Tweakes182
New member
Following and would like to stop by and check it out in a few month if you dont mind.
Outdoor sump refugium build
- Thread starter maddhugan
- Start date
maddhugan
New member
You have already done it?
You have already done it?
awesome, some one has already done it. I will take any valuable advise from you. what is your opinion on sump insulation? any thoughts? any tips?
do you have a thread for your build?
I will learn anything I can from you.
You have already done it?
awesome, some one has already done it. I will take any valuable advise from you. what is your opinion on sump insulation? any thoughts? any tips?
do you have a thread for your build?
I will learn anything I can from you.
maddhugan
New member
inside the greenhouse
inside the greenhouse
I'm planning on having calcium reactor, protein skimmer, biopellet reactor, and return pump and that's it. oh yeah and the macroalgae and nothing else. no corals or shrimps or anything like that. May be some porous pukani rock.
inside the greenhouse
I'm planning on having calcium reactor, protein skimmer, biopellet reactor, and return pump and that's it. oh yeah and the macroalgae and nothing else. no corals or shrimps or anything like that. May be some porous pukani rock.
danil
New member
I also run external sump for few years before move to new house and what I find out that insulation is optional 
. I had no insulation at all for few months then I've added those inch thick foam sheets from HD and nothing get changed. I think the most of the heat loss coming from water surface and in my case it wasn't sealed. Overall I haven't noticed significant jump in electric bill when I moved to external sump (around 40g).
. I had no insulation at all for few months then I've added those inch thick foam sheets from HD and nothing get changed. I think the most of the heat loss coming from water surface and in my case it wasn't sealed. Overall I haven't noticed significant jump in electric bill when I moved to external sump (around 40g).
maddhugan
New member
Thanks for your input
Thanks for your input
Hello danil
Thanks for your input. In theory the heat transfer will occur from all six sides of the rectangular container. I'm planning on having a lid with twin wall polycarbonate sheet and that should cut come heat transfer.
Will start monitoring the temperature of the sump in two weeks with Neptune apex controller and will post the results and we will see how this works.
Thanks for your input
I also run external sump for few years before move to new house and what I find out that insulation is optional
Hello danil
Thanks for your input. In theory the heat transfer will occur from all six sides of the rectangular container. I'm planning on having a lid with twin wall polycarbonate sheet and that should cut come heat transfer.
Will start monitoring the temperature of the sump in two weeks with Neptune apex controller and will post the results and we will see how this works.
Claudio D
Member
Hi all
In my experience , heat gain will depend mostly from the Sun radiance and not from the sides,
Water flow also will influence the heat transfer , at the end water will not be still in the sump and with normal flow it will all converge in one temp
I am
Only capable of detecting
Minute differences between inside and outside temp very late at night when water flow is reduced
As you can see I Java e shaded top over the tank, direct sunlight is too much
Believe or not evaporation is in your benefit
Regards
Claudio
In my experience , heat gain will depend mostly from the Sun radiance and not from the sides,
Water flow also will influence the heat transfer , at the end water will not be still in the sump and with normal flow it will all converge in one temp
I am
Only capable of detecting
Minute differences between inside and outside temp very late at night when water flow is reduced
As you can see I Java e shaded top over the tank, direct sunlight is too much
Believe or not evaporation is in your benefit
Regards
Claudio
maddhugan
New member
Outdoor sump refugium build
Hope all is well with this project. Just my 2 cents, I have set up aquaponics units with less volume and less insulation than your sump and heat has never been an issue. Folks assume that 100 degree ambient temps equates to 100 degree water but it just doesn't work that way. It takes a ton of energy to heat water that high. I can have 5 straights days of 100 degree temps but with adequate volume and circulation, the temp in my sump never goes over 85 ish...usually less. 12 hours of summer sun just isn't strong enough to move the needle much in the temp gauge. I have no idea how that greenhouse will affect things but I assume if you open all the vents and doors on hot summer days, allowing airflow, it should be just fine.
Winters are always tough for me since the water does cool down quite a bit but thats because the system was designed for goldfish who can handle low temps. In your situation, the heavy insulation (amazing work by the way!) and the greenhouse should be a great help in minimizing fluctuations. I'm not sure what part of the country you're in but unless you have zero degree winters, I'm not seeing a great deal of issues. Good luck
Hope all is well with this project. Just my 2 cents, I have set up aquaponics units with less volume and less insulation than your sump and heat has never been an issue. Folks assume that 100 degree ambient temps equates to 100 degree water but it just doesn't work that way. It takes a ton of energy to heat water that high. I can have 5 straights days of 100 degree temps but with adequate volume and circulation, the temp in my sump never goes over 85 ish...usually less. 12 hours of summer sun just isn't strong enough to move the needle much in the temp gauge. I have no idea how that greenhouse will affect things but I assume if you open all the vents and doors on hot summer days, allowing airflow, it should be just fine.
