Best Pump for basement sump?

[bif24701]

Apparently Ohio Edison decided to cut power during a planned outage and not tell anyone in the NE Ohio area.

Needless to say, I am looking into moving my sump in the basement since my basement is now soaked. I have a good spot where I can fit a Rubbermaid tote or create an overflow to our utility sink.

I wanted to get everyone's thoughts on pumps for a 92 gallon tank. It will have to travel roughly 8 feet if on a table; a max of 12 if I put it on the basement floor.

Apologies if there is a thread already started surrounding this issue - feel free to redirect.

Still in shock that this actually happened.

I don't think it was a siphon that caused this. I suspect you have a leak in your overflow sealant and a min the over flow chamber plumbing near the bulkheads. This would allow water to pass into the overflow chamber from the display area at a low water level, then water can pass into any of the plumbing in the overflow through another leak. This is the only way I see that a part outage wold

 

[bif24701]

A pressure rated Pan world or Iwaki would be the best. However a big strong D.C. Pump could push water that high. Take a look at the new line of pumps DC Reef Octopus Varios-6 or Varios-8. Great pumps!

 

[Willz]

It's been awhile, but I wanted to update the few folks who have helped me through this process and ask for a little more help...

I ended up going with the Reeflo Swordtail pump as you can see in the picture and a 100 gal Rubbermaid.

I have one question: the outlet on the pump is 1.25"; the bulkhead on my display tank is 0.5". The head pressure on my pump will be roughly 15' from basement to display and pumping ~800gph. Is that too much pressure on my 0.5" inlet? I will also have a ball valve near the pump to regulate flow. I'm hoping I"m over thinking things - I just want to be sure when I start gluing it all together tomorrow morning.

The photos below show not how the plumbing will look, it is only for demonstration purposes in an effort to show the reduced size in PVC/tubing.

Thanks again for all of the help!

I don't think your issue will be too much flow. Others have said it, but definitely consider:

- don't use a check valve, it is supefluous and will cause more head loss.
- use the output diameter of the pump all the way to the tank and run it over the back of the tank. 1/2 will cause more head loss.
- if you want to tune the return consider replacing the ball valve with a gate valve. They are a lot better for fine tuning flow. Ball valves are better for on/off applications.

Glad to see you are getting to the execution stage of your project. Keep us posted

 

[bif24701]

I don't think your issue will be too much flow. Others have said it, but definitely consider:

- don't use a check valve, it is supefluous and will cause more head loss.
- use the output diameter of the pump all the way to the tank and run it over the back of the tank. 1/2 will cause more head loss.
- if you want to tune the return consider replacing the ball valve with a gate valve. They are a lot better for fine tuning flow. Ball valves are better for on/off applications.

Glad to see you are getting to the execution stage of your project. Keep us posted

+1. Great advice right there.

 

[mcarroll]

Good except the ball/gate valve, IMO.....just right-size the pump in the first place. No valves = better.

Use of a valve (which costs more money) indicates you oversized the pump (which costs more money), which means you oversized your electric bill too (which costs more money).

Which is all fine if you like high electric bills or your plumbing is too complex to analyze but neither spending like that nor designing like that will do anything better for your tank.

Keep it simple and save that money for corals and fish!

At the flow rates recommended, the fittings (even the check valve) didn't contribute a whole lot of back-pressure. I'd still leave off the check to save expense and additional points of failure.

Does Reeflo like the dueling elbows on the suction side? (Why not use just one ell and lose the 4x4's under the sump?)

Sometimes cavitation can be an issue when there are restrictions, so maybe just be aware.

 

[jason2459]

If you cut the flow with the gate/ball valve you will increase pressure on the pump which will cut down on watts used. I use watts used to know if flow is decreasing or increasing on my pumps. Killawatts are great.

 

[Willz]

Good except the ball/gate valve, IMO.....just right-size the pump in the first place. No valves = better.

Use of a valve (which costs more money) indicates you oversized the pump (which costs more money), which means you oversized your electric bill too (which costs more money).

Which is all fine if you like high electric bills or your plumbing is too complex to analyze but neither spending like that nor designing like that will do anything better for your tank.

Keep it simple and save that money for corals and fish!

At the flow rates recommended, the fittings (even the check valve) didn't contribute a whole lot of back-pressure. I'd still leave off the check to save expense and additional points of failure.



Does Reeflo like the dueling elbows on the suction side? (Why not use just one ell and lose the 4x4's under the sump?)

Sometimes cavitation can be an issue when there are restrictions, so maybe just be aware.

I was just responding to what he is asking about in his posts. He has a pump already. He wants to be able to tune the flow. I don't think the pump is DC so he would need to get a valve of some kind to adjust flow. My experience had been that gate valves are a lot easier to adjust the flow.

