GFCI and Basement Reefs

BRISK495 · 10/14/2007, 11:24 AM

I will be setting up a 120 reef in my basement. I spoke to the contractor and they said that all basement outlets must be GFCI. I get nervous with this concenpt as if they decide to trip the entire system shuts off. I will probably have 3 outlets installed just for this tank so that if one trips I still have two others running...What are other reefers doing in this situation? What do you have installed in your basements? I remember seeign a feelow reefer with a system that allows for more wattage/current to pass through, not sure what that is called, should I get that installed as well/instead? This is a brand new house, and I have a lot of freedoms to do what I want, so want to make sure it is done the best way.....and the safest for my house and of course the reef tank...Thanks for any imput.

Racing1 · 10/14/2007, 11:27 AM

I have my sump in my basement and have no problems with the GFCI outlet's. I run the main pump, Heater's, Skimmer, Sump Lighting, Frag Tank, and a couple power heads and have had no problems with it tripping any circuits. I do have a dedicated 20 amp line just for the tank equipment though...

BRISK495 · 10/14/2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Racing1
I have my sump in my basement and have no problems with the GFCI outlet's. I run the main pump, Heater's, Skimmer, Sump Lighting, Frag Tank, and a couple power heads and have had no problems with it tripping any circuits. I do have a dedicated 20 amp line just for the tank equipment though...

thanks...how many outlets are you using?

catdoc · 10/14/2007, 01:24 PM

I've got 2 20-amp circuits for my sump room in the basement. One runs the return pump and a heater, the other runs the frag tank lights, skimmer, and remaining equipment. I could run more on the line with the return pump, but wanted that one to be more or less "fail-safe". The circuit with the return pump only has 4 outlets on it, all controlled by a single GFCI. The other circuit has 8 outlets, with 2 separate GFCI. The electrician had to be convinced of the need for the GFCI--he tried to reason with me that it would trip and shut things down and I reminded him that around salt water, that's exactly what I want to happen if there's a problem!

IndyReefMan · 10/14/2007, 03:34 PM

My tank, sump and refugium are all located in my basement. I had some electricians come out and run three circuits for the set-up. They asked me if I wanted GFCI's or not and I told them no. I was concerned that if they tripped while I was on vacation that I would lose livestock. In retrospect, I should have put in the GFCI's. I didn't think about the electrical dangers at the time.

Roy G. Biv · 10/14/2007, 04:59 PM

I have my tank uspstairs, and sump/fuge in the basement. Each is fed with a 20amp and gfci circuit breakers in the panel. The tank has 2 (4plugs)dual hard wired outlets. The sump has 6 (12 plugs)dual hard wired outlets.

Alaska_Phil · 10/14/2007, 06:13 PM

I'll have to check my code book at work, but my recollection is that you're only required to have GFI's in the basement if it's unfinished.

That said, you definitely want GFI protection for you tank equipment. How many depends on how much equipment you have, but I'd recommend at least one dedicated 20 amp circuit for your tank. Then tell your electrician that you want individual GFI's at the tank location. You DO NOT want through wired GFI's. Through wiring GFI's allows one GFI outlet to protect several normal outlets. However, a problem at one, will shut all down. With multiple GFI's you can spread your loads out between them. For example put your sump return on one, and your closed loop on the other, so if one trips you still have some current. Same with your lights if you have multiple light circuits.

Phil

BRISK495 · 10/14/2007, 06:22 PM

Hey Phil...That is some gret advice, I will print this out for the contractor. This basement is unfinished....for now at least. I will definitely make sure that I DO NOT get through wired GFI's...I want to do exactlyas you suggest....spread out the problem, if one should trip...

Quote:

Originally posted by Alaska_Phil
I'll have to check my code book at work, but my recollection is that you're only required to have GFI's in the basement if it's unfinished.

