can get an idea of what it will look like.

[discusfire4]

The south side. I plan on having this side as far along as the north side but sundown Monday.

[discusfire4]

wow that looks like it is coming along great!
how many tanks u plannin on keepin in there?


I have 10 tanks that are part of a rack system i purchased from a pet shop that went out of business. I think they may be about 75 gallons each, some are divided into halves and thirds. Then I have several 75's, 55's, 125's, 65's, and a few 30's. To tell you the truth, I really do not know how many i will put in the fish house. I have to sit down on night and draw it outalong with the water changing system.

[CAGE-RATTLER]

Thats looking awesome!!

Love the wood shingles ........ really sets it off.

[discusfire4]

thanks. Those are actually a composite shingle. They look just like the cedar shingle. but the are a h%ll of a lot easier to install.

[discusfire4]

Update: I ran #6 3- wire to the fishhouse this past week. I ran it in 1 1/2 conduit along with phone, cat-5 cables and a pair of stereo wires from the house. I backfilled the trenches today. Tomorrow, the concrete will finally arrive and by this time tomorrow I should have a floor to walk on.

[discusfire4]

The floor has been poured!!!!

[sleonard]

Time for more pix :) I wanna see it.

[yeomans]

Wow, is all I can say. I'd love to eventually build something like that except the heating costs in winter would be through the roof where I live.It looks like it would be a fun project to get something that big going. Best of luck with the construction, looking forward to seeing some photos once you move the fish in. josh

[discusfire4]

Photos coming tomorrow.

[White Worm]

You could add a couple of whirly birds on the roof to pull excess heat and moisture out and then cover during the cold months.

[discusfire4]

You could add a couple of whirly birds on the roof to pull excess heat and moisture out and then cover during the cold months.


I'm putting in an air exchanger and it'll have A/C as well.

[discusfire4]

Here's a picture of the floor.

[tony1313]

The floor looks great, even has drains built in. Nice job!

Tony

[discusfire4]

Thanks. One floor drain, 3, 3" drains and one 2" drain all tie into a 4" drain that goes out to a 6" drain line.

[jim_shedden]

outstanding.............thanks

jim

[Kenny's Discus]

wow that sure is one ambitious project...looks real good too!

Kenny

[piranhamac]

looking forward to seeing more photos

:balloon: TOP JOB MATE :balloon:

[SSteino86]

more photos!

[discusfire4]

I'm pulling wire and insulating right now. Nothing really to take pictures of not unless you like to look at insulation and plugs.

its been slow over the past week. I received 2nd and 3rd degree burns on the back side of my leg from an apartment fire I was working when the ceiling collapsed on us over the Memorial Day weekend. Things should start to pick back up in the next day or so. I'll try to take some more pictures tomorrow.

[pcsb23]

hope you're alright now.

[Elite Aquaria]

What is the status of your project???

Looks great so far.

Dan

[Darren's Discus]

How's your fishroom going ?


cheers

[discusfire4]

Sorry I have not posted any pictures and I really regret not doing so. I it so cool to look back of how it started.

Here's an update.... I'm putting the finishing touches on the water system (RO, refilling, draining) and actually have one or two tanks that are ready for fish. In factr, I have a shipment coming in tomorrow and they will be the first ones in the fish house.

After I get all of the excess pipe, tools, ladders, pkugs, excess Cat-5 cable, watch dogs, and empty "keep me going" drinks cleaned out, I'll post some pictures.

Ed

[roclement]

Man! Thanks for the update! What a project! Congrats!

Rod

[Ed13]

I've gone through this thread quite a few times. I was wondering if we would ever get an update from this incredible project. I'll be patient waiting for pics, but I can't promise that for long;) j/k
Good luck!