Winters are always tough for me since the water does cool down quite a bit but thats because the system was designed for goldfish who can handle low temps. In your situation, the heavy insulation (amazing work by the way!) and the greenhouse should be a great help in minimizing fluctuations. I'm not sure what part of the country you're in but unless you have zero degree winters, I'm not seeing a great deal of issues. Good luck
Last edited:
maddhugan
New member
Finally all done
Finally all done
So I finally fished the plumbing and have been running RODI for the past week without a heater so see what temp is holds. I was surprised to see that it held at the same temp as the inside of my house. It stayed at 65 which is awesome.
now I added a 300 watts eheim heater and I set the temp at 73 and it beautifully maintain the temp right at 73.
I'm super happy with the set up.
The heavy insulation really paid off in my case.
Today, half an hour ago I completed the aquascaping and filled it with saltwater.
will release couple of clownfish this Saturday, and gradually increase the bioload by releasing couple of fish for every week.
soon will post apex temp graphs here. I'm super happy temp control and energy consumption wise.
Finally all done
So I finally fished the plumbing and have been running RODI for the past week without a heater so see what temp is holds. I was surprised to see that it held at the same temp as the inside of my house. It stayed at 65 which is awesome.
now I added a 300 watts eheim heater and I set the temp at 73 and it beautifully maintain the temp right at 73.
I'm super happy with the set up.
The heavy insulation really paid off in my case.
Today, half an hour ago I completed the aquascaping and filled it with saltwater.
will release couple of clownfish this Saturday, and gradually increase the bioload by releasing couple of fish for every week.
soon will post apex temp graphs here. I'm super happy temp control and energy consumption wise.
maddhugan
New member
winter is so easy for me
winter is so easy for me
winter is a success for me. with very less energy I can keep the temp up without any problem, It is like keeping the sump inside my house, and I see no difference. There is another tank inside my house and it moreorless consumes same energy for heating as the one with the sump outdoor.
now if I have no problems during summer then my build is a grand success for me. only time will tell.
we will see.
winter is so easy for me
winter is a success for me. with very less energy I can keep the temp up without any problem, It is like keeping the sump inside my house, and I see no difference. There is another tank inside my house and it moreorless consumes same energy for heating as the one with the sump outdoor.
now if I have no problems during summer then my build is a grand success for me. only time will tell.
we will see.
In summer I would use apex to control a fan for evaporative cooling outside. It can easily keep the water temp down, you will just use a lot more topoff water.
sfsuphysics
Active member
My PG&E bill just came to the tune of 1000+ kWh used last month (with 3.26kW of solar panels on the roof). Granted it was colder than normal, but I was none too happy with that number.
maddhugan
New member
summer i will use other techniques
summer i will use other techniques
So for the summer there will be a solar fan on top of the greenhouse, it will turn on when the temp goes above 78 and when the humidity goes high(forgot the number). Also, I have a water misting that will mist the green house every30 mins to bring the temp down. in theory, the water misting can't bring the temp down any further when the humidity reaches its saturation, but the solar fan won't let the humidity to build to its saturation, so this set up should work very good in theory. I will put the theory to test when the summer comes. well, the water mister, solar fan, opening and closing of the sump top door will be controlled by Neptune apex. The goal is the spend as less money as possible on the energy.
well, if the "theory" doesn't work, then I have a one horse power tradewind chiller which will do the trick at the expense of lot of energy.
I'm ready for summer now.............
summer i will use other techniques
So for the summer there will be a solar fan on top of the greenhouse, it will turn on when the temp goes above 78 and when the humidity goes high(forgot the number). Also, I have a water misting that will mist the green house every30 mins to bring the temp down. in theory, the water misting can't bring the temp down any further when the humidity reaches its saturation, but the solar fan won't let the humidity to build to its saturation, so this set up should work very good in theory. I will put the theory to test when the summer comes. well, the water mister, solar fan, opening and closing of the sump top door will be controlled by Neptune apex. The goal is the spend as less money as possible on the energy.
well, if the "theory" doesn't work, then I have a one horse power tradewind chiller which will do the trick at the expense of lot of energy.
I'm ready for summer now.............
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