sump in my basement

[ti-christ]

Hello guys and ladies,

I currently own a 180 gallons show tank + 28 gallons refugium + 40 gallons sump. My setup is ugly since all equipments dont fit under the main tank.

The main tank is a Perfecto 180g with 2 overflow in each corner. Each overflow has 2 one inch tube, one for return and one for incoming water from the sump pump.

As you can see below, we setup is very ugly and noisy. There is not enough room to put all equipments:

photo.JPG
Therefore, I want to install my sump and mu refugium and equipment in a little room in my basement. The room will have 4 feet by 7 feet and 7.5 feet tall. This room will be attach to my current basement bathroom.

I have sketchuped very quickly what i want to do:

top_view.jpg

tank.jpg

Also, I want to remove exces pump to drive my bio-pellet and Phosphate reactor. Instead I want to use the return pump.

1) What do you think about that?

2) Do you have any suggestion for the return pump ?

I have saw the following pump: HD pump 70 (seem an improve copy of iwaki pump in Japan) ?!?!?!
Or the Coralife TURBO-SEA 1740-P pump ?

Do you know these pumps ? Noise, realibility, etc.

3) I want to avoid drilling the sump tank. Is it possible to locate the pump above water level and use a 90degree tube from top water connected to the pump?

4) Do have any design of an anti-splash and noise box where the water return ?

5) In both tank, I will put live rock in it because I have too much LV in my main tank!

6) Any idea or comments will be welcome!!!

[tkeracer619]

1. I like it
2. The Blue Line? http://www.aquacave.com/blueline-70-...world-536.html If so its a good pump.
3. No. You should drill the sump.
4. A Tee on the end to slow the water and a filter sock will do wonders. Just don't let the sock get too dirty.
5. Good idea, give the fish and corals more room to play.
6. I think you have a well thought out system. Make sure that your sump can handle the extra water in case of power outage. There is a surprising amount of water in the pipes.

[das75]

1. basement sump myself so of course think a great idea
2. had a Iwaki MD70, excellent pump, but was a little oversized (with head still pumping 2000gph) so switched to a Reeflo, little quieter and less power and still can get about same flow. The mag coupled drive though is still superior over seals. Ask 10 people what pump and you'll probably get 10 different models
3. can go over top, but not a big deal to drill a hole if sump not tempered
4. I started with Dursos and made a bubble trap (basically a pail with small holes along bottom) and filter socks to stop the bubbles. Have since converted to a Herbie drain and no bubbles or gurgling (as doesn't draw air) this is with flowing 1000gph into the basement. You design though the whole fuge is a bubble trap
5. I've got LR in both my fuge and sump
6. take a look at the basement sump thread and for manifolds (one of many threads)

[Bladez]

This will probably be your biggest issue... A 40 gallon sump may not be big enough to hold the excess water that drains away from your DT when the power is out. Bigger is better (for a sump) and if you have the room maybe a Rubbermaid stock tank would be better for your sump.

Originally Posted by tkeracer619

Make sure that your sump can handle the extra water in case of power outage. There is a surprising amount of water in the pipes.

[ti-christ]

Thank you for you fast reply!

The sump will be either a 75g or 90g tank. Not decided yet. I did not thought about rubbermaid container. I have to look at that.

I think that I will probably go with the blueline pump HD70. The water head is about 15 feet from the pump and I also need the feed my reactor with manifold.

Also, I'm planning to use only rigid PVC for the water drain and return. I will sketchup soon how the tubing will pass from 1st level to my basement.

[das75]

Originally Posted by ti-christ

I did not thought about rubbermaid container. I have to look at that.


Also, I'm planning to use only rigid PVC for the water drain and return.

The basement sump link has lots of clean builds with the rubbermaid tubs. Also easy to drill for that external pump.

When I did my layout used a mix of rigid and Spaflex as made it fairly easy to go through and between the floor joists.

[ti-christ]

Is it all rubbermaid tub safe to use ?

I was afraid hat some rubbermaid tubs could leech toxic product in the system water !?!?

[gweston]

A lot of people are using the rubbermaid 'stock tanks' for sumps. No one has reported any problems so far. They are super tough and are made for animals/livestock on farms. They can sit out in the elements and take a serious physical beating.

Just make sure you are looking at the right type. To see what they look like:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/livesto...00-gal-2229901

The only weak spot might be the drain plug in the bottom if you intend to use it for running pipe/flow. You CAN install a bulkhead and plumb a pipe in, though you may need to cut/dremel the hole wider or make adjustments to get it to fit just right. There are threads on this topic in this forum.

[Bladez]

I have been running the 300 gallon version on my system for quite some time with no problems.

[Wrench]

Do it!

I have all of my equpment in the basement. I use the Blueline 70 pump and it's great. It's rated at 390w but I can tell you that when I put my system online my electric bill only went up by less than $30 and thats with halides, skimmer, return pump and accessory pump.

I would not use the same pump to power your reactors. That is a high pressure pump and you will have a hard time controlling flow to your different devices. You could look into a smaller pump. I use a Panworld 50px-x which puts out around 1000gph. It powers my frag tank, carbon rx, sulfur denitrifier, ca reactor and I have two unused outputs for future expansion.

As for the overflows I used the BeanAnimal design. It's SILENT and failsafe. If you have the means of utilizing this design I would not hesitate to do so.

I used ALL spa flex on my system except for the return and would not think twice about using it again. Makes plumbing easy.

[Wrench]

Here are the two pumps. The smaller one in the upper left is what feeds my reactor manifold.



Here is the sump during fresh water testing and constructio. The three pipes are the drains and you can also see the manifold.

[jh2pizza]

I like the Hammerhead for a basement return. According to a Kill-a-watt, with it turned down, I use less power than with my PS200 Pan World.

That said, Blue line and panworld are the same pump. Very high quality machine. Mine has been running for 4 yrs with it shut down long enough to clean it annually.