 

[incloud design]

It's been awhile, but I wanted to update the few folks who have helped me through this process and ask for a little more help...

I ended up going with the Reeflo Swordtail pump as you can see in the picture and a 100 gal Rubbermaid.

I have one question: the outlet on the pump is 1.25"; the bulkhead on my display tank is 0.5". The head pressure on my pump will be roughly 15' from basement to display and pumping ~800gph. Is that too much pressure on my 0.5" inlet? I will also have a ball valve near the pump to regulate flow. I'm hoping I"m over thinking things - I just want to be sure when I start gluing it all together tomorrow morning.

The photos below show not how the plumbing will look, it is only for demonstration purposes in an effort to show the reduced size in PVC/tubing.

Thanks again for all of the help!

Sorry to jump in here but I am trying to figure out whether or not I will be able to run my new tank off my existing system/pump. I'm in the middle of trying to integrate a new tank (Red Sea Reefer 450) into a similar setup to yours. I have the Jebao DCP-18000 (Power: DC 24v 130-watt 110-120v 60hz, max flow: 4755gph, max head: 30ft.) running from my basement sump to my 65 gallon display as of now. It's about 15 feet away and up about 10 feet. I'm running the pump at about 60%. I just picked up a Red Sea Reefer 450 and want to add it to the sump/pump about another 18 feet across the house and up another 8 feet. So a total distance of about 25 feet and up 18 combined. Do you think this is possible or am I out of my mind? I'd appreciate any feedback as I don't want to waste time trying just to start over with an additional pump. Pump is here: https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-DCP-18...UTF8&qid=1528742935&sr=8-1&keywords=dcp-18000

My current system is here:
Thanks in advance for your time!

 

[Recklessryan904]

I recommend reeflo for heat pressure . On our 1000g the sump is in the garage about 20 feet away and even with that they have to be throttled down . I used 2 reeflos on my 480g sps tank and couldn’t be any happier with the flow !

 

[incloud design]

Thanks, I almost bought a Reeflo but it sounded like a Harley.

 

[Recklessryan904]

Thanks, I almost bought a Reeflo but it sounded like a Harley.

Dc pumps are going to be the quietest but from my experience don’t handle head pressure very well and the prices get way up there . I have 2 dart hybrids on my 480 and I can’t even hear them .

 

[incloud design]

My Jebao DCP-18000 is the best pump I've used yet and cost a fraction of all the popular brands. I'd buy five of them before ever wasting money on Ecotech again. Highschool's over, I couldn't care less about looking cool. I want silence and function. I'm not debating brands or types of pumps just not technically sure my pump will handle the job. I turned it down tonight to 25% of it's power and it is still flowing well to my display so I'm convinced it will work out fine. My plumber is coming this weekend to advise me on the best route to take in accomplishing my goal. I'll touch back when it's all up and running. Thanks for your time and suggestions.

 

[TerraFerma]

If you want a reliable basement pump - try the pressure rated Iwaki's. Not new and fancy, and not energy efficient compared to DC pumps. But they are pretty much fail safe.

 

[mcarroll]

@incloud design Any chance you can get a dB reading from your pump at about 12" distance? (Free app, unless you have a meter. I have "decibel X".)

 

[incloud design]

@incloud design Any chance you can get a dB reading from your pump at about 12" distance? (Free app, unless you have a meter. I have "decibel X".)

I can try but all my equipment running is louder than the pump. The drain into my sump is loudest and pausing the pump would defeat the purpose. It doesn't make a peep, you can't hear it all. I'm picky and I'm impressed.

 

[incloud design]

@incloud design Any chance you can get a dB reading from your pump at about 12" distance? (Free app, unless you have a meter. I have "decibel X".)

I just went down and used my sound meter for my home theater right next to the pump with all my equipment running and it fluctuates between 32-36 DB. As long as my dog doesn't bark, lol. Hope it helps!

 

[mcarroll]

I just went down and used my sound meter for my home theater right next to the pump with all my equipment running and it fluctuates between 32-36 DB. As long as my dog doesn't bark, lol. Hope it helps!

Hm...need a reference since we don't have similar meters...

What range of dB's do you pull from humans talking in the room? (like in a cellphone conversation...)

 

[incloud design]

Natural voice is 48 DB.

 

[mcarroll]

I think you have a calibrated mic....I do not. I'm getting about 40 dB in a "silent" room with no gear of any sort running. About 60 dB near my sump...and the circulation pump in there has a slight hum/needs cleaned. Talking gets me up to 70 dB peaks.

 

[incloud design]

All I know is 82 DB is reference sound for THX theaters. I'm not a pump salesman and I'm telling you, you can't hear it.