Alright I have decided to go with the basement sump. Just the benefits alone are awesome. Although my wife is a little unhappy that I am cutting holes into the wall I just finished. It will be fine once she sees it in the end state. Anyway, I am looking for some basement sump diagrams or some ideas for set up. I have a 90 gallon upstairs and am planning on using a 55 as a sump. I will also use my current 30 gallon as a refugium and plan to add a frag tank later. So I need some help with flow diagrams and ideas. I want to make sure I can make my water changes as easy as possible. I can run a hose right to a drain pretty easy. I also, have to 2, 30 gallon brute containers. 1 with RO/DI water and the other with salt water. I do have space and room if I need to add more. Let me know your plans or ideas. Thanks
Basement sump
- Thread starter lyrad7791
- Start date
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
congrats
congrats
This is a very good decision. A basement sump is well worth the price of a couple of holes in the wall or floor!
A basement sump is very similar to a sump in the stand except longer drain and return lines. You might need a larger main pump because of the increased working head.
congrats
This is a very good decision. A basement sump is well worth the price of a couple of holes in the wall or floor!
A basement sump is very similar to a sump in the stand except longer drain and return lines. You might need a larger main pump because of the increased working head.
Eastamherstbias
New member
You can always wander over and see mine. The guys at ARC did it a few years ago and I am happy with how it worked out.
degibson84
New member
My wife is furious with me for doing the same thing. tank is in the finished side of the basement and the sump is going on the other side of the wall
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
I don't understand why wives would be furious with this decision as it actually keeps the mess, smell and clutter out of living space.
Then again, I can't profess to understand women in general
Then again, I can't profess to understand women in general
Eastamherstbias
New member
I have it connected to my apex. I just turn waste pump on and it drains to the sink and I hit new saltwater pump on and it drains back it. I once did it on my phone when i was out of town just to see if i could do it. I have a camera on the basement so i can monitor levels.
Haffs09
Member
You might get some ideas from my set up. I have a bunch of pics in my thread here...http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1831347&page=2
Eastamherstbias
New member
Yep I have float switches so it is all off my apex. Same with a high float switch so I dont over flow and water sensors that detect water and shut it all down.
Haffs your set up is awesome. Your caliber work is a bit over what I am capable of I think. But, you did give me some good ideas.
And East Amherst your tank sounds pretty cool also. I will most likely take you up on taking a look at your set up. Anything to give me some solid ideas before I jump into something permanent.
And East Amherst your tank sounds pretty cool also. I will most likely take you up on taking a look at your set up. Anything to give me some solid ideas before I jump into something permanent.
ReefAddict123
In Memoriam
great idea to do less mess on the floors and easier acess imo...i dont have one but having a tank in the cellar it makes the mess easier to clean up and not worry about
erndog1001
Premium Member
Wouldn't you need a serious pump to lift the water that high?
Yeah it will be far enough away. As far as a return goes I see a lot of people cut a whole in the side of the sump tank so they have a straight pipe going to the pump. Is this absolutely necessary? Or can I pipe a line into the tank make a 90 to the pump then another 90 to the DT?
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
If you're using an external pump it has to be below the water level in the last chamber of the sump, or else it'll have negative head (suction) on the intake, which is bad mojo.
Trying to achieve this without drilling the tank will mean some sort of siphon, where the plumbing is going up above the edge of the sump then back down to the pump. This will be a challenge as you'll have to prime it each time you start the pump. Also having that many turns in the plumbing right before the pump may result in poor performance or cavitation, which can shorten the life of the pump.
Short answer: drilling the side/end of the sump and just running pipe right to the pump's intake is the best solution.
When you're plumbing arrangements like this, plan ahead and put shutoff valves and unions anywhere you will need to do maintenance (i.e. on either side of the pump).
Also, plan for extra capacity in the sump, as when the power goes out and the plumbing drains down, you'll have more volume of water to handle than an in-stand sump, due to the extra length of plumbing.
Trying to achieve this without drilling the tank will mean some sort of siphon, where the plumbing is going up above the edge of the sump then back down to the pump. This will be a challenge as you'll have to prime it each time you start the pump. Also having that many turns in the plumbing right before the pump may result in poor performance or cavitation, which can shorten the life of the pump.
Short answer: drilling the side/end of the sump and just running pipe right to the pump's intake is the best solution.
When you're plumbing arrangements like this, plan ahead and put shutoff valves and unions anywhere you will need to do maintenance (i.e. on either side of the pump).
Also, plan for extra capacity in the sump, as when the power goes out and the plumbing drains down, you'll have more volume of water to handle than an in-stand sump, due to the extra length of plumbing.
Thanks that is the information I needed. Now for another question. I am building a 90. With the petco $1 per gallon going on, what would be the best size sump? I am planning on using my current 30 gallon as a refugium. And also, does anyone know where I could get a hole cut into the tank? In the buffalo area. And about how much it would cost?
Eastamherstbias
New member
40 br. Call around to the petcos until you find someone who has one.
Eastamherstbias
New member
Here is my basement sump pump. It pumps up 10 ft to my main display and also 5 ft across to my frag tanks.
I just bought a 40BR for my sump from Petco. Great timing as the truck just pulled in with one and it was the only one they had. Next question is since I have a refugium I am going to use. Do I need to put baffles in my sump. My plan was just to put most the mechanical stuff there, heaters, dosers, ato, etc. and some live rock, no lighting. Also, where is a good place in Buffalo to get a hole cut into the breeder? How expensive will it be? and how big should I make it?
