Painting my future fish room...

[emartin]

Well, I'm starting to set up the fishroom at the house we're moving to. Tomorrow I am going to start painting it.

Question:
Because of the potential risk of mildew/mold from potential humidity from all the tanks set up...we were thinking of going with a paint meant for bathrooms that has anti-mold/mildew agents in it. This is perfectly safe for the fish as long as I don't get paint flakes into any of the tanks, right? The tanks aren't going to be set up in there for at least a few more weeks so there's time for the room to ventilate.

I'm not too concerned about mold/mildew from humidity in that room since there are 4 windows in there, a door that opens to the rest of the house, a sliding door with a screen that opens to the back deck (for the summer), and there are also two windows that open up to the house (the room was an add-on to the house 20+ years ago and they didn't remove the windows, so I could always crack one of those windows open and let some of the humidity vent into the rest of the house if it gets bad).

But either way, I like the idea of using that kind of paint in that room so that we don't have any problems at all.

So... Paint with anti-mildew/mold agents in it...safe for a fishroom as long as I don't let paint flakes get in contact with the fish tanks?

The paint will be Valspar brand. More information on the particular paint:
http://www.valsparpaint.com/en/find-the-right-product/interior/paint/ultra-premium-kitchen-bath.html
http://www.valsparpaint.com/export/download/product_datasheet/130299_Series_Valspar_Ultra_Premium_Kitchen_Bath_E namel.pdf

[emartin]

I'm pretty sure I'm just being paranoid but if anyone else has used anti-mold/mildew paint in a fishroom and has had problems please let me know.

[emartin]

Answered my own question:
http://www.marinebreeder.org/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=228&t=8077

[zebra7]

Hello Ed, I was going to agree with your thread. Giving time for the paint to cure, and good air flow you will be fine in a week or so to add your tank's. As for humidity, purchase yourself a good Dehumidifier, you will be fine. I purchased a large LG unit for my basement. It's worth it's weight in gold. It has a hose bib connection on the back, so I never need to empty it. I have the hose going into the ground sump, water is pumped outside. Good luck with the room !

[kaj41354]

Ed,

I have always used and had great luck with Zinsser PermaWhite.
http://rustoleum.com/zinsserhp.asp

[Buckcich]

Ed,

I have always used and had great luck with Zinsser PermaWhite.
http://rustoleum.com/zinsserhp.asp

That's what I used in a previous fishroom. Let it cure completely and ventilate, in a week you be able to start setting up your tanks. Good luck with your new fishroom. Any chance of posting progress pictures, as step by step. Thanks

[leffler817]

+1, Permawhite is good stuff. I can't remember off hand if its a primer/paint in one or not, but its a good idea to prime the wall first. Especially in a potentially high moisture area like this, it won't hurt and only double your protection from mold/mildew.

Personally, I am picky about marks on the wall and most Kitchen and Bath paint has a satin or semi-gloss sheen. The sheen will make the marks stand out. That's an easy fix, just an FYI. Good luck. :beerchug:

[emartin]

Thanks for the replies, I put 2 coats of Perma-White (satin finish) on the ceiling, and 1 coat of a green-colored paint (Valspar Kitchen+Bath Enamel (also mildew/mold proof) with Soft-Gloss finish) on all the walls. The pics I took of how it looks so far makes the green color look much bright than it really is (the paint was still wet and was reflecting lots of light, plus the camera flash made it look very bright) but it is actually much darker.

Also, in the pics (which I will put up soon) we do not have drop-cloth's covering the entire carpet. The carpet is very badly stained and too thick so we're going to rip it out tomorrow and discard it (so don't be alarmed if you see some white or green paint on it).

The room is approximately 21.5ft x 9.5ft.

[Buckcich]

Also, in the pics (which I will put up soon)

Thanks Ed. Looking forward to see the progress

[emartin]

Pics are from last night after finishing the first coating of the green paint. The paint was still wet and was reflecting a lot of light from the camera flash and the ceiling lights, it's not as bright as it looks in person.

Right now the room is finished (as far as painting goes, didn't get new pics of it yet though), just need to get the new carpeting out (we ripped it out today) and then move some tanks in eventually.

It really is NOT as bright as it looks in the pics.. In person it is much much darker, similar to the color of grass.

