Advice on building a sump room - Aquarium Advice

Brad · 11-27-2005, 08:14 PM

It would seem that I'm going to get my opportunity to move to a new home and install the tank of my dreams. It won't be too huge...maybe in the 200-300 gallon range.

I would like to create a separate room to house all the filtration equipment, including sump. Does anyone have (or know of) some designs for a filtration room?

I'm thinking...sump (obviously); [acronym:c42b9554bf="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:c42b9554bf] holding tank; [acronym:c42b9554bf="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c42b9554bf] holding tank; [acronym:c42b9554bf="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c42b9554bf] mixing tank; assorted pump arrangements to push water in different directions; Electrical considerations....

**melosu58** · 11-27-2005, 08:24 PM

Sounds like a grand Idea. I wish I could help.

tjara03 · 11-27-2005, 08:32 PM

check this out..

http://www.melevsreef.com/days127.html

[acronym:3a87648c3d="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:3a87648c3d]!!!

NewInTown · 11-27-2005, 10:40 PM

look at this oregonreef.com

Are you putting the tank in a wall? will the room be next to the tank or below it?

Brad · 11-28-2005, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Are you putting the tank in a wall? will the room be next to the tank or below it?

I'm thinking that the room would be behind the tank, with three sides of the tank visible outside. I just don't think I can fit all that I need underneath the tank.

austinsdad · 11-28-2005, 08:37 AM

Color me envious. The most difficult part of this hobby for me is the constant water making and topping off and having to do it manually. I dream of a room behind the tank that houses a hospital tank, large enuf refugium, small fridge, fresh water holding tub, sink and drain, etc, etc.

In my dream, the [acronym:50a2e6b2d2="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:50a2e6b2d2]/[acronym:50a2e6b2d2="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:50a2e6b2d2] unit has a float that makes water automatically in the holding tub/trash can when it runs low, then the float in the sump/refugium that determines it needs the fresh water from the holding tub/trash can. And of course the needed pump in the holding tub that the float controls.

How much room you got to work with behind the tank. Not that I can help ya with any plans, I just want you to add to my envy a bit more

.

Good luck and have fun!

Brad · 11-28-2005, 02:36 PM

Quote:

In my dream, the [acronym:9123807e04="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:9123807e04]/[acronym:9123807e04="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:9123807e04] unit has a float that makes water automatically in the holding tub/trash can when it runs low, then the float in the sump/refugium that determines it needs the fresh water from the holding tub/trash can. And of course the needed pump in the holding tub that the float controls.

.....

Exactly..yes, I've been having the same dream for a lot of years and now I get to do it.

How much space do I have...? (this will really kill you...) I have as much as I want. My first draft has the room at about 7' x 7'. I think that is a decent sized space if it is well planned out.

Phyl · 11-28-2005, 03:14 PM

We just took our sump out of the stand and went through the floor into the basement below. It was one heck of a weekend getting it all plumbed through but it is running great *yawn*. Right now the space we have is probably 17x7. I have a 6' work bench, a 150g rubbermaid (grow out tank), a 100g rubbermaid (sump) and some shelving. We're not using all of the space yet, but being able to use rubbermaid sumps requires a lot of space because of their shape (4'x 2.5-3' wide). Our equipment alone takes up a 4x6 area.

The planning was definitely a critical step. My husband had done drawings upon drawings of the plans and had everything down to a science before we drilled the first hole. That kept the process very streamlined as there was very little to think about during the change over. Good luck and have fun with it!

zenn · 11-28-2005, 03:59 PM

i wish i was building a 200-300g reef

Good luck dude. Make sure you give us pictures on your project.

