sump placement????

ajolie30 · 03/22/2010, 10:20 PM

hello everyone I live in ct good old new england..... anyhow I was lookng to build my sump on the outer wall of my tank which is in the garage... just worried about keeping the sump warm come next winter just wondering if it would be a good idea to do this???? I was gonna enclose the sump with insulated walls and a door what do u guys think

ajolie30 · 03/22/2010, 10:46 PM

bump

khaosinc · 03/23/2010, 03:18 AM

As long as your plumbing is sound it should be fine. Depending on your lighting and tank size you might be surprised how little it will take to keep it warm enough. Enclosing it and perhaps even venting it outside might be a good idea due to exaust issues from cars and other garage activities.

Admittedly I'm in the other side of the country (pacific NW) but my whole system is in a less than properly insulated garage, and the tank hasn't been below 77 degrees yet with only 3 200 watt heaters.

ajolie30 · 03/23/2010, 10:37 PM

I actually don't park my car in the garage so I think that helps alot... just really nervous about the winter months to keep the water warm is all it can get quite cold in there sometimes

khaosinc · 03/24/2010, 02:22 AM

a couple inches of the insulating foam board would most likely work wonders. The bigger the sump the better as well, more water = more stable

capnfritz · 03/24/2010, 05:02 AM

+1 insulation and a waterheater should work

ajolie30 · 03/24/2010, 10:46 AM

my display tank is 180 gallons the current sump I have now is a 40 gallon the one in question going into the garage is a 150 gallon.... so ur saying insulating foam underneith the tank or also around the tank????? are u talking the sheets of either pink or white foam

khaosinc · 03/24/2010, 12:09 PM

I used that pink foam (2") (back when I lived on the other coast) Maybe just 1" underneath just to keep it off the cement. covering the sides and top would lock alot of heat in there quite effeciently. if you run reverse lighting and a fuge you might want to have room for the lights as well.

ajolie30 · 03/24/2010, 08:21 PM

my thought on setting up this tank was to have 2 stacks of cynder blocks going across with plywood going across.. I would then once the fall comes around is enclose this area with walls and insulation and a door.... just wondering if the blocks will be strong enough to hold this weight

ajolie30 · 03/24/2010, 11:28 PM

bump

khaosinc · 03/25/2010, 01:37 AM

I'm assuming you are planning on having cement blocks all the way across the tank and not just on the ends. They should hold the weight fine. I would take time to make sure everything is level, and I am partial to having a foam board under the tank as they sort of squish under the weight and take out any (small) high points.

ajolie30 · 03/25/2010, 07:52 AM

this is correct blocks all the way across.... the tank is heavy itself let alone with over a 100 gallons of water in it... I am hoping for much more stability and a much bigger refugium to keep nitrates low.... want to add some new corals but right now my nitrates are high

03/22/2010, 10:20 PM	#1
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	sump placement???? hello everyone I live in ct good old new england..... anyhow I was lookng to build my sump on the outer wall of my tank which is in the garage... just worried about keeping the sump warm come next winter just wondering if it would be a good idea to do this???? I was gonna enclose the sump with insulated walls and a door what do u guys think

03/23/2010, 03:18 AM	#3
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	As long as your plumbing is sound it should be fine. Depending on your lighting and tank size you might be surprised how little it will take to keep it warm enough. Enclosing it and perhaps even venting it outside might be a good idea due to exaust issues from cars and other garage activities. Admittedly I'm in the other side of the country (pacific NW) but my whole system is in a less than properly insulated garage, and the tank hasn't been below 77 degrees yet with only 3 200 watt heaters. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

03/24/2010, 02:22 AM	#5
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	a couple inches of the insulating foam board would most likely work wonders. The bigger the sump the better as well, more water = more stable __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

03/24/2010, 05:02 AM	#6
capnfritz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cleveland Posts: 170	+1 insulation and a waterheater should work __________________ capnfritz Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef,55 gal. Species

03/24/2010, 12:09 PM	#8
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	I used that pink foam (2") (back when I lived on the other coast) Maybe just 1" underneath just to keep it off the cement. covering the sides and top would lock alot of heat in there quite effeciently. if you run reverse lighting and a fuge you might want to have room for the lights as well. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

03/22/2010, 10:46 PM	#2
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	bump

03/23/2010, 10:37 PM	#4
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	I actually don't park my car in the garage so I think that helps alot... just really nervous about the winter months to keep the water warm is all it can get quite cold in there sometimes

03/24/2010, 10:46 AM	#7
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	my display tank is 180 gallons the current sump I have now is a 40 gallon the one in question going into the garage is a 150 gallon.... so ur saying insulating foam underneith the tank or also around the tank????? are u talking the sheets of either pink or white foam

03/24/2010, 08:21 PM	#9
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	my thought on setting up this tank was to have 2 stacks of cynder blocks going across with plywood going across.. I would then once the fall comes around is enclose this area with walls and insulation and a door.... just wondering if the blocks will be strong enough to hold this weight

03/24/2010, 11:28 PM	#10
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	bump

03/25/2010, 01:37 AM	#11
khaosinc The cyborg reefer Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NW Washington state Posts: 2,345	I'm assuming you are planning on having cement blocks all the way across the tank and not just on the ends. They should hold the weight fine. I would take time to make sure everything is level, and I am partial to having a foam board under the tank as they sort of squish under the weight and take out any (small) high points. __________________ Disclaimer: I have not yet figured out how to install a breathalizer on my computer. Current Tank Info: It's all torn down... someday I might rebuild.

03/25/2010, 07:52 AM	#12
ajolie30 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ct Posts: 300	this is correct blocks all the way across.... the tank is heavy itself let alone with over a 100 gallons of water in it... I am hoping for much more stability and a much bigger refugium to keep nitrates low.... want to add some new corals but right now my nitrates are high