Basement sump pros & cons?
- Thread starter sammy77
- Start date
James77
Team RC
+1 on alot of these points, especially the beer frisge...what an ingenius idea :bum:
I switched back to a under the tank sump to save power from heating, which was the only negative of a basement sump. Water changes STINK on the first floor, i resort to starting a siphon with my garden hose out a window and running in 100 mph before it breaks spihon and pees all over the floor. Space is the best of basement sumps. Cons are basement room used up, and possible more heating or cooling, but they are freezing winters here, so it is unsusal.
I have built small enclosed fish rooms and love them........
jason2459
Well-known member
Sorry I don't have enough experience with anything else other then the mag drive. It fits my needs but most likely not others. You'll need to figure out your head height and if you want internal or external. On reefcentral home page is a head height calculator.
sammy77
New member
buckeyereefer1
New member
IMO Iwaki, Blueline, reefflo pumps are hard to beat. these are all external also.
buckeyereefer1
New member
and Panworld....forgot that brand
If your space and budget allow it a basement sump is the way to go. The space alone is worth it IMO. Maintenance is easier so you're more likely to do it. A new tank is a hole in the floor away. It does cost more. I don't need a chiller because the basement is cooler but I use more wattage heating in the winter because of this.
The return pump is usually more expensive. I would go with a pressure rated pump. A Mag will work but a pump built to deal with head will usually be more reliable. I have a reeflo blowhole but panworld and iwaki also make reliable pumps. I chose the blowhole for adjustability and watt draw. I'm running it in medium so I'm pulling 120 watts with ~9ft of head with ~600gph to the DT, 100gph to the fuge, and feeding my media reactor.
You will also spend a lot more on plumbing. I spent a few hundred dollars on spa flex, fittings, valves, unions etc. I bought spa flex and valves online to reduce cost but it adds up quickly.
Noise is reduced. The loudest thing on my tank is the fan on my light. I had a tank in my bedroom before I upgraded. That tank had everything under the stand and had grown accustomed to the noise. I didnt think I would appreciate the silence but it honestly makes all the difference in the world.
So while it may not be for everybody I don't think I will ever go back unless I dont have a choice. It has its pro's and cons but IMO there are far more positives.
The return pump is usually more expensive. I would go with a pressure rated pump. A Mag will work but a pump built to deal with head will usually be more reliable. I have a reeflo blowhole but panworld and iwaki also make reliable pumps. I chose the blowhole for adjustability and watt draw. I'm running it in medium so I'm pulling 120 watts with ~9ft of head with ~600gph to the DT, 100gph to the fuge, and feeding my media reactor.
You will also spend a lot more on plumbing. I spent a few hundred dollars on spa flex, fittings, valves, unions etc. I bought spa flex and valves online to reduce cost but it adds up quickly.
Noise is reduced. The loudest thing on my tank is the fan on my light. I had a tank in my bedroom before I upgraded. That tank had everything under the stand and had grown accustomed to the noise. I didnt think I would appreciate the silence but it honestly makes all the difference in the world.
So while it may not be for everybody I don't think I will ever go back unless I dont have a choice. It has its pro's and cons but IMO there are far more positives.
sammy77
New member
I'm guessing the internal pumps increase tank temps but draw less electric than an external would? But with the external you'd have to add more heat? We have both really cold temps in the winter and blazing hot temps in the summer. The basement is pretty cool though year round. Bear with me please, this is all new to me. Heck, this is the first time I'll be running a sump... Thank you.
sammy77
New member
How many holes need to be drilled thru your floor? 2? Is spa flex cheaper than your pvc?
jason2459
Well-known member
For plumbing I would suggest reading up in this thread
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1541946
Silent and Failsafe Overflow System
I run three drains and one return just like described in that thread. Though with the long run to the basement I put the valves down in the basement. It is absolutely quite now and I run LEDs for lighting with no fans so I have practically 0 sound from my tank
Its very peaceful.
I have some pics in my thread I'll look for later to show my setup. Otherwise look up Herbie drain as well. Its two down one up. That is the minimum I would do.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1541946
Silent and Failsafe Overflow System
I run three drains and one return just like described in that thread. Though with the long run to the basement I put the valves down in the basement. It is absolutely quite now and I run LEDs for lighting with no fans so I have practically 0 sound from my tank
Its very peaceful.
I have some pics in my thread I'll look for later to show my setup. Otherwise look up Herbie drain as well. Its two down one up. That is the minimum I would do.
jason2459
Well-known member
Here's what I did with my tank:
Drains and return through new flooring: (Make sure to keep some extra in case you move and replace the drilled area or use a whole bit for the top part and keep the cut out to glue back in)
built and attached an external overflow box (many ways to setup a bean animal setup)
Basement side plumbing (I'm very messy but never had a leak)
Drains and return through new flooring: (Make sure to keep some extra in case you move and replace the drilled area or use a whole bit for the top part and keep the cut out to glue back in)
built and attached an external overflow box (many ways to setup a bean animal setup)
Basement side plumbing (I'm very messy but never had a leak)
jason2459
Well-known member
It may for a Herbie but I'm not nearly as familiar with that setup. For a bean animal it could make it harder. I assume you have dual overflows. I would read through that thread to see what some people have done that have built in dual overflows.
jason2459
Well-known member
On RC's old system they had to split threads that got longer then 40 pages to help with maintenance and performance. With recent upgrades they haven't been doing that anymore.
If you go to the first page there's a link to the other half of the thread.
I use spa flex, which is just flexible PVC pipe, as well as traditional PVC. The flexible stuff is more expensive but it was easier to plumb for my situation. I cut a hole in the floor 2"wide and the length between two joists. I have 4 lines run thru it as I have a Beananimal system as well.
With regard to return pumps it varies pump to pump. You can find inefficient and hot submersible or external pumps. This is an area that warrants lots of research because each setup will have varying needs. What works for me will probably be less than ideal for you or may not work at all.
I use spa flex, which is just flexible PVC pipe, as well as traditional PVC. The flexible stuff is more expensive but it was easier to plumb for my situation. I cut a hole in the floor 2"wide and the length between two joists. I have 4 lines run thru it as I have a Beananimal system as well.
With regard to return pumps it varies pump to pump. You can find inefficient and hot submersible or external pumps. This is an area that warrants lots of research because each setup will have varying needs. What works for me will probably be less than ideal for you or may not work at all.
Triggerfish
Active member
had a 55g sump in basement for my 125 when it was running. many pros to having it down there which have already been mentioned. especially noise as my external return was kind of loud. as well as my skimmer.
biggest hurdle was making that first cut through the floor and then the 2nd.
im in process of setting up a new 75 and not sure how im going to handle added noise of everything being in stand.
biggest hurdle was making that first cut through the floor and then the 2nd.
im in process of setting up a new 75 and not sure how im going to handle added noise of everything being in stand.
madkeenreefer
New member
Yea sure is, I love the space I have and considering the basement would otherwise not be used it makes all the more sence to me to utilize the area.
Agreed thoes are 3 of the better choices
DeathMagnetic
New member
i cant see any big negatives.. you can put glass tops on the 75 to keep the humidity down.. more volume = a more stable system... easier to do waterchanges... more room to work... more room for equipment...
+1 on a basement sump
+1 on a basement sump