11-27-2005, 08:14 PM	#1
Brad Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia Posts: 795 Images: 11	Advice on building a sump room It would seem that I'm going to get my opportunity to move to a new home and install the tank of my dreams. It won't be too huge...maybe in the 200-300 gallon range. I would like to create a separate room to house all the filtration equipment, including sump. Does anyone have (or know of) some designs for a filtration room? I'm thinking...sump (obviously); [acronym:c42b9554bf="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:c42b9554bf] holding tank; [acronym:c42b9554bf="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c42b9554bf] holding tank; [acronym:c42b9554bf="Saltwater"]SW[/acronym:c42b9554bf] mixing tank; assorted pump arrangements to push water in different directions; Electrical considerations.... __________________ 40 Gal Hex, 10 Gal Sump, CPR overflow with Mag 7 return, Maxxima 35 [acronym:1e2ea24c5a="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:1e2ea24c5a]/[acronym:1e2ea24c5a="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:1e2ea24c5a], 10K [acronym:1e2ea24c5a="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:1e2ea24c5a] pendant, 2 x 15W actinic, 1 yellow tail damsel, 1 high fin goby, 40lbs [acronym:1e2ea24c5a="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:1e2ea24c5a].com rock, 1 red head goby, 1 algae blenny, Leather, blastomussa, sun, and hammer corals, green polyps, carpet anemone, 2 sexy shrimp...and more [acronym:1e2ea24c5a="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:1e2ea24c5a] critters than you could imagine in your worst nightmares.... Mantis in 5 [acronym:1e2ea24c5a="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:1e2ea24c5a]

11-27-2005, 08:24 PM	#2
melosu58 SW 10 yrs and over Community Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Richmond Va Posts: 11,862 Images: 73	Sounds like a grand Idea. I wish I could help. __________________ View My Tanks Click here to Visit FantasyReef

11-28-2005, 08:37 AM	#6
austinsdad Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Clinton, Maryland Posts: 3,910 Images: 12	Color me envious. The most difficult part of this hobby for me is the constant water making and topping off and having to do it manually. I dream of a room behind the tank that houses a hospital tank, large enuf refugium, small fridge, fresh water holding tub, sink and drain, etc, etc. In my dream, the [acronym:50a2e6b2d2="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:50a2e6b2d2]/[acronym:50a2e6b2d2="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:50a2e6b2d2] unit has a float that makes water automatically in the holding tub/trash can when it runs low, then the float in the sump/refugium that determines it needs the fresh water from the holding tub/trash can. And of course the needed pump in the holding tub that the float controls. How much room you got to work with behind the tank. Not that I can help ya with any plans, I just want you to add to my envy a bit more . Good luck and have fun! __________________ -Ray- "Life may not be the party we hoped for but while we are here we might as well dance!"

11-28-2005, 03:14 PM	#8
Phyl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,113 Images: 30	We just took our sump out of the stand and went through the floor into the basement below. It was one heck of a weekend getting it all plumbed through but it is running great yawn. Right now the space we have is probably 17x7. I have a 6' work bench, a 150g rubbermaid (grow out tank), a 100g rubbermaid (sump) and some shelving. We're not using all of the space yet, but being able to use rubbermaid sumps requires a lot of space because of their shape (4'x 2.5-3' wide). Our equipment alone takes up a 4x6 area. The planning was definitely a critical step. My husband had done drawings upon drawings of the plans and had everything down to a science before we drilled the first hole. That kept the process very streamlined as there was very little to think about during the change over. Good luck and have fun with it! __________________ Phyllis Join the NJ Reef Club Today! Saving the world's reefs one living room at a time! Next meeting: June 30, 2007 Marlboro, NJ Fragging Workshop

11-28-2005, 03:59 PM	#9
zenn Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nebraska Posts: 667 Images: 9	i wish i was building a 200-300g reef Good luck dude. Make sure you give us pictures on your project. __________________ 75g reef

11-27-2005, 08:32 PM	#3
tjara03 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Spokane, Wa Posts: 297	check this out.. http://www.melevsreef.com/days127.html [acronym:3a87648c3d="Hope this helps (or) Happy to help"]HTH[/acronym:3a87648c3d]!!!

11-27-2005, 10:40 PM	#4
NewInTown Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maple Grove, MN Posts: 122	look at this oregonreef.com Are you putting the tank in a wall? will the room be next to the tank or below it?

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