Rubbermaid stock tank sump

[kimk]

I would like to make a DIY sump soon. I am considering a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. Two reasons: it will be in the basement, and I can get so much more for my money when it comes to Rubbermaid than a glass aquarium.

So - I've been doing a lot of reading on this subject. It seems it is impossible to install baffles, and it makes sense to me. My question is about sectioning off a refugium. I would like to control the flow through there by sending 75% of the DT water to the skimmer area, and 25% to the refugium. I see people often do basically a container in the container. I'm not a fan......worry about plastics leaching stuff. (from what I understand, the stock tanks are safe to use.) Do you think it would be ok to basically build a wall of live rock to create a section for a refugium? Would it work? Any other suggestions?

Also, if you have suggestions on plumbing for future add on's, that would be great. I know calcium reactors and GFO reactors are common, but I have neither and would not know how to plumb for future additions like that.

FYI - I'm setting this up for my future 125g tank. Right now I have a 55g. I'm going to focus on the sump right now. When this is up and running, I can turn my attention to building a stand for the 125 and getting that going.........and switching the sump to the new tank.

Thanks,
Kim

 

[Andy V]

I don't have any experience with this, but I would ask that if you are afraid of plastic from a refugium container leaching stuff into the rubbermaid sump, then why are you using a rubbermaid sump? I might be misunderstanding you, but I am confused.

 

[inverted]

You can do baffles, but it's probably more trouble than it's worth. There are a lot of plastics that won't leach anything, such as the rubbermaid stock tank of course. However if your worried, you could always just use a glass or acrylic fish tank instead of a container. I've actually done this on a few of occasions myself.

 

[kimk]

Andyvalk - the Rubbermaid stock tanks are made for livestock to drink out of..........cattle, horses, whatnot. They are safe containers that won't leach unwanted stuff (from what I've researched anyway).

Inverted - are you saying submerge a glass fish tank inside the Rubbermaid? Would I need to worry about proper water flow through it?

 

[kimk]

Rodrigo,
I responded to your PM, but your inbox is full. In short..........I'll pass, but thank you!

 

[inverted]

I just helped set one up for someone with a 50g stocktank. It had a 29g tank, with two bulkheads sitting in the stock tank. The skimmer is elevated on a platform. The display drains into the 29, then into the rubbermaid and then is pumped up to the display. There was no refugium on this tank, but you could do one. Also, the tank doesn't have to be submerged in the rubbermaid if there is an overflow. We did, for space reasons. It just needs to be higer than the water-level in the rubbdermaid. Often people will just use other rubermaid containers. There are food safe rubermaid containers at HD and lowes. Sometimes they are a bit flimsy, but usually okay if you only fill them up 1/2 way or so. If you search around the net, you can probably find images of people doing similar things. I would take a picture of the one I just set up, but it may be a while before I am back over there.

 

[kimk]

I think I understand, Inverted. I'm assuming that in the set up you describe, the skimmer is on a platform within the 29 gallon. Yes?
I imagine it would work to do that setup, then duplicate it on the other side of the stock tank for a refugium, and use the center as a return......

 

[Jocko]

I use a 150 gallon rubbermaid stock tank as my sump. I won a standalone acrylic refugium in a MACNA raffle, which doesn't really help you. Hehe. I have it sitting on a plastic shelf stand in the middle of the stock tank about 6" above the water. It has it's own circulation pump sitting at the bottom of the stock tank and drains into a pile of live rock, or as I like to call it, my "cryptic zone."

Anyhow, I have to admit I sort of like your idea of building your own refugium out of a wall of live rock. It's simple and natural and just might work. I think that would be really cool if you could basically build an area to house some chaeto and have a light over it on a timer.

 

[stingythingy45]

I have a 70 gallon stock tank for a basement sump.
But I made my refugium out of a 20L tank and split my overflow to feed that 30% and the skimmer 70% of the water.
The Fug. drains to the sump as well as the skimmer.

