Pumping from the basement question?

fish maniac · 08/11/2013, 07:44 PM

I live in a very old home (circa 1870). My front room is where I am putting my new 150 gal. reef setup. I would like to put the sump in my basement through a crawl space, but will probably have 15 to 17 feet of head to get to the tank with 4 90's. is this even possible?

It would be better to have in the basement due to space and items such as auto top off, ect. Can anyone provide some guidance?

I am returning to the hobby after a couple of year sabbatical and now that I have the type of job to support what I want. Meaning money is not the biggest issue......

droth335 · 08/11/2013, 07:52 PM

It is very possible. We have our sump in the basement and have 4 90's and 2 45's with decent flow (pushing 20 feet of head). We have a Reeflo Hammerhead and it gets the job done. I hesitate to recommend it until we have more experience with it because the first one we got leaked right out of the box so had to get a replacement (I since have heard this is a common problem with the dart and hammerhead pumps). I will say their customer service was top notch though so if this replacement pump works out I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. There are other high pressure pumps on the market but I don't have any first hand experience with them.

fish maniac · 08/11/2013, 08:08 PM

Thanks for the info Dave!

ct_vol · 08/11/2013, 08:35 PM

+1 for Reeflo Hammerhead... Very pleased with mine...

ca1ore · 08/11/2013, 11:40 PM

Frankly, any good sized pump rated for pressure should do the trick. If you can use the elbows that have a more gentle curve, they can help reduce pipe friction. For a 150, as long as you get 500 gallons per hour net through the sump you should be fine.

fish maniac · 08/12/2013, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the input everyone.

OCCOFNY · 08/12/2013, 05:35 AM

A couple of things to consider too. Make sure you design your systems with some sort of siphon break in it. You don't want all the water draining back down into your basement through the return line. Also size your sump that when power is down all the water that drains bank into your sump will not overflow the sump. As for the hammerheads, reeflo also makes pressure pumps that will pump what you are doing without any problem. Good luck, Neil

Zagzoo71 · 08/12/2013, 09:56 AM

I have a 92g tank in my living room, the sump is right below it in the basement. I have 15ft of head straight up. I have been using a reeflo 1450 blowhole, no issues.

fish maniac · 08/12/2013, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OCCOFNY

A couple of things to consider too. Make sure you design your systems with some sort of siphon break in it. You don't want all the water draining back down into your basement through the return line. Also size your sump that when power is down all the water that drains bank into your sump will not overflow the sump. As for the hammerheads, reeflo also makes pressure pumps that will pump what you are doing without any problem. Good luck, Neil

I have a 150 gal. pre-drilled reef ready aquarium with built in overflows. I am assuming that if the pump stops working, water will not be pushed into the overflows and the flow would stop anyway. Please correct me i I am wrong on this........

Thanks for the reply.

mc-cro · 08/12/2013, 10:55 AM

In my opinion, a basement sump room is the only way to go. I have been using the same Panworld pump for almost 10 years to pump up from the basement. I have had numerous configurations, at one point, it shot up 8ft, then about 20ft across the house, then up another 6ft, along with sweeps, and elbows.

leveldrummer · 08/12/2013, 11:16 AM

when you measure head, you only measure the verticle height, not length across the room. 15-17 feet seems like an awful lot.

08/11/2013, 07:44 PM	#1
fish maniac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Southeast, OH Posts: 27	Pumping from the basement question? I live in a very old home (circa 1870). My front room is where I am putting my new 150 gal. reef setup. I would like to put the sump in my basement through a crawl space, but will probably have 15 to 17 feet of head to get to the tank with 4 90's. is this even possible? It would be better to have in the basement due to space and items such as auto top off, ect. Can anyone provide some guidance? I am returning to the hobby after a couple of year sabbatical and now that I have the type of job to support what I want. Meaning money is not the biggest issue......

08/11/2013, 07:52 PM	#2
droth335 Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 794	It is very possible. We have our sump in the basement and have 4 90's and 2 45's with decent flow (pushing 20 feet of head). We have a Reeflo Hammerhead and it gets the job done. I hesitate to recommend it until we have more experience with it because the first one we got leaked right out of the box so had to get a replacement (I since have heard this is a common problem with the dart and hammerhead pumps). I will say their customer service was top notch though so if this replacement pump works out I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. There are other high pressure pumps on the market but I don't have any first hand experience with them. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 210 sps dominant reef: 40g sump, kalk,4 reefbreeder photon 32's ; 300DD mixed reef with 180 gallon sump, 4 Reefbreeder Photon 32's.

08/11/2013, 08:35 PM	#4
ct_vol Reefing On My Mind Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kempton, IL Posts: 8,083	+1 for Reeflo Hammerhead... Very pleased with mine... __________________ Randy Volunteers, Blackhawks, Titans, Cubs!!!! Current Tank Info: 185g waiting to be built, 120g SPS/Anemone Reef, 120g SCA in the works, 58g mixed reef w/ 6x39w T5, 125g grow out w/ Reef Breeders

08/12/2013, 09:56 AM	#8
Zagzoo71 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Springfield, Ohio Posts: 242	I have a 92g tank in my living room, the sump is right below it in the basement. I have 15ft of head straight up. I have been using a reeflo 1450 blowhole, no issues. __________________ Tank #1: 180g "in the wall" ClownFish Harem Tank! Current Tank Info: 180g In the wall build

08/12/2013, 10:55 AM	#10
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	In my opinion, a basement sump room is the only way to go. I have been using the same Panworld pump for almost 10 years to pump up from the basement. I have had numerous configurations, at one point, it shot up 8ft, then about 20ft across the house, then up another 6ft, along with sweeps, and elbows. __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

08/11/2013, 08:08 PM	#3
fish maniac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Southeast, OH Posts: 27	Thanks for the info Dave!

08/11/2013, 11:40 PM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Frankly, any good sized pump rated for pressure should do the trick. If you can use the elbows that have a more gentle curve, they can help reduce pipe friction. For a 150, as long as you get 500 gallons per hour net through the sump you should be fine.

08/12/2013, 03:12 AM	#6
fish maniac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Southeast, OH Posts: 27	Thanks for the input everyone.

08/12/2013, 05:35 AM	#7
OCCOFNY Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Newburgh, NY Posts: 59	A couple of things to consider too. Make sure you design your systems with some sort of siphon break in it. You don't want all the water draining back down into your basement through the return line. Also size your sump that when power is down all the water that drains bank into your sump will not overflow the sump. As for the hammerheads, reeflo also makes pressure pumps that will pump what you are doing without any problem. Good luck, Neil

08/12/2013, 11:16 AM	#11
leveldrummer Reefer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,831	when you measure head, you only measure the verticle height, not length across the room. 15-17 feet seems like an awful lot.