Remote Sumps: Control

[UWUALineman]

I've been looking to go to a remote sump either with my existing tank, or hopefully an upgrade in the future. Plumbing shouldn't be a problem, however, controlling the reef upstairs, and in the basement, need some help.
I think the AC3 its a simple as another DC8 and a length of phone line to run from the power center to the controller correct?
Heaters: with the basement being in the high 50's to low 60's, there would be a considerable cooling effect compared to the DT with lighting and household tempereatures. I can see this being a positive in the summer, but what about the winter? Add another pair of heaters for a total of about 800 watts? Temp probe placement is limited to the controller placement, so put everything in the basement in the sump? Keep the sump temperature the same as you would want your DT, or slightly higher to offset any temperature drop as the water makes its way through the enclosed concrete space to DT?
The sump will be a 100G stock tank.

 

[szwab]

IO the easiest would be to put everything in the basement. This is assuming the AC3 is connected to the internet. This way all your equipment is in one place and out of sight. Set the temp the way you normally would with enough flow there should not be a difference between tank and sump. Getting a few spare heaters wouldn't be a bad idea. It does lower temps a bit but I can't remember how much. The rubbermaid brutes don't transfer a lot of heat through the fiberglass. The ambient air does help a lot depends on your system what pumps lights etc and timing. Generally the temp drops significantly when the lights are off.

 

[CleveYank]

You can build a frame for the 100 gallon to sit in like the way they enclosed drop in tubs. Then insulate that frame with 1 inch R-6 home sheathing insulation. Sealing the wood frame with a non toxic sealer/paint or epoxy would be a good idea. You can just use the insulation as the panels around it or get fancy and put removable sealed wood panels over them. Make sure to have some insulation panel under it too to isolate the contact of the sump with the basement floor. This and a PVC center brace with 2 cut to fit plexiglass covers with access holes to allow for tubing or skimmers above the edge would make the heat loss minimal. Only limitations are your imagination and murphy's law. Good Luck.

Oh yeah, pulling air from the warmer or conditioned air above for your skimmer venturi feed would also help since a skimmer depending upon the CFM of draw can also impact system temperature.

 

[szwab]

A lot also depends on your house temps how cool you keep the air how warm you heat. Good point on drawing air with the skimmer with my system in the spring and fall I draw air from outside to help cool the tank. It's very effective.

 

[jh2pizza]

I run a total of 4 - 200w heaters. Two on the controller and two off set to the desired temperature. Redundancy is key if your gone a lot as I am. By doing this, it protects you a few different ways. By having several smaller heaters, if one goes rouge on you and sticks, it would take a good while for a 200w heater to over heat your tank with a bulk of the water volume in the basement. If your controller goes off line, and mine has, then the two not connected to the controller can maintain your tank. As far as the sump goes, you can go as fancy or plain with the installation. You can set it on a stand or you can set it on the concrete. If your worried about too much temperature transfer as I am, I am setting my new sump on the floor sitting on a few 2 x4s laying flat with 1.5" blue board foam between the boards. Keep in mind, when I had my sump upstairs, I ran a chiller 10 months out of the year, after moving to the basement, Its never been re-connected and I had to purchase additional heaters that for the most part cycle daily with a 180 upstairs and roughly 90 gals of water in the basement.

But then again, why would you ask about a basement sump? I thought you told me you would never get into the hobby that much. LMAO

 

[UWUALineman]

But then again, why would you ask about a basement sump? I thought you told me you would never get into the hobby that much. LMAO

I know I know. Its yours as well as Bill's fault. You guys can't show me nice systems like you guys own and expect me to not aspire to create a large system myself. Call it......................tank envy. :bigeyes:

Thank you all. Very good ideas. I built a stand orginally for a different purpose, however, I am liking the idea of isolating it from the concrete with a few boards. Simple and effective. I have quite a bit of spare insulation as well. Possibilites are everywhere for that.
Never considered the skimmer intake helping as well. I may be out in left field on this one but with cooler air being less dense.....would this have any impact on skimmate prouction? Thinking too far in to it I am guessing.

 

[justin00]

You can always put the ac3 downstairs with everything then get a px1000 with another temp sensor. This way you can monitor both the DT and sump. When i had my basement sump i didn't notice a temp diference but i was pushing around 3500gph.

I would set everything up and not worry about the temp difference as if it is different it should be pretty constant ie 1 degree warmer in the DT than the sump. then you can just program everything that 1 degree cooler and everything will be fine.