 

[kimk]

Any of you guys have pics of your stock tank setups?

 

[delta]

You can use office trash barrels to create sections as they come in various height they work pretty well. It is important that your skimmer take in raw tank water so one of these tied into your skimmer that you drain dumps into, accomplishes that.
You also want to plan for the heating issue in the winter. whether you wrap the stock tank or build something around it you need to somehow insulate or expect 75-100 increase in you electric bill

 

[kimk]

Delta,
This sump will be in the same room as the boiler for the home heat. It never really gets COLD down there. Cooler than upstair - yes. I'm guessing the coldest is 60 degrees. Still think on planning for insulation?

 

[inverted]

I think I understand, Inverted. I'm assuming that in the set up you describe, the skimmer is on a platform within the 29 gallon. Yes?
I imagine it would work to do that setup, then duplicate it on the other side of the stock tank for a refugium, and use the center as a return......

Yup, sounds right. You can split your drain into two sections. One into the fuge, one into the skimmer section, then both drain into the retrun pump area. Or run into one section, then cascade down into the next etc... I also like the rock idea, sounds neat. Just not sure how well it would work in practice.

Also, to expand on Delta's comment, the rubbermaid "Brute" trashcans are food safe. I would assume there are others, but I am not as familiar with them. I have a 3 of Brutes for water storage myself though. You could use them, although they are sort of tall. That might be fine though.

 

[stingythingy45]

Delta,
This sump will be in the same room as the boiler for the home heat. It never really gets COLD down there. Cooler than upstair - yes. I'm guessing the coldest is 60 degrees. Still think on planning for insulation?

If you have a strong enough heater in the sump you'll be fine.
I like to cover my sump with ridged foam insulation during the winter months.When it's really cold outside,I run a wood stove in the basement,but the sump is in a different room.
Just make sure you build a base for the sump to sit on off the floor.If it sits directly on the concrete,it will wick away heat from the sump.
Besides the wood base gives you a convienient place to mount the return pump.I'm doing a water change tonight and could snap a few pictures of my set up,if you want,Kim.

 

[JayM]

I'd like to add that you should enclose the sump room, and that you should ventilate it - or you will have a humidity problem, as well as a fine salty dust on everything in your basement

 

[kimk]

Thanks for all the input everyone! Much appreciated.

Bob - if you remember.............I'd love to see some pics!

 

[delta]

Delta,
This sump will be in the same room as the boiler for the home heat. It never really gets COLD down there. Cooler than upstair - yes. I'm guessing the coldest is 60 degrees. Still think on planning for insulation?

I would make a cover out of rigid foam insulation and probably wrap it with some insulation. The less you have to heat it the lower you electric bill will be. As Jay stated ventilation is a must as well as venting your skimmer outside. Also keeping a cover on it will reduce salt spray. In the summer even if you use a fan to ventilate often you need a dehumidifier to control moisture.

I also Have my sump on a platform this also aid in the ability to siphon off any detritus that collect on the bottom.

 

[inverted]

I haven't found humidity to be an issue in the basement. Probably due to the forced hot air and central AC. I have vents in the finished part of the basement. Anyway, I haven't needed a dehumidifier at all. I have found I need to run my skimmer intake outside; there is a lot of CO2 down in the basement. It was fine until I upgraded my skimmer, then I had sudden pH problems. The extra gas exchange did me in apparently. Insulating the sump made some difference, but heating has still been tougher in the winter months for sure.

 

[delta]

Your central air is a "massive" dehumidifier

Yeah I finally build a small insulated room and put a heating vent in it that solved my problem. I remember the first bill I got in January after putting my sump in my basement. I was like that doesn't seem right, it was up about $100bucks. It took a little while to figure it out that is why I own two kilowatt meters. I was like WTH!! the cooling in the summer was great but no one ever mentioned the heating issue when I posted asking about the basement sumps. So now I always bring it up.

 

[inverted]

haha, yeah nature always seems to want to even things out LOL. Tough to get ahead