Planning a basement sump

[JustinM]

Has anyone gone from an under the tank sump to a basement sump? I would like to combine the 2 tanks I have and figured a basement sump would do that easily. I could also add a drag tank as well.

I was just hoping for some insight on what to do with the sumps under my tank. I won't be able to remove the tank so I can get the sump out and they wouldn't come out any other way beside breaking it.

Just looking for ideas I guess. Appreciate any input.

 

[mcgyvr]

I'm confused..
So you have a system now with a display tank and a sump and you want to add another tank to the system (3 tanks total?) and plan to put that in your basement?

Or are you abandoning the one under your tank now or something?

 

[JustinM]

Sorry about that. I guess really what I would like to know is, is it possible to remove a 40 breeder sump from beneath my 120? I really don’t want an empty tank under my display when I move to a basement sump.

 

[Mark Bianco]

It all depends on how you stand is made. The only thing I can think of would be to cut a hole big enough in one of the ends to remove the sump, providing you don't cut any of the supporting / structural bracing. Or you could make an awesome refugium out of it...

 

[JustinM]

I was thinking of turning into a large refugium, guess I would just need to drill the sump. Is it possible to drill it upright? The wife could sit there with a spray bottle and keep it wet while I drill it.

 

[Mark Bianco]

Someone once said anything is possible, but a lot is not practical. That being said you would first need to see if the glass (I am assuming) is tempered if it is forget it. I have attempted to drill glass two different times both were under what I considered ideal conditions and both attempts failed. There are many videos showing you the proper way to drill a tank, but for me not ever again.

Good luck

 

[DancingShark]

So your thinking of having the main display tank, the a refugium in the stand, going down to basement sump for you filtration and stuff.
Seems like it could work but to complicated for my liking in terms of water in my home. The only thing I would be worried about and stop me personally from doing it is that refugium's overflow system getting flow restriction and overflowing.

I just like simpler things.

 

[JustinM]

Ideally I would just want to remove the sump from under my stand. I really don’t think I could put a hole in the stand to remove it. The 40 underneath is only tempered on the bottom. I have drilled 2 other tanks with success, but they were on their side and I had ample room to work with.

The refugium underneath sounds great, but it’s just on more piece that could fail.

 

[mcgyvr]

I still don't get it..
you have a functioning 40b as a sump now but want to do a sump in your basement instead and your 40b has been literally built into the stand and you want to remove it but you don't think you can and you want us to tell you how but you haven't posted pictures yet so you want us to just guess??
post pictures if you want help figuring out how to get a sump out of a stand that only you know what limitations are preventing you from just removing it please
That or find my mind reading hat..

 

[awais98]

I still don't get it..
you have a functioning 40b as a sump now but want to do a sump in your basement instead and your 40b has been literally built into the stand and you want to remove it but you don't think you can and you want us to tell you how but you haven't posted pictures yet so you want us to just guess??
post pictures if you want help figuring out how to get a sump out of a stand that only you know what limitations are preventing you from just removing it please
That or find my mind reading hat..

1+
My thoughts too


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[JustinM]

So here are a few pics, just a basic 120 with the basic stand. What to do to remove the 40 breeder sump.




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[zheka757]

the back of you stand i open right? drain you water from sump and aquarium into temporary bins and drag the aquarium away from wall enough to pull your sump from the back out. i have 4 32g garbage bins that i use for aquarium from home depot $13 each

 

[Coralfuture]

the back of you stand i open right? drain you water from sump and aquarium into temporary bins and drag the aquarium away from wall enough to pull your sump from the back out. i have 4 32g garbage bins that i use for aquarium from home depot $13 each

I don't think that the moving the tank thing is possible with the rock/corals sand and just overall weight of that beast. I would be suggesting the refugium option and drain most of the water to your basement sump and limit the supply to the refugium sump so that you don't have to have another pump and would really only need 1 drain(I would do a DIY overflow to basement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZytENJZtJw ) maybe 2 tho JIC something blocks the 1 drain. This would likely be your safest option and keep the most possibilities open to your setup.

 

[JustinM]

The back of the stand has a brace too. Unfortunately I think I need to keep it as a refugium or just take a hammer to it to get it out.

 

[Green Chromis]

:fish1: Hi, I have a separate sump and refugium, it's simple, just drill two drain holes in your under the tank sump, at the height you want the water, and use that as a refuge, make sure that using only one drain hole will handle the flow from the return pump to the main tank , to the under tank refugium, and then down to the sump. One more thing, make sure you build, or use a sump large enough to handle the water loss from both the main display tank and refugium in case there is a power outage. The second drain hole, the same size as the first one, will be used for a back up incase the first one is some how blocked. Then you will need to get a pressure rated pump to return the water from the basement sump back to the main display tank. :fish1:

 

[Sk8r]

Use the old sump for equipment storage: just organize it. No need to go to the effort and risk of breaking it down.

 

[outy]

I built my cabinet/stand with removable panels for tank sump removal.

Basement sump was the best move I have ever made. The living room is almost silent and water changes done under the house. You will love the extra water volume. I use a 100g stock tank which makes 100G water changes easy when I do them

 

[JustinM]

I planned on using it for storage anyways, guess I could use it as storage, or just turn it into a fuge. Thanks for the help!

 

[Cuby2k]

I did that. It took up almost 150 Sf of an underutilized space in the basement. I loved it. make sure that you use overflows that will not siphon. I had a 100 gallon refugium with chambers for filtration and live rock that dumped into a watering trough filled with more live rock. I loved it.

 

[JustinM]

This will definitely be in the works in the next few months.