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View Full Version : Hand-Dug Sump Room for 300 Gal Sump & 250 Reef Tank upstairs


RV7AFlyer
01/04/2017, 07:26 PM
The Ol Ball-n-Chain doesent like my reef stuff where it might look un-tidy so I dug a 10ft X 20ft room in my crawl-space so my sump could sit right above a cold dirt floor so I don't need a chiller. Been doin it that way for years.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1376.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1376.jpg.html)
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1379.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1379.jpg.html)
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1371.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1371.jpg.html)

Psirex
01/04/2017, 07:30 PM
Badass.... Details on hardware and FTS of the display?

posted using alternating currents.....

McPuff
01/06/2017, 09:04 AM
So many questions...

How long did it take you to (literally?) hand dig this room??

Can you explain the route through the waterfall? Which bins serve what purpose?

Would you show us the display systems?? :0)

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 02:39 PM
Several Months to dig. Could of broke out of some prison instead.
The waterfall is:
Top or 1st bin catches all water from display tank and has a SKIMMER only.
2nd bin will be a refugium full of alot of Macro Alge
3rd bin will have 6" sand and 30 or so Mangro Trees
4th "Cone shaped container" is to trap sediment. It is removed at the bottom out of a clear 1-1/2 PVC pipe.
5th "150 gal Rubbermaid" is last stop before being pumped by a 6,750 GPH Dolphin pump.
It will also have a 370 pound single dead-coral rock drilled with holes I got in the Ocean.
NO Mechanical Filter needed. Im not a fan of filter socks.....take a bath with your kid in hid diaper filled with goo. Don't ya think is seeps through the diaper or sock?

JZinCO
01/06/2017, 02:47 PM
Really cool. Those are more or less the stages I'd like to have in my dream tank set up. I've thought about waterfalls vs having a large divided tank. Did you come to the waterfall concept because you wanted a large volume in each stage?

CrayolaViolence
01/06/2017, 03:44 PM
How will you handle the humidity?

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 04:45 PM
The "Mechanical Room" will have a large duct (see pic) connected to a high-CFM in-line fan and a controller that turns it on at pre=set humidity and room temp. Blows outside.
http://http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1415%201.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1415%201.jpg.html)

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 04:46 PM
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1415%201.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1415%201.jpg.html)

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 04:47 PM
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1412%201.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1412%201.jpg.html)

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 04:50 PM
The Display tank-hood will also be vented (see pic).
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1408%201.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1408%201.jpg.html)
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1402%201.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1402%201.jpg.html)
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1407%201_1.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1407%201_1.jpg.html)

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 04:55 PM
Sorry JZin, got sidetracked by vent ?. Here is display: 60" Wide, 26" Tall, 36" front-to-back.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1411%202.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1411%202.jpg.html)

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 05:00 PM
Oh yea, This is where I will remove sediment.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1420.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1420.jpg.html)

CrayolaViolence
01/06/2017, 05:52 PM
Sorry JZin, got sidetracked by vent ?. Here is display: 60" Wide, 26" Tall, 36" front-to-back.
http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy358/stevejohnson7/IMG_1411%202.jpg (http://s807.photobucket.com/user/stevejohnson7/media/IMG_1411%202.jpg.html)


That is some wild looking rock. Where did you get it?

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 05:57 PM
Why did I use "waterfall approach"?
Well, I have had at least a 200 gallon salt-water tank since 1982. I set my tanks up to be running for at least 10+ years so I have a long-term approach. My tanks have been so stable I can over-feed and leave them for months at a time with no problem. I like the sumps to have at least 150% as much water as the display tank. Also, I will run a couple water lines to a Sea-horse tank and some other tank in my house. With the rubbermaid tubs I have great flexability, they don't break, I can add an other or 2 if needed. And I don't have to clean the glass. I'll also have my Ca. Reactor & UV light in line there somewhere.

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 06:56 PM
I collected over a ton myself off Hawaii

JZinCO
01/06/2017, 08:20 PM
Okay makes sense to go that route for handling large water volume. Does that mean you have to have to install multiple failsafes so that a blockage between the plumbing from any one vessel to another doesn't fail? Looks like your plumbing is wide though and I can't think of any obvious sources of blockages.

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 09:21 PM
You could accomplish the same thing in a single glass divided tank with maybe 12"X24"X12"tall compartments; however, your successful results would be in direct proportion to the overall water amount your system contained.

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 09:27 PM
Regarding fail-safes. My pump uses a 1-1/2" pipe and bins are using 3" pipes. You could have 2 exit pipes per tub if you were worried.

worm5406
01/06/2017, 10:23 PM
So what are you going to put in the main display?

RV7AFlyer
01/06/2017, 10:50 PM
sps, lps, softies, mushrooms etc....

andrewkw
01/07/2017, 09:11 AM
Wow. Did you need a structural engineer to sign off on this dig? Did you have to resupport the house?

I recently moved into a house with a crawlspace and the lack of basement is the biggest downside to the place. That being said in my very limited research it suggested it's way more expensive to expand below then it would be to ad on.

RV7AFlyer
01/07/2017, 06:44 PM
No engineers. I added 4 piers.