New Build- Wall Outlet Placement Advice

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

Hey All,

I could use some help figuring out where I should put some dedicated outlets for my new tank.

I was thinking 2 x dedicated 20 amp 4 plexes behind the tank, and 1 x 20 amp on the ceiling for a future light mover.

Where should I put them? Behind the tank? Particular height? GFCI or not?

Anything else you can think of or would do you wish you had an outlet somewhere?

Below is where the tank is going. Its a 300 Gallon 6' x 3' x 27". Its going to swallow the room hahaha... I can't wait!

:wildone:

Thank you!

TypicalWhiteAZN · Oct 27, 2016

I got some full tank system set up at the event this weekend if you wanna start off with a good size teaser for cheap

805reef · Oct 27, 2016

I would just say have outlets on both ends rather then next to each other on one end, and high enough to access over the sump.

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

TypicalWhiteAZN said:

I ordered a 300 gallon custom AGE.

805reef said:

Thanks Vince... the sump will be 18" Tall, so you think 24" to 28" inches would be good?

805reef · Oct 27, 2016

BeanMachine said:

That would probably be good. My sump is only 16" tall, but my outlets are standard height. I can get to them when I need too but it would be so much nicer if it was higher like you are thinking of doing. I didn't have the foresight to think of that. How much longer til you get the tank?

solitude127 · Oct 27, 2016

The more outlets the better. Also, definitely use a GFCI. If you can, I say put the outlet outside the stand just to that it's easier to get to when needed, especially if the GFCI pops for whatever reason.

newtothis · Oct 27, 2016

GFCI for sure on what you decided to go with..

Leandre · Oct 27, 2016

There's a video from brs with a talk with the guy from melevs reef from macna, how he talks about setting up a fish room. A section is about outlets. For me, I like to have the controllers outside of the sump section so mid height plugs are great for me. The ceiling plug is the one I would GFCI, following that video. That's the one that's gonna kill you.

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

805reef said:

It will be at RAP. My house still needs flooring and some things prior... but less than 1 month!

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

solitude127 said:

I thought of that, but my other buddy recommended I put them about a foot from each corner behind the tank, so my little one (a year or two from now) can't reach and unplug anything.

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

Leandre said:

There's a video from brs with a talk with the guy from melevs reef from macna, how he talks about setting up a fish room. A section is about outlets. For me, I like to have the controllers outside of the sump section so mid height plugs are great for me. The ceiling plug is the one I would GFCI, following that video. That's the one that's gonna kill you.

Thank you. I'll look for that video. Much appreciated.

Nick Shades · Oct 27, 2016

As someone who works electricity on a daily basis, i feel the GFCIs are over rated, not that they don't have their place.

Don't mess with electricity when the room is flooded, but i have the mind to hit the breakers, first, when that happens.

I would say, first, know your breakers that will control the tank and then mark them. The gfci is sort of an insurance plan against anything happening to you that you do not want to happen in an emergency.

Then, put a gfci breaker on at the breaker box , and then the big clincher that will really save you from a shock, use a power strip with a gfci on it.

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

Nick Shades said:

All the outlets used for the tank will be dedicated from a sub panel. I am thinking 3 or 4 circuits. Over kill, but I'm doing other electrical work at my house so figure may as well get more than I need while I'm at it.

So is the consensus GFCI on the lighting, or potential chiller (high draw items) and non GFCI on everything else?

So 1 x GFCI outlet for the ceiling. (Lighting)
1 x GFCI outlet behind the tank. (Chiller or High Draw Equipment)
and 2 x Reg Outlets behind the tank. (Return Pump and Low Draw Equipment)

That sound right?

reefes pieces · Oct 27, 2016

Good thing is that your return pumps are DC which is much safer than AC. Not fool proof as power supplies can fail and surge AC into the pump but most failures usually just kill the power supply and no voltage is sent to the pump. Personally, I prefer GFCI for everything.

BeanMachine said:

Nick Shades · Oct 27, 2016

Gfci is to prevent you from getting electricuted when you reach to unplug everythinf due to a flood and/or you have your hands in water and toucb an exposed neutral/ground and have your hand on a hot.

You can have just one gfci as long as the remaining outlets branch from it.

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

Nick Shades said:

I get that, what would be the reason not to run separate circuits? I'd prefer everything not on one circuit.

Nick Shades · Oct 27, 2016

There is, typically, no reason to have everything on indepedent circuits unless the planned energy usage exceess the amperage tolerance of that circuit breaker.

In modern LED systems, it takes alot to exceed a 20 amp circuit breaker. You would have to have over 2000 watts of output to exceed a 20 amp breaker (2400 to be exact).

Put them all on the same breaker, and tie a toggle switch to all of them so that you can turn everything off with the flip of a switch and you are golden.

Sent using TAPATALK via Android

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

What if the breaker trips, wouldnt having multiple circuits offer redundancy? I can have one return pump on one, and one on another. Or powerheads etc so the tank would still have circulation.

Zoarder · Oct 27, 2016

BeanMachine said:

OR backup battery on the mp40s and apex so it can alert you.... just a thought

BeanMachine · Oct 27, 2016

Zoarder said:

Or I could do both.

New Build- Wall Outlet Placement Advice

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