Moving Sump to Basement

[panamagixxer]

So, I have a Red Sea 250 Reefer Deluxe that is up and running about 2 months. Going well, algae fight like most, but it is finally behind me. I am building a new home, so in a year'ish I will have two Red Sea Peninsula tanks in the main entrance with a 14'x16' utility & sump room in the basement below.

I decided to mess and learn this year. I bought a Sapphire 39 Sump and am going to install it in the basement this weekend. Basically, removing the Red Sea sump and installing a much larger sump in the basement with a Reeflo Hammerhead pump.

I'll take some pics as the process goes, wish me luck.

 

[mcgyvr]

Good luck..

Personally the added head height leading to a larger pump which ultimately means increased energy costs have always been a big negative as to why I will never do a basement sump..

 

[MarkW64]

That sounds like a potentially awesome set up! I can't wait to see pictures of the paired peninsulas.

You have to love being able to plan in your system before building a new house -- we designed a 180 Peninsula (now a 230) into our build 14 years ago. I only wish my layout would allow a sump directly below. I'm in the process of setting up my basement sump, but it is about 25 feet away horizontally.

 

[Drix]

I do this, it's great as you can get pretty dirty in an unfinished basement but be warned, this severely limits your return pump choices because of head pressure. I was running a mag18 for a while, and just swapped over to a Jebau 18,000. The Jebau has way more head pressure for the money and is adjustable flow, which is nice- I have no reviews for logetivity.

Remember not to plumb your return pipe straight down it should have a slight angle to prevent back pressure. Make sure you're competent with your plumbing, and have fun. My only other word of warning is that water disposal can become a hassle when you're blow your home's sewer line.

 

[panamagixxer]

Good luck..

Personally the added head height leading to a larger pump which ultimately means increased energy costs have always been a big negative as to why I will never do a basement sump..

I hear you, some of the bigger pumps are pretty efficient and I will run all my reactors off the main pump.

Having all the noise and smells out of the front room will be great too and not bending under the tank all the time.

 

[Heart of Dixie]

I moved my sump to the basement 1 year ago and it has made water changes easier as well as now the DT is silent. I purchased BRS Pukani dry rock and while it was curing from January to June did all the work including a water storage /mixing area. There was so much great information and pictures available on Reef Central from other's previous experiences that was such a great help to me in the planning and execution of the project. Keep us posted .

 

[Sk8r]

I'm running a 100 gallon tank on an Iwaki 100, only fault being noise like a jet engine, but you don't hear that upstairs.

 

[mrsixstrings12]

I absolutely love my basement sump. If it weren't for it, I'd probably not be in the hobby anymore. When I was running your standard sump under the display, I did not do any maintenance at all. Nothing got cleaned, no water got changed, etc. Being so close to a utility sink has changed everything for me. I bend over into crammed spaces at work so I don't want to do it at home. Water change? Right down the drain. Gotta clean something? Walk 2 foot to the sink and scrub. Water on the floor? Oh well, its concrete and the floor drain is about 5 foot away.

As for noise, The only thing I hear upstairs is the slight trickle of water into my overflow and my mp10's which I am replacing. Downstairs, I hear the water flowing into the sump (which could be reduced by some filter socks, possibly), and my protein skimmer. I barely hear my return pump (a waveline 10000), but I do run low flow compared to others. I have my carbon reactor and refugium plumbed from my return pump also.

Edit to add more thoughts: I also have twice the footprint as my display stand for everything so my sump is a 40 breeder, my refugium is a 38g, and I have room to place things on the sump stand. My "ATO container" is a 40-some gallon brute trash can. Note, I usually only keep 10-15 gallons of water in the can due to flooding concerns. The brute trash can is also used to mix water for water changes. It has come in handy though when going on vacation, I can just fill it up more than usual and be good for a week or two.

 

[Bandsaw]

Plus one for the basement sump. I moved to a basement sump years ago. The display tank is silent. As mentioned above, with the sump under the tank, I think I would have been pushed out of the hobby by the rest of the family ages ago.

The basement sump has allowed me to add a 20g refugium, a 40g lime water top up tank, and the rest of the other equipment is laid out nice and easy.

Best thing I ever did.

 

[rocsec1]

I built a new home and located the tank in the basement tv room. I had a fish room built behind it. The tank drains through the wall into the sump in the fish room. I absolutely love the flexibility that the fish room gives me.