Sump in Basement ... pros & cons

[JB63]

Lately I see more and more people cutting their floor/drywall and putting a giant sump in the basement. While it has some plusses, everytime I go to 'my' basement, it's much colder than anywhere else in the house. So, my question is: For those of you with a sump-in-the-basement setup, do you find it difficult to control temperature? I feel it's a bit of a waste, running water to a cold room, then heating it up. Plus, as I seldom go to my basement, it's difficult to catch if something goes wrong ....

[skunkmere]

its easier to heat water then to cool it, i think its a plus to have a cooler sump.

[dockery07]

My sump is in the basement I have a 125 dt and a 200 gallon sump. Much easier to work on it in the basement as well if we have an issue no flood upstairs. I run a controller so know when we have an issue

[ostrow]

The cooler basement is a huge plus if the display is upstairs, and even greater if you are running halides. In summer, the basement is cooler but warm enough not to require the heaters (this summer, for instance, with A/C on all the time and a supply in my fish room the temp held at 80, so heaters not on). In winter the furnace warms it (again, supply in there), again keeping electric heaters on less.

Plusses:
1. No chiller
2. No concern spilling water on the floor when working
3. No need to keep the room neat and clean (though most still try to of course)
4. No worries about O2 levels with all that circulation
5. It's never a problem to add another piece of equipment (media reactors, etc) or with size of equipment (large skimmer, external, etc)
6. Easy to run extra circuits to the panel.
7. MUCH larger water volume possible.


Cons:
1. Drilling wall or floor -- only worth it if NO chance of deciding to get out in 3-5 yrs
2. Requires large, electricity-hog recirc pump
3. Lots more plumbing to do
4. Need to solve the humidity problem (I have a supply and return for my HVAC in the room, others vent to outside, etc)
5. Ummm ... I can't think of any other cons...

One thing -- it will be noisier with the water going down. One way to substantially reduce that is to step up your pipe (if 1" bulkheads, use 1.5"), always hang from ceiling, don't bracket anything to the walls (thanks Rod!), and when possible use tubing or flex pvc.

[rezaktp]

Usually in a basement you have more room for equipment, I have my sump, 110 gallon saltwater tank, 50 galoon RODI tank, and 32gal Kalk tank right there. To this space add a floor drain and a laundry tub, very convient for water changes. All that is missing is a frirdge, big screen and comfy chair! I have set-up a compact system. see attached link!
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1744336

[paulblart1]

Ostrow does a good job is pointing out some of the "cons"....though the "pro's" easily out weigh the "cons'..

I have my sump/fuge in the basement..you are welcome to stop by and see it..I am about 30 min from Plainfield.

[dockery07]

I run a chiller on my basement sump, but I also have an internal pump.

And if it is over tile, just pop off one and you can easily put it back if you sell the house.

[ostrow]

Yes, of course you are welcome to stop by and see mine as well if you like. But I'm in Oak Park.

[fishgeeksrus]

As one who doesn't have a basement, I'd LOVE to have it as an option. Our build thread is on our profile and shows our setup. We almost always deal with heat issues. No chiller would be WONDERFUL. Personally, if we had a basement I'd finish it and have the tank with a fishroom behind it. That way I could go BIGGER with the display and bigger yet with the sump and other vital components.

Dennis

[ostrow]

Well, yeah, I could go bigger display in the basement. But I like having the display in the living room and a central part of the house!!!

[harv1324]

I have a 120 upstairs, 100 stock tank sump, 20 gal fuge, 55 gal RO, 35 gal salt mix tank in the basement. RO waste and water changes run into the house sump and a 30 gal water change takes mins and no mess upstairs. I make 70 - 80 gallons of RO at a time. I spaced the holes in my floor so if I ever get out I can cut a vent and no one is the wiser. I love how nice it is to have room to mess with everything. My niece says it looks like I have a meth lab in the basement

All I do upstairs is clean powerheads and glass. Lugging 5 gallon buckets and shiponing water and moving everything off the tank and out of the way was a pita.

I am near Fox Valley if you want to check it out.

[Edward Smith]

+1 basement. Only way to fly.

[GumbyIl]

I have a 75g basement sump in Naperville you're welcome to check out. Cool in the summer is a huge plus, but the big pros are water changes and equipment maintenance. I turn a valve and the old water flows into my floor drain. 15g change takes about 10 min. Water spills, overflows, salt creep, etc. is just not a problem. Pulling the Bullet 3 skimmer takes just a couple of minutes. Try that with an under tank sump. Some of the skim left in the cup spills on the floor it's really no big deal. Not like the carpet upstairs. I've got a ton of space under the tank for storage. Electrical is all easy to get to.

[Dana19620]

Hmmm, I wondering if I get rid of the uninstalled sauna/whirlpool (with integrated phone and radio it it) that we ordered when we redid the upstairs bathroom only to discover the it was about 3/4" to wide with the enclosure on, and I beg and plead my case based on medical issues, if my husband would consent???

Only question - how many of you have had floods in the basement???? I've already been in the doghouse for this.

[Bulldog0407]

The best tank I have ever seen had the sump in the basement and it never had issues.

[JB63]

Originally Posted by harv1324

I have a 120 upstairs, 100 stock tank sump, 20 gal fuge, 55 gal RO, 35 gal salt mix tank in the basement. RO waste and water changes run into the house sump and a 30 gal water change takes mins and no mess upstairs. I make 70 - 80 gallons of RO at a time. I spaced the holes in my floor so if I ever get out I can cut a vent and no one is the wiser. I love how nice it is to have room to mess with everything. My niece says it looks like I have a meth lab in the basement

All I do upstairs is clean powerheads and glass. Lugging 5 gallon buckets and shiponing water and moving everything off the tank and out of the way was a pita.

I am near Fox Valley if you want to check it out.

Greetings,

Thank You. Does your offer to see the tank still hold (got 3 curious kids, lol)? ... I haven't been on for a while (other distractions) but back to reefing now. Cheers.

[ostrow]

Originally Posted by ostrow

Yes, of course you are welcome to stop by and see mine as well if you like. But I'm in Oak Park.

[DragonWarriorPo]

If I am able to have my sump in basement, I would do it. It's so much easier to work when your sump is out in the open. Also, you can have any equipment you want going.

[GumbyIl]

I just tore down my whole basement sump system and sold all of it off except the tank and a few last fish.

I will put a floor mounted outlet in where the plumbing was. The room could use an outlet there anyway

If I ever do it again I wouldn't ever do an under display sump again. Basement or in the wall next to a wet room is the only way to go.

[mkirda]

The biggest issue I had was the room was very humid, but the basement was cool in the winter. So the wall were always wet. That turns every metal surface rusty and the walls get moldy. And the cement behind the walls got some nice black mold on it as well. When I got out of the hobby, the walls were removed/everything cleaned up and replaced.

A chiller is still needed in the summer and a dehumidifier too. That gets the basement hot pretty quickly.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

[canar]

basement sump is great. +1 on getting a dehumidifier.

[harv1324]

Originally Posted by JB63

Greetings,

Thank You. Does your offer to see the tank still hold (got 3 curious kids, lol)? ... I haven't been on for a while (other distractions) but back to reefing now. Cheers.

Absolutely, will PM you my cell.