Windows that are connected to the house...weird isn't it? On the plus side, it will help reduce humidity in the room (I can just crack open a window to let humidity leak out into the house).
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-7-2011%20Painting/DSC01161.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-7-2011%20Painting/DSC01167.jpg

The sliding doors open out to the back deck
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-7-2011%20Painting/DSC01163.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-7-2011%20Painting/DSC01171.jpg

The room is 21.5ft x 9.5ft, and because the floorjoists underneath the plywood are directly supported by a concrete slab I can put just about as many tanks as I want in that room...:)



This pic shows what that particular color of paint looks like when dry: http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3719/what20the20paint20looks.png

[leffler817]

Looking good, can't wait to see some tank in there! :beerchug:


But you missed a spot near the outlet to the left of the slider, needs another coat. :becky:

[emartin]

Just finished the second coating today, and hopefully I'll have the new carpeting installed this week. After that, all I have to do is have the stands built and load the tanks in there. At some point in June/July we are planning on having a utility sink installed somewhere in that room to make water changes easier since the nearest sink to that room is over 100ft away.

[kaj41354]

Carpeting??? Are you that good that you don't spill water or do you know of something that wont get moldy and mildew?

[nick a]

Carpeting??? ..............+1

[emartin]

I didn't want to go with vinyl or linoleum if I didn't have to (wouldn't match the room or the rest of the house, would look VERY out of place there), and I figured I would just use thin berber loop carpet w/ a marine backing since those are designed to be used indoor or outdoor. I was even thinking of looking into having a vapor barrier put in underneath the carpeting on top of the plywood for even more protection.

Not necessarily going to get carpeting from lowes (just whoever has it cheapest and can install it fastest), but this describes the type of carpeting better: http://www.lowes.com/cd_Install+Indoor+Outdoor+Carpet_199930654_ I always intended to put Berber-Loop (what I call office/industrial carpeting) in that room if I went with carpet, and heyguy74 suggested I specifically request the indoor/outdoor versions.

Or do you all still think I should ditch that idea, even with a berber loop carpet w/ marine backing and olefin (or nylon) fibers? The only time I really spill water is when I am bagging fish, but I almost always have towels around that I can use to soak up any spills. Eventually there's going to be a sink in there though, and I am toying with the idea of buying a water storage tank to have pre-treated water just for bagging which will help further prevent spills (vs using specimen containers to scoop water from tanks) from bagging even more. So I'm not too concerned about that. Most of my tanks are less than 4 years old (some will be brand new in the fishroom (the 75g's)) with the others less than 10, so I'm not too concerned about seam leaks either. Either way if that happened I'd be screwed even if I had vinyl or linoleum flooring...

I should be fine with that type of carpeting, right? One that's designed to be weather and mildew resistant? Do you think the vapor barrier underneath the carpeting is a must?

[joe_jaskot]

I wouldn't put carpeting in a fish room. Takes too long to dry once it gets wet. Better off with a vinyl floor.

[Tony]

Ed - After the canister issues I was having on my 150 (posted it up over on CCA), I lost about 10 gallons onto the berber carpet in my family room last week. Even with pulling up the carpet the best I could (the 6' space between the 180 and the 150/125 stack), it still took 4 days to dry out with a space heater, fan and dehumidifier running almost continuously.

Have had tanks set up down there for a few 4-5 years now and have always been really careful. Stuff happens though.

I think that the rubber-backed indoor/outdoor carpet would be fine for day-to-day python and net drips, but what about a 5 gallon spill? How many times have you overflowed a tank with a python? I do it pretty often in my fish room.

A big concern of using the rubber-backed carpet would be what if water got underneath it. Short of pulling the carpet back (going to be impossible with the number of tanks you're planning), there would be no way to dry the subfloor.

Anyway, not trying to scare you; just want to think about it. If I had to set up my fish room again, there's a bunch of things I'd do differently.

Did you say that there was nothing under the space? How about putting down a vapor barrier on the subfloor, tiling and installing a floor drain to the outside? Through a crawlspace maybe?

Think about it this way... no matter what, when you're done with the room (either get rid of fish or move), you're going to have to redo the carpet. linoleum and a throw rub would be much more convenient in the time being.

Non-rotting floor trumps aesthetics any day in my book.

[Narwhal72]

Why not use laminate flooring? Put the vapor barrier down and then add laminate on top. It's easy to install and relatively inexpensive.

