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Hi Tom: Very nice job thus far. Looks like it is coming along nicely. I also have a 155 built into the wall. One suggestion that I have would be to have the door leading into the aquarium open outwards into the main room & to the right side as you are standing in front of it. This way you don't lose precious space within the fish tank room. I would also suggest putting an industrial type sink in the room & a floor drain if you can. Both of these have come in very handy for me. BTW, whatever space that you allowed for the tank room, I would have double or possibly tripled it. I learned that one the hard way. How are you attaching/hanging the lights over the tank? I used a pulley mechanism that attaches to both ends of a 2x4 with attached Luminarc's (3 in all). This was well worth the investment and makes things very easy when it comes to having to perform your "tank duties". Are you also running a sump or just the refugium? Finally, plan for lots of cabinet space & a way to do your water changes hassel free.
I am sure that I will think of more as you progress. Remember, take your time as you are in no rush, I hope. 
Oh, and have FUN.......................................
Steve
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Just an updated picture on construction. I plan to use insulation, sound board and dry wall on all sides and under the floor from the basement side. The two back walls are exterior so no special sound proofing is needed. My friend is a licenced electrician and will run 2 circuts in the room and quite a few outlets in convienient positions.
I also plan on building shelving high above the tank to hold ballasts and electrical wires out of the way.
Window next!
Tom
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Forgot the pict!
Hmmm seems I've run out of space to upload?
Anthony any work arounds?
If I delete the old ones we can't follow the progress.
Tom C.
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Hey Steve,
Missed your post there. Yes, I have considered the door opening. I need all the space I can get. This is as big as I can go though.  I don't have a final plan yet for how I will hang the lights, but I know I'm not leaving any spagetti on the floor. I will be using a sump along with the refugium. And will run water to a sink in the back corner. Don't thing I can handle a floor drain though.
I am having fun.
Thanks much,
Tom
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Looking good!
Another thought: Make sure to leave some room on each side of the tank for the placement of smal fans to blow over the surface of the water. I found that this helps immensely to keep water temps in check. Believe me if you are running MH lighting the temp in that room will build up. Personally, I don't & never have/will use a chiller, but to each his own.
Steve
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and do add a small, thin plastic tray with a drainline to place under the tank and under the sump in case the tank leaks, overflows or capillary action from a hose or piece of equipment wants to send water out of the tank). You can run your tank safety tray drain to the sump with hope that it might spare filter burnout on a slow enough leak)
.Anthony Calfo
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Tom: I am not a big fan of chillers for two reasons: 1. The expense of running one, 2. It's just another piece of gadgetry that you have to worry about & service, etc... plus I like the temp fluctuations that normally occur during the day/night in a reef tank (that is as long as it's not greater than a 4 degree variation).
Steve
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| agreed... chillers are generally an awful idea... worse if they are drop in (very inefficient). All is made worse by the fact that most folks run their chiller inthe same room the tank is in... so the heat pulled exchanged (pulled from) the aquarium water is vented into the same room that the aquarium is in... doh!
. Anthony Calfo
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I used a drop in type in my 55 gallon and was lucky enough to have a 3 foot crawl space under the floor the tank was on. It was a old garage floor that previous owners built a living room on top of. I cut a 2 inch hole under my tank stand and was able to reach the sump with the probe from under the floor. The hot air was released down below in basement crawl space where it never got close to the tank. I ran this without the need of air conditioning in hot summer months in Jersey. Did this for 5 years never had to service it once. Never was really concerned how much extra it was costing me on my electric bill. However, This was on a 55 gallon tank. I'm sure I won't be using it on this new set up.
Anthony, how were you cooling your green house aquraiums on hot summer days?
Tom
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