Moving the sump to the basement, any helpful hints?

mikesin · 05/30/2009, 12:37 PM

Hello, we are planning on moving the sump to the basement. We have run out of room in the stand for filtration. The DT is AGA 75G mixed reef with overflow and a mega-flow 3 attached. The plan is to move the megaflow to the basement. The drain pipe is going to be extended about to 5.5 ft with a total of 9.5-10ft from the top of the aquarium to the bottom of the sump. Are there any concerns with adding this much drop?
With charts I've found a meg12 will pump 600 GPH @ 10'. AGA's mega flow system claims it can handle 600 GPH so this looks like a good match. We will add valve on the pump side "justin case" it needs to be restricted. A shut-off valve will be added to the drain pipe as well.
Are we forgetting or missing anything?

Thanks

Imzadi · 05/30/2009, 01:09 PM

make sure you have enough room in the sump for the extra water to backflow in to, when the power is off.

1DeR9_3Hy · 05/30/2009, 03:13 PM

10 ft sounds off....are you certain on the measurements?

When i was measuring for my setup i was looking at around 15 feet with the sump sitting 3 ft off the basement floor.

mikesin · 05/30/2009, 03:20 PM

ya, seems like alot huh?
Let me say it this way, from the top of the aquarium/water level going down.
4' from aquariums water level to the base of the stand.
6" - 1' going thru the floor.
another 5' (in the basement) to from the basements ceiling to the bottom of the sump.

wipe · 05/30/2009, 10:01 PM

Keep the sump up on a table not on the ground. It is easier on the pump less head to fight. No bending down when working.

Also I have 120 tech tank I wish I would have plumbed all 4 holes as drains. I went with the 2 drains and 2 returns the noise is too much I have to turn the flow down.

therealfatman · 05/31/2009, 04:53 AM

A 1" horizontal drain with gravity flow only will only consistently flows 300 to 350 gph. Long vertical drains tend to develop siphoning whether you wish a siphoning drain or not. They can be quiet noisy when siphoning. They do flow a lot more water when siphoning. That is likely where AGA came up with the 600 gph flow rate. It is the typical rate of flow through a siphoning drain running through a 1" bulkhead. The siphoning can be prevented by drilling a hole in the drain pipe every few feet and installing a peice of tubing to introduce air into the drain line.

cccapt · 05/31/2009, 07:48 AM

Here's my 55g basement sump for my 125 reef.

mikesin · 05/31/2009, 11:25 AM

Thanks for the suggestions

therealfatman - Its going to take me a bit to digest what you said as I'm still learning

cccapt - How much flow do you plan on having thru your refugium? Whats that pump rated at? If I understand therealfatman correctly - the most "one" of your drains will flow is 350GPH, is this correct?

I'm currently using a Mag7 - the chart shows its pumping around 475 GPH @ 4' head.
With a mag12 flow shows 600GPH @ 10' head, maybe i should scale the pumps GPH down a bit?

Thanks again.

05/30/2009, 12:37 PM	#1
mikesin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Valencia, PA Posts: 361	Moving the sump to the basement, any helpful hints? Hello, we are planning on moving the sump to the basement. We have run out of room in the stand for filtration. The DT is AGA 75G mixed reef with overflow and a mega-flow 3 attached. The plan is to move the megaflow to the basement. The drain pipe is going to be extended about to 5.5 ft with a total of 9.5-10ft from the top of the aquarium to the bottom of the sump. Are there any concerns with adding this much drop? With charts I've found a meg12 will pump 600 GPH @ 10'. AGA's mega flow system claims it can handle 600 GPH so this looks like a good match. We will add valve on the pump side "justin case" it needs to be restricted. A shut-off valve will be added to the drain pipe as well. Are we forgetting or missing anything? Thanks

05/30/2009, 01:09 PM	#2
Imzadi Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1,038	make sure you have enough room in the sump for the extra water to backflow in to, when the power is off. __________________ If you don't agree with me, that's fine... just go, think about it some more, and come back when you do. Current Tank Info: 120g Freshie, 55g salty with a 2/3 BeanAnimal. BA METHOD - TESTIFY! I am a DIY Disaster, but I am saving money! Damsel FREE since 07/08/09!

05/30/2009, 03:13 PM	#3
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	10 ft sounds off....are you certain on the measurements? When i was measuring for my setup i was looking at around 15 feet with the sump sitting 3 ft off the basement floor. __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

05/31/2009, 04:53 AM	#6
therealfatman Moved On Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 1,471	A 1" horizontal drain with gravity flow only will only consistently flows 300 to 350 gph. Long vertical drains tend to develop siphoning whether you wish a siphoning drain or not. They can be quiet noisy when siphoning. They do flow a lot more water when siphoning. That is likely where AGA came up with the 600 gph flow rate. It is the typical rate of flow through a siphoning drain running through a 1" bulkhead. The siphoning can be prevented by drilling a hole in the drain pipe every few feet and installing a peice of tubing to introduce air into the drain line. Last edited by therealfatman; 05/31/2009 at 04:59 AM.

05/31/2009, 07:48 AM	#7
cccapt Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: N.E. PA Posts: 842	Here's my 55g basement sump for my 125 reef. __________________ /Larry Current Tank Info: 125 reef

05/30/2009, 03:20 PM	#4
mikesin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Valencia, PA Posts: 361	ya, seems like alot huh? Let me say it this way, from the top of the aquarium/water level going down. 4' from aquariums water level to the base of the stand. 6" - 1' going thru the floor. another 5' (in the basement) to from the basements ceiling to the bottom of the sump.

05/30/2009, 10:01 PM	#5
wipe Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Nw side Chicago IL Posts: 340	Keep the sump up on a table not on the ground. It is easier on the pump less head to fight. No bending down when working. Also I have 120 tech tank I wish I would have plumbed all 4 holes as drains. I went with the 2 drains and 2 returns the noise is too much I have to turn the flow down.

05/31/2009, 11:25 AM	#8
mikesin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Valencia, PA Posts: 361	Thanks for the suggestions therealfatman - Its going to take me a bit to digest what you said as I'm still learning cccapt - How much flow do you plan on having thru your refugium? Whats that pump rated at? If I understand therealfatman correctly - the most "one" of your drains will flow is 350GPH, is this correct? I'm currently using a Mag7 - the chart shows its pumping around 475 GPH @ 4' head. With a mag12 flow shows 600GPH @ 10' head, maybe i should scale the pumps GPH down a bit? Thanks again.