Andy

[fischfan13]

Ed, just wondering...
Where are you buying your flooring?:stop:

[triscuit]

Ever had a tank spring a leak while you were gone for the weekend? :frustya:


I think you can keep with the carpet, but I would not do wall-to-wall. Make it something you can roll up if needed. But that probably means not having it under tank stands... hmm.

I'd still go with laminate- it will look just fine with the rest of the house- there's too many choices for it not to match. If you go that route, make sure it's some that you could install in a bathroom or kitchen. When we priced out our kitchen, laminate was much cheaper than linoleum.

[nick a]

The absolute sweetest thing about my entire fishroom is the concrete floor---spills+ dribbles= who gives a $#!+ ? :neener: :coool!:

[bovsbaitboxes]

paint issue you would want to use a gloss finish and add a mildew blocker to the paint (comes in a little bottle and add it to the paint) the gloss paint will let the moisture stay on the surface instead of absorbing into the wood or sheetrock call me I am a contractor I will help for trade of fish or beer lol:beerchug:

[bovsbaitboxes]

oops sorry didnt read thrad I see your done with paint call me if you need any other help:beerchug:

[emartin]

Ever had a tank spring a leak while you were gone for the weekend? :frustya:


I think you can keep with the carpet, but I would not do wall-to-wall. Make it something you can roll up if needed. But that probably means not having it under tank stands... hmm.

I'd still go with laminate- it will look just fine with the rest of the house- there's too many choices for it not to match. If you go that route, make sure it's some that you could install in a bathroom or kitchen. When we priced out our kitchen, laminate was much cheaper than linoleum.

That's what I was thinking of doing now based on all of your responses, just having the linoleum/vinyl on the plywood (and have the tank stands sit on that), but still have carpeting (loose) as an area rug that can be rolled up/removed if there's ever a bad spill, etc.

A friend of mine suggested that I paint over the plywood with a water sealer to help keep moisture from penetrating the plywood. Necessary? Or not necessary if I have vinyl/linoleum installed?

[Flareside]

Ed,
Just a suggestion. Dont use Linoleum/vinyl. I went to Home Depot and bought a large piece of Linoleum. Over time with spills, the edges of the linoleum discolored. As moisture travelled and spread unseen beneath the linoleum (I have no idea how it got that much water under it) it discolored more. I ended up ripping it out because it looked like crap in under a year.
I replaced it with the self adhesive floor tiles that look like stone tile- I used commercial grade. They have a 30 yr waranty and now 10 years later they havent discolored or come up and I spilled a lot of water on them.
Im honestly not a fan of self adhesive tiles, but these look good and have held up extremely well

[emartin]

Heyguy74 when he was over today suggested that, if I go with vinyl/linoleum, to have it installed so that it is also on the walls (just folded up) behind the wood molding...the white molding on the bottom of the walls in this pic:
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-7-2011%20Painting/DSC01171.jpg

That should help prevent water from getting underneath it....no?

[bovsbaitboxes]

use a silicone on top and on bottom of the wood trim and paint trim with waterproof paint that will gie you at least 3"(from looking at the trim you used) dude I build houses and additons for a living anything you need let me know we can work out a work for fish trade or something:beerchug:

[bovsbaitboxes]

or you can help out with water changes or something :neener:

[phillyofish]

Ed,
are those exterior walls? is it properly insulated. Do you have a water source in the room?

[emartin]

Ed,
are those exterior walls? is it properly insulated. Do you have a water source in the room?

Yes they're exterior walls, and yes there is insulation. Heat source is a small radiator in the room, and all the windows are double paned. I have a feeling though that the radiator may not be enough in the winter, but the heat coming from the tanks should keep the room warm. If not, I can always open one of the "indoor" windows to let heat from the house keep it warm.

No existing water source in the room, but nearby in the house is where the washer and dryer are (and the plumbing for that is in the basement).

[zcfish]

Look too nice for a fish room. I am jealous. Good job so far.

What's the plan for tanks?

[emartin]

Look too nice for a fish room. I am jealous. Good job so far.

What's the plan for tanks?

The eventual plan is for something like this (tank setups that is):
2x 180g
2x 125g
120g (4ft)
4-5x 75g
60g
55g
30g
2x 29g
4x 20g (1 is a 20g long)

Maybe a few more 20g-longs or 29g to use as fry tanks.

[emartin]

We're thinking of ditching vinyl flooring...too expensive (at least locally...even the cheap hole-in-the-wall businesses wanted too much (more than our budget)).