That said, you definitely want GFI protection for you tank equipment. How many depends on how much equipment you have, but I'd recommend at least one dedicated 20 amp circuit for your tank. Then tell your electrician that you want individual GFI's at the tank location. You DO NOT want through wired GFI's. Through wiring GFI's allows one GFI outlet to protect several normal outlets. However, a problem at one, will shut all down. With multiple GFI's you can spread your loads out between them. For example put your sump return on one, and your closed loop on the other, so if one trips you still have some current. Same with your lights if you have multiple light circuits.

Phil

cato · 10/14/2007, 06:52 PM

Split the circuit into 2 breakers and plug half the stuff in one and half in the other. I have 2 20 amp circuits. Each has 2 double GFCI outlet boxes. If your trying to set up a 120g system all on 1 circuit you should be more worried about overloading the breaker as opposed to the GFCI tripping. IMHO. My system has been running almost a year with not a single trip yet. Knock on wood.

dendro982 · 10/15/2007, 07:01 AM

I'll second the last post: have 2 separate lines, if one stops working - another may work. GFCI exist with automatic restoring, not only manual. But locally they are not available in retail.

I have CGFI for my basement 90g tank, but because of code, and not of my wish

.
Sometimes they trip off, after power shut off in entire neighborhood. Luckily, there is always somebody to turn it on again. Don't like GFCI, but have to use them.

RicGio · 10/15/2007, 12:20 PM

Why don't you just wire the GFCI receps in parallel with pigtails? That way one recep tripping will not trip all the receps downstream. You'd need all receps to be GFCI, though.

BRISK495 · 10/15/2007, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RicGio
Why don't you just wire the GFCI receps in parallel with pigtails? That way one recep tripping will not trip all the receps downstream. You'd need all receps to be GFCI, though.

ahhh....yeah....ahhh....thanks. I am not sure what that means but I will print this out for the contractor to look at...I m sure he l know what this means...thanks for your imput.

BRISK495 · 10/15/2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dendro982
I'll second the last post: have 2 separate lines, if one stops working - another may work. GFCI exist with automatic restoring, not only manual. But locally they are not available in retail.

I have CGFI for my basement 90g tank, but because of code, and not of my wish .
Sometimes they trip off, after power shut off in entire neighborhood. Luckily, there is always somebody to turn it on again. Don't like GFCI, but have to use them.

yea, thats is exactly what I was afraid of too

dela · 10/15/2007, 09:00 PM

I've got two separate GFCI's. 1/2 the pumps on one and 1/2 on the other. That way if one trips, no problem. Although to be honest, I forget to turn the pumps back on every once in a while after I feed and don't realize it till the next day... never had a problem. Not really sure why a tank would crash after such a short period...

Personally I would not risk my life or the life of my family by not having everything on a GFCI. Also, 90% of the time, they trip when you turn pumps on/off.. which unless you have big pumps on a cycle of some sort, it usually not really an issue.

10/14/2007, 11:24 AM	#1
BRISK495 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: South Harrison, NJ Posts: 1,024	GFCI and Basement Reefs I will be setting up a 120 reef in my basement. I spoke to the contractor and they said that all basement outlets must be GFCI. I get nervous with this concenpt as if they decide to trip the entire system shuts off. I will probably have 3 outlets installed just for this tank so that if one trips I still have two others running...What are other reefers doing in this situation? What do you have installed in your basements? I remember seeign a feelow reefer with a system that allows for more wattage/current to pass through, not sure what that is called, should I get that installed as well/instead? This is a brand new house, and I have a lot of freedoms to do what I want, so want to make sure it is done the best way.....and the safest for my house and of course the reef tank...Thanks for any imput. __________________ My addiction began as a kid visiting Martin's Aquarium!! Current Tank Info: 100 starphire rimless in planning since January 2012. 100 Gallon Rubbermaid Basement Sump and 65 gallon refugium.

