Sump in garage

[Tryder]

Anyone have this setup?

Just wondering thinking about putting my sump in the garage, so i can work on under my tank easier. I'm guessing 20 ft of pipe so would need to pick up a new pump and chiller.

 

[rogergolf66]

Lots of people have this. Whats the question?

 

[Tryder]

Return pump and chiller size.

 

[rogergolf66]

What size display tank and what would be total actual water volume? How many returns and what size r they?

 

[Tryder]

I'm guessing around 180 total water volume 90 display, 75 sump and 40 breeder frag. Lets just say 180-200 to be safe.

 

[gobolts23]

i would go with a 1/2HP Chiller. and a reeflo pump should be good for that many feet.

 

[rogergolf66]

I would say reef flo snapper dart hybrid. 1/2 should do it. Only the sump in garage?

 

[Tryder]

No the breeder as well, display in the house.

 

[robthorn]

You need a heat pump. Still gets cold in Florida.

 

[Ali :D]

I wouldn't recommend doing it with a small tank, if you figure nearly half your water volume is in the garage. With larger systems the tem fluctuations are usually manageable, in your case you're going to need a big chiller and lots of heat to keep the temp in range. turn your display into a 180+ gallon and then you'll have less headaches with temp.

 

[Tryder]

1/2 hp chiller wouldn't work to keep it stable?

 

[Dogs442]

I had my 90gal in house with my 60gal sump and 40gal breeder frag tank in the garage. Was all hook up with a 1/3hp chiller and 2 300watt heaters and an 1800 gph pump. Heaters came on depending on water temp and chiller was on at 79 degrees. Needless to say the chiller was amost always on during the summer and so were the heaters during winter. I then moved to a 180gal and switched to a dart pump. Only effects I had ever seen was the electric bill moving everything to the garage.

 

[Tryder]

I plan to upgrade my tank in the future, when we move into are next house within a year year and a half. Just wanted some extra room to work underneath my tank.


Do you park any cars in your garage?

 

[Ali :D]

1/2 hp chiller wouldn't work to keep it stable?

It will but I wouldn't like your electric bill in summer. IMO, looks like a lot of work for little gain, where the idea is good and does work but in your case I think it's not worth it for the benefit you will get. Especially if you plan to move soon, I would get your 90 up and going and keep it simple and when you move you can plan a better, bigger system.

 

[Tryder]

Its already up and going just tinkering now.

 

[acro-ed]

I'm doing it with a 120g in the house and about another ~140g in the garage. I am using a 1/2 hp chiller and it works very efficiently (was working reasonably well with a 1/3, but I got a good deal on the 1/2...it was working my old 1/4 WAY too hard, just for reference). I am using (2)x200w heaters, though I have another 200w heater in case it gets really cold. Everything runs through a little Reefkeeper Lite unit. My plumbing only has to run about 5 feet (dining room shares a wall with part of the garage wall), so I didn't need a pressure rated pump. I am using a Reeflo Dart; you will probably need something that can handle a little more pressure. Hope that helps.

-Ed

 

[Tryder]

Thanks that is what I was looking for

 

[robthorn]

A Reeflo Dart through a 1/2 h.p. chiller?

 

[acro-ed]

A Reeflo Dart through a 1/2 h.p. chiller?

The flow from the pump is split through several valves; only one feeds the chiller, which then feeds the display tank. The remainder of the flow feeds the frag tanks in the garage.

Thanks,
Ed

 

[Dogs442]

I used a "manifold" to split everything up, all flow was designed as needed for the application. It was Terry's (killerbee181) designed and worked flawlessly. Electric bill was about $25 more in the summer months and maybe a little less in the "winter" month. No biggie as the coral frags made up for the extra expense.