Basement Sump--Looking for Input

[jnc914]

I recently purchased a 180 gallon tank with the intent to have the sump system in the basement.

My first question is should I hard plumb the pump up into the upstairs or can I get away with using spa flex?

Secondly, any suggestions for a pressure rated pump? I am looking at 10-12' of head pressure. The overflows can handle roughly 800-900 gallons apiece. My LFS suggested a Reeflo BlowHole 2700. I was looking at the Super Dart/Snapper Hybrid, but was told they are not pressure rated. I was also looking at the PanWorld 250 PS. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Mark Bianco]

Below is the listings for Reeflo external pumps. My sump is in the basement and I use a Hammerhead gold now I use to use a Baracuda. Never an issue with either. The Snapper/Dart only has a max head of 12 feet at that it will not flow One thing I learned from Chris the owner of Reeflo is use as large of plumbing as you can. So if the output of the pump you decide on has a 1.5" outlet run that size all the way to your tank then reduce down to your needs. FYI BRS has a Manta Ray on clearence for 299.00 That may be overkill then again you will be using a ball vale on the output to control flow. One other thing about pumps. Never in any way restrict the inlet. This will cause many problems...



Quick Compare - ReeFlo External Pumps



Model

Maximum Flow Rate

Maximum Head Pressure

Average Draw


Inlet/Outlet




Snapper Gold

2600 GPH

11 Ft

97 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Goby Gold

3400 GPH

20 Ft

198 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Super Dart Gold

4300 GPH

12 Ft

165 Watts

2” FPT inlet/1.5” FPT outlet



Barracuda Gold

4680 GPH

21 Ft

237 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Manta Ray Gold

5200 GPH

55 Ft

734 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Hammerhead Gold

5500 GPH

23 Ft

272 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Snapper/Dart Hybrid

2600/4300 GPH

12 Ft

94/165 Watts

2” FPT inlet/1.5” FPT outlet



Barracuda/Hammerhead Hybrid

4590/6000 GPH

23 Ft

237/337 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Manta Ray

5040 GPH

55 Ft

771 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet



Tiger Shark

5100 GPH

84 Ft

1065 Watts

1.5” FPT inlet/outlet

[jerpa]

I would hard plumb the return. The 1.5" spa flex is harder to work with than rigid pipe IMO. I use my return pump for filtration turnover and feeding reactors/refugiums/frag tanks only. Pumping water up 12ft to provide in tank flow is just not very efficient when compared to closed loops and powerheads. I'm running a reeflo blowhole 1400 and have been very pleased. Customer service is some of the best in any industry.

[DHyslop]

I'd put in a smaller return pump like an Iwaki or Panworld and then run Vortechs or Tunzes in the display tank.

Hard plumb the pipes and use vibration-damping pipe clamps to secure them to the framing of the house.

[FishNFun]

For my basement sump I used spa flex to made any turns or corners so I didn't have to use any 90 degree PVC connections (I think I only have one 45 in the whole set up). For any straight long runs I just used regular PVC. I run a Panworld 150PS but I'm thinking of changing that out for a 200PS.

[sean2sean]

I am having my sump in my garage and needed to plump the water about 15 ft vertically. I end up buying a reeflo hammerhead hybrid. Hard plumb it. Is easier.

[jnc914]

Originally Posted by DHyslop

I'd put in a smaller return pump like an Iwaki or Panworld and then run Vortechs or Tunzes in the display tank.

Hard plumb the pipes and use vibration-damping pipe clamps to secure them to the framing of the house.

I will definitely be using the Vortechs and Tunzes from my current setup for intake flow. The return pump will be strictly to get water back into the tank.


Thanks for all the info. I just have to make up my mind on what pump to purchase now...

[mc-cro]

I have been running a panworld pump for close to 10yrs. If this one every dies I would by another in a heartbeat. Highly recommened for a basement sump to first level display.

I run my display, frag tank, gfo, and gac off the panworld pump.

As someone else mentioned, only run spaflex where absolutely necesssary. Soft corners are better than hard 90*, but spa flex has a much smaller diameter than rigid pipe, and its harder to form.

[jerpa]

DWV fittings can be used for turns to minimize friction losses. They sweep instead of having hard turns and have a larger inner diameter than schedule 40.

[Hal]

I used hard pvc for my first basement sump and then switched to spa flex for my second one. The spa flex was a little easier to work with for curves and turns. I recommend using a union valve to attach the spa flex to wherever you're attaching it. This allows you to rotate the spa flex to whatever orientation it wants to go when you hook it up. Otherwise you are often fighting the twists of the spa flex to get it to its final location.

[mc-cro]

A few minutes with a heat gun will fix the problem with spa flex holding its memory.

When I run into that situation, I run a heat gun on the outside, and inside the spa flex for a few minutes, with careful attention to not melt it, or get the fumes up. get it heated up just enough to form it the way you want, and work with the curve, not against it.

[viggen]

You need 2-5x turnover, so 400-1000 gph of actual flow is all you need. Te bh2700 might do the trick depending on its flow, I couldn't find the flow its rated at with the head pressure you are looking at.

Spa or standard PVC, I would do whatever is easiest, both have their advantages.......

[samm]

I would go with a 170 panworld pump , get you around 7-800gph at 12' . I have the same distance from the basement and use a panworld 200ps with the return valve closed a bit ,i have been thinking about going to the 170 just to save some electricity and i can have the return valve wide open on my 210 gal. as others have said panworld is a great pump .

[jnc914]

Originally Posted by viggen

You need 2-5x turnover, so 400-1000 gph of actual flow is all you need. Te bh2700 might do the trick depending on its flow, I couldn't find the flow its rated at with the head pressure you are looking at.

Spa or standard PVC, I would do whatever is easiest, both have their advantages.......

From what my LFS is telling me, the Reeflo Blowhole 2700 run about 1900 gph at the highest setting. Max Head is 12ft on it. I am trying to find actual numbers from Sequence/Reeflo. I am leaning towards a PanWorld. I ran one on my old 300 gallon and it was a beast and stayed pretty cool to the touch.

I have used spa flex with my current setup, however the sump is in the tank stand. I had to use a heat gun to make it more pliable. I am guess using PVC and hard plumbing may make it easier.

Again thanks for the input, very helpful....

[DvSkIn]

Just wanted to say thanks, want to run my sump in the basement, and this thread helped a lot with pump selection

[96slowbra]

[rtecanoe]

I have a 180 that is plumbed into the basement also. I've used a reeflo barracuda for the past 4 years, it runs 11 feet vertical and 20 feet horizontally and Ive never had to run the pump any where neer fully open. Definately happy with it.

[one clownfish]

I'm thinking about moving my DT up from the basement and having a basement sump too. I have the Water Blaster 5000 (almost 2yrs) and its been a great pump and will probably get the WB 10000. When I got my pump the fittings were metric but now they make the intake and output in standard. 125 watts, 810gal/hr @12', 3yr warranty and can be run internal or external. My basement is 8' (floor to joist), the DT stand and the sump stand will be a wash so I'll get about 1200gal/hr out of it.

[michaellee64]

+1 on the Barracuda/Hammerhead. I'm using 1.5" Spaflex for all my returns and supplys! The key to working with the Spaflex is a good heat gun. I heat the pipe to make all my bends and it holds it shape quite nicely when it cools down. Cuts down on the friction loss and no joints between point A & B to worry about.

[wyoung609]

Spa flex is nice stuff....+1 on the heat gun it will save you a lot of hassle for sure. As far as the pump goes like others have said 2/5 x DT volume but remember your extras you may want to run off it too like uv, carbon or what not.