Instead, we're thinking of going with commercial grade Vinyl Composite Tiles (VCT Tiles)... This is the stuff that you see commonly in supermarkets, stores, schools, etc. It's also much cheaper than vinyl sheets and more durable, problem is it is not 100% water tight. We can have it "sealed", which will protect it from water but not standing water (so if I have a bad spill, the water will mostly just sit on top (while on carpeting, it will immediately soak the carpet and ruin the floor)). And that's fine with us. Plus, it's not as bad of a hassle compared to vinyl if we need to repair it (if a few tiles break, or if a plumber has to get access to the radiator pipe underneath the floor, etc).

Anyone else think this is a good/bad idea? I like it, and the quote we got (for the product+installation) was around 30% cheaper than the cheapest quote we got for some random guy to install vinyl if we bought remnants or cheap vinyl ourselves vs through a store.

It sounds like by itself it's already mostly waterproof, but we called a few places and we can have it "sealed", and I was told by a friend of mine I can even put a few coats of a water sealant epoxy to make it even more waterproof.

[triscuit]

Go for it! That's a great idea. I don't know why vinyl is so expensive, but I'm not surprised.

If you're the least bit handy, you can install those yourself, too.

[Tony]

Go for it! That's a great idea. I don't know why vinyl is so expensive, but I'm not surprised.

If you're the least bit handy, you can install those yourself, too.

+1 on DIY!

[emartin]

VCT flooring is being installed as I speak, looks like it's going to be a really solid floor.

Just trying to decide now though if I have to have the VCT floor waxed, or just use a cheap seam sealer, or just leave it as it is...

[bovsbaitboxes]

1spend more money 2safe than sorry 3f@$k it. it will be fine :coz:

I take option 2:beerchug: i will come do it for you

[m1ke715m]

The eventual plan is for something like this (tank setups that is):
2x 180g
2x 125g
120g (4ft)
4-5x 75g
60g
55g
30g
2x 29g
4x 20g (1 is a 20g long)

Maybe a few more 20g-longs or 29g to use as fry tanks.

now im jealous lol

[emartin]

Flooring was installed on Thursday. I just need to install corner round molding along the floor, put silicone along all the seams, and then start loading in tanks by Wednesday.

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-19-2011%20VCT%20Flooring%20Installed/small/DSC01178.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-19-2011%20VCT%20Flooring%20Installed/small/DSC01174.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-19-2011%20VCT%20Flooring%20Installed/small/DSC01175.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-19-2011%20VCT%20Flooring%20Installed/small/DSC01183.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-19-2011%20VCT%20Flooring%20Installed/small/DSC01182.jpg

[triscuit]

Fantastic! Can't wait to see the tanks...

[atorres]

Ed
Wow, it looks like a hotel room. Are you installing cable for the fish?
Angel

[TOMMYN3D]

CONGRATULATIONS ED, The room looks fantastic:beerchug:

I cant wait to see it full of tanks.

P.S. The fish likes the Discovery channel.

[Buckcich]

Good looking Ed. Nice tread

[zcfish]

I see there's a lot of windows. To be able to use some natural lighting will be a plus. Unfortunately my fish never seen daylight in the basement.

What kind of filtration will you have? Centralized system?

Some sort of water change system? Water change for that many tanks will take quite some time.

[emartin]

I see there's a lot of windows. To be able to use some natural lighting will be a plus. Unfortunately my fish never seen daylight in the basement.

What kind of filtration will you have? Centralized system?

Some sort of water change system? Water change for that many tanks will take quite some time.

Filtration will eventually be power filters or sponge filters (or both).

[emartin]

Well, I made a stupid mistake. I put all my fish from my 120g in a rubbermaid container (18gal container, I only filled it to about 4" deep though (feels like it weighs about 30-40lbs with that much water in it, so I am assuming somewhere around 3-5 gallons of water)).

I had to fill the tanks with a hose (drinking water safe hoses, so no chemicals are getting in the tanks), and tapwater this time of year is what...around 50-60F? Well the 250watt heater wasn't heating the tank fast enough (it was sitting at 63F for a while) so I left the fish in the rubbermaid container for an hour, maybe hour and half. The water in that (tank water) was warmer, plus I figured that since it was shallow in the container (plus I had a ceiling fan on) that oxygen levels wouldn't be a problem. I also added a lot of ClorAm-X to the water to fight ammonia build up from the fish.