10/14/2007, 01:24 PM	#4
catdoc Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bloomington, IN Posts: 1,449	I've got 2 20-amp circuits for my sump room in the basement. One runs the return pump and a heater, the other runs the frag tank lights, skimmer, and remaining equipment. I could run more on the line with the return pump, but wanted that one to be more or less "fail-safe". The circuit with the return pump only has 4 outlets on it, all controlled by a single GFCI. The other circuit has 8 outlets, with 2 separate GFCI. The electrician had to be convinced of the need for the GFCI--he tried to reason with me that it would trip and shut things down and I reminded him that around salt water, that's exactly what I want to happen if there's a problem! __________________ Christy Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. -George Eliot Current Tank Info: 55 gallon w/spawning onyx percs, bangaii pair & pink spotted goby w/ gbta, softies

10/14/2007, 06:13 PM	#7
Alaska_Phil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: North Pole Posts: 986	I'll have to check my code book at work, but my recollection is that you're only required to have GFI's in the basement if it's unfinished. That said, you definitely want GFI protection for you tank equipment. How many depends on how much equipment you have, but I'd recommend at least one dedicated 20 amp circuit for your tank. Then tell your electrician that you want individual GFI's at the tank location. You DO NOT want through wired GFI's. Through wiring GFI's allows one GFI outlet to protect several normal outlets. However, a problem at one, will shut all down. With multiple GFI's you can spread your loads out between them. For example put your sump return on one, and your closed loop on the other, so if one trips you still have some current. Same with your lights if you have multiple light circuits. Phil __________________ Don't be afraid to fall - if you're not falling down once in a while, you're not trying anything new and probably not having much fun. Current Tank Info: 50 gal mixed reef, 65 gal freshwater planted.

10/14/2007, 06:52 PM	#9
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	Split the circuit into 2 breakers and plug half the stuff in one and half in the other. I have 2 20 amp circuits. Each has 2 double GFCI outlet boxes. If your trying to set up a 120g system all on 1 circuit you should be more worried about overloading the breaker as opposed to the GFCI tripping. IMHO. My system has been running almost a year with not a single trip yet. Knock on wood. __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

10/14/2007, 11:27 AM	#2
Racing1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 740	I have my sump in my basement and have no problems with the GFCI outlet's. I run the main pump, Heater's, Skimmer, Sump Lighting, Frag Tank, and a couple power heads and have had no problems with it tripping any circuits. I do have a dedicated 20 amp line just for the tank equipment though...

10/14/2007, 03:34 PM	#5
IndyReefMan Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 477	My tank, sump and refugium are all located in my basement. I had some electricians come out and run three circuits for the set-up. They asked me if I wanted GFCI's or not and I told them no. I was concerned that if they tripped while I was on vacation that I would lose livestock. In retrospect, I should have put in the GFCI's. I didn't think about the electrical dangers at the time.

10/14/2007, 04:59 PM	#6
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	I have my tank uspstairs, and sump/fuge in the basement. Each is fed with a 20amp and gfci circuit breakers in the panel. The tank has 2 (4plugs)dual hard wired outlets. The sump has 6 (12 plugs)dual hard wired outlets.

10/15/2007, 07:01 AM	#10
dendro982 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,963	I'll second the last post: have 2 separate lines, if one stops working - another may work. GFCI exist with automatic restoring, not only manual. But locally they are not available in retail. I have CGFI for my basement 90g tank, but because of code, and not of my wish . Sometimes they trip off, after power shut off in entire neighborhood. Luckily, there is always somebody to turn it on again. Don't like GFCI, but have to use them.

10/15/2007, 12:20 PM	#11
RicGio Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NJ Posts: 658	Why don't you just wire the GFCI receps in parallel with pigtails? That way one recep tripping will not trip all the receps downstream. You'd need all receps to be GFCI, though.

10/15/2007, 09:00 PM	#14
dela Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: St Louis Posts: 1,526	I've got two separate GFCI's. 1/2 the pumps on one and 1/2 on the other. That way if one trips, no problem. Although to be honest, I forget to turn the pumps back on every once in a while after I feed and don't realize it till the next day... never had a problem. Not really sure why a tank would crash after such a short period... Personally I would not risk my life or the life of my family by not having everything on a GFCI. Also, 90% of the time, they trip when you turn pumps on/off.. which unless you have big pumps on a cycle of some sort, it usually not really an issue.