Basement sump or not?

Hal · 07/07/2016, 10:43 AM

I'm moving into my new house at the end of the month and have the option of using the space under the stairs to the basement as a dedicated fish equipment room. The basement has 9 ft ceilings so the space is a little larger than normal in terms of both height and length, but it's still relatively compact.

I've run a basement sump in my last house and it was very convenient. It was approximately 12x6 ft in my last house. However, there's something about the simplicity of having my sump under the tank and not having to cut holes in my floor and run plumbing that is appealing. I'd still need to cut a small hole to route my topoff water from my RO system, but that's no big deal; I'd probably route that through the inside of the wall which my tank is against.

My tank is 72x28x30, so there's decent room underneath it for equipment.

Anybody switch from basement sump to underneath the tank or vice versa? What do you think?

foxt · 07/07/2016, 12:21 PM

For a planned 230g build, I am putting the sump in the basement. My four biggest reasons are:

1) my planned DT will be in my family room, and I want to try to keep the noise level as low as possible. The only thing I might hear in the DT will be powerheads and cooling fans from the lights.

2) I don't want the mess associated with the sump, water changes, ATO, dosing, etc in the family room. My basement sump will be located next to a sink/drain in the basement, right next to the RO/DI, so water changes will be easy.

3) I live in an area with hot summers, and the basement sump will help keep the DT temp down when I am not running the AC in the family room. I'm planning a fairly large sump/refugium, so I will have about 50% of the DT volume in the basement - that should help buffer the hotter temps that the tank will be exposed to upstairs.

4) I don't have the discipline to work within the confines of the space below the tank. For instance, I will be using the refugium for macro algae and I know that I would make a mess of that if it were under the tank - probably just me, but I want as much space as I can get for the behind-the-scenes stuff.

I am anticipating lots of tradeoffs for these benefits. For starters, I will need higher power return pumps and I will need to manage humidity in the basement during the summer. For me, the tradeoffs are worth it ...

mpsteve · 07/07/2016, 12:25 PM

I have my sump under my 120g right now and I just picked up a 6ft 125g tank to do a sump in the basement. It's a pain in the *** working of skimmer, Ato, filter socks, and algae scrubber under the tank. Plus I have no storage for tank cleaning tools, food, test kits and all that stuff. And when I do a water change I'm stuck with a brute trash can in my living room while water mixes and stuff.

When I move the sump to the basement I can move all that stuff to the basement. Ato, test kits, water change stuff. Only thing under my tank will be the display tank cleaning tools and food like pelets and flake food.

If given the option of under tank or basement sump always go basement if you have the option. Plus no need for a chiller if tank is in the basement. No worry of water on living room floor. No worry if Ato gets stuck on and over flows the sump if it's in the basement. I shouldn't say no worry but less damage if it overflows in basement vs your living room which will destroy your floors in living room and ceiling in basement

That's my 2 cents coming from an under the tank sump guy

Sk8r · 07/07/2016, 05:27 PM

I've had both and I would NEVER opt out of a basement sump. Life is so much easier than pretzel-izing yourself trying to deal with skimmers, heaters, gfo, and dosing and tests in the dark underside of a stand.

Flippers4pups · 07/07/2016, 05:42 PM

This was the first thing I thought of when we moved into our new house! It's was worth every dime spent!

1. More water volume (bigger sump than under the tank would allow!)
2. All equipment down there (nothing under DT!)
3. Water change drains into existing house plumbing! (No packing buckets!)
4. Can do water changes while system is running ( No shutting off the return pump)
5. Nice water changing station plumbed into sump! (Couldn't do that upstairs!)
6. Room for QT system........

The list goes on and on!

Would never go back under DT! Ever!

07/07/2016, 10:43 AM	#1
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	Basement sump or not? I'm moving into my new house at the end of the month and have the option of using the space under the stairs to the basement as a dedicated fish equipment room. The basement has 9 ft ceilings so the space is a little larger than normal in terms of both height and length, but it's still relatively compact. I've run a basement sump in my last house and it was very convenient. It was approximately 12x6 ft in my last house. However, there's something about the simplicity of having my sump under the tank and not having to cut holes in my floor and run plumbing that is appealing. I'd still need to cut a small hole to route my topoff water from my RO system, but that's no big deal; I'd probably route that through the inside of the wall which my tank is against. My tank is 72x28x30, so there's decent room underneath it for equipment. Anybody switch from basement sump to underneath the tank or vice versa? What do you think? __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

07/07/2016, 05:27 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	I've had both and I would NEVER opt out of a basement sump. Life is so much easier than pretzel-izing yourself trying to deal with skimmers, heaters, gfo, and dosing and tests in the dark underside of a stand. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

07/07/2016, 05:42 PM	#5
Flippers4pups Home made abyss Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Lake Saint Louis, MO Posts: 2,047	This was the first thing I thought of when we moved into our new house! It's was worth every dime spent! 1. More water volume (bigger sump than under the tank would allow!) 2. All equipment down there (nothing under DT!) 3. Water change drains into existing house plumbing! (No packing buckets!) 4. Can do water changes while system is running ( No shutting off the return pump) 5. Nice water changing station plumbed into sump! (Couldn't do that upstairs!) 6. Room for QT system........ The list goes on and on! Would never go back under DT! Ever! __________________ Don Reefing since 1993 Current Tank info: 125 gallon DT , 125 gallon basement sump. Rw 15 & Rw 8. Panworld 150ps return. Reef Octopus 150 skimmer, 3 165w mars aqua led.

07/07/2016, 12:21 PM	#2
foxt Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Hudson Valley NY Posts: 120	For a planned 230g build, I am putting the sump in the basement. My four biggest reasons are: 1) my planned DT will be in my family room, and I want to try to keep the noise level as low as possible. The only thing I might hear in the DT will be powerheads and cooling fans from the lights. 2) I don't want the mess associated with the sump, water changes, ATO, dosing, etc in the family room. My basement sump will be located next to a sink/drain in the basement, right next to the RO/DI, so water changes will be easy. 3) I live in an area with hot summers, and the basement sump will help keep the DT temp down when I am not running the AC in the family room. I'm planning a fairly large sump/refugium, so I will have about 50% of the DT volume in the basement - that should help buffer the hotter temps that the tank will be exposed to upstairs. 4) I don't have the discipline to work within the confines of the space below the tank. For instance, I will be using the refugium for macro algae and I know that I would make a mess of that if it were under the tank - probably just me, but I want as much space as I can get for the behind-the-scenes stuff. I am anticipating lots of tradeoffs for these benefits. For starters, I will need higher power return pumps and I will need to manage humidity in the basement during the summer. For me, the tradeoffs are worth it ...

07/07/2016, 12:25 PM	#3
mpsteve Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 154	I have my sump under my 120g right now and I just picked up a 6ft 125g tank to do a sump in the basement. It's a pain in the *** working of skimmer, Ato, filter socks, and algae scrubber under the tank. Plus I have no storage for tank cleaning tools, food, test kits and all that stuff. And when I do a water change I'm stuck with a brute trash can in my living room while water mixes and stuff. When I move the sump to the basement I can move all that stuff to the basement. Ato, test kits, water change stuff. Only thing under my tank will be the display tank cleaning tools and food like pelets and flake food. If given the option of under tank or basement sump always go basement if you have the option. Plus no need for a chiller if tank is in the basement. No worry of water on living room floor. No worry if Ato gets stuck on and over flows the sump if it's in the basement. I shouldn't say no worry but less damage if it overflows in basement vs your living room which will destroy your floors in living room and ceiling in basement That's my 2 cents coming from an under the tank sump guy