Came back after an hour and half, tank temperature was up to 72F (warm enough IMO to add fish), looked in the rubbermaid. Saw about $150 worth of wild fish dead... A couple dead wild Taeniolethrinops furcicauda (some huge females, probably a male too), a dead f1 Nyassachromis boadzulu, and another one I didn't bother to identify yet.

Not a good day so far... Good news, all the other fish recovered (including another taeniolethrinops that looked like it was 10-20minutes away from dying). Also good news, I still have 5 more of the taeniolethrinops including a 6" wild male...and I am sure I still have at least one female...so I'm not too distressed...

I just got to make sure next time to either divide the fish into several containers, or add an airstone.

[eelsnot]

That sucks! Sorry to hear about the loss of fish. On a plus side, those tiles were the right call. Room really looks good!

[Flareside]

Walmarts fishing department has air pumps for bait containers. They clip on, have an airstone and run on 2 D size batteries...not a bad thing to have on hand for your fishroom. I used to use them sometimes when I would go pick up cyphos on a long road trip in the hot weather

[emartin]

So far didn't lose anything else, I just have two more juvenile fish to move, two 20g tanks, and then the rest is just supplies/dry stuff.


Fish room is getting kind of crowded...not much room for an area rug but there is enough room for weatherproof floor/door mats, so I may go with those. Floor is a little muddy from moving all the fish in there though.

Because of space issues, I am thinking of NOT doing a double 180g in there, but instead put just one 180g on the heavy duty stand I had built for me and use the other rack for fry tanks. Will still have the two 125g's set up though.

Also instead of five 75g tanks I'm just going with four...no room for the metal 75g stand I have.

[Tony]

Sorry about the lost fish, Ed. Glad you're on the home stretch!

[atorres]

Ed
We need more pictures.

[emartin]

Took these the other day with my cell phone when I was still moving tanks in (with the help of tommyn3d):
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-28-2011/small/0528111714.jpg

http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-28-2011/small/0528111722.jpg

The tank being filled is a 4ft 120g:
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-28-2011/small/0528111722a.jpg

The stand next to the 120g is a double 180g stand, though I am only putting one 180g on it because I need the other shelf for fry tanks:
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-28-2011/small/0528111722b.jpg

On the far right is a 60g (up top) and a 55g on the bottom. This photo also shows how dark the green paint really is, it isn't as bright as it appears in the other pics I posted. Much darker in person.
http://how.didigethere.com/fish/Fish%20Room%20Progress/5-28-2011/small/0528111722c.jpg

The room is MUCH more crowded now and the floor is pretty dirty. Just temporary though until I figure out what I am doing in there... Still a work in progress. The fry rack on the double 180g stand will either be all 20g, all 29g, or all 20g-longs.


I won't be online for a few days/week after tonight until I get my desk set up and the internet gets turned on at our new place, so if anybody needs to reach me then send me an email. You can email me through my profile here on ECC. Or (if you have my cell number), give me a call or txt message.

[TKC747]

Nice Pictures Ed. Looks great so far! Sorry to hear about your losses.

[bassgenie]

Amazing! Best of luck!!!

[CrabbyMatty]

Clearly you've been busy Ed. Things have really come along nicely. It doesn't take long to fill up a fishroom, but you've also got plenty of nice big tanks in there too. Best of luck with the new place.

[TOMMYN3D]

I'm excited for you Ed:runnningaround::runnningaround::runnningaround:
I cant wait untill you get things settled, tanks restocked, fry growing so that i can come visit and walk around the fish room like im at a fish store:becky:

[emartin]

Updates coming soon in the next week or two. I still got a lot of organizing and cleaning up to do in there, it's a big mess. But everything is starting to come along nicely.

[TOMMYN3D]

Looking forward to pictures and the updates on the stocking of the tanks.........:pop2:

[emartin]

Got the utility sink installed. Just have to get that section of the wall patched up, clean up the fish room, get the air system installed, and then start filling all my empty tanks...:)

Going to be a busy month...

[JROGO]

Here are some pictures of my fishroom.

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0710-1.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0709.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0708.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0707.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0706.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0705.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0704.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0703.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0702.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0701.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0700.jpg

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k494/jrogo1/000_0613.jpg

[m1ke715m]

jrogo is that blue towel in your pics from walmart? it looks familiar lol

[atorres]

Ed
More recent pictures please!
Angel

[TrashmanNYC]

:coool!::beerchug:

[atorres]

Ed
Yes let us see some updated pictures.
Angel