Garage Sumps???
- Thread starter Semper.Reefing
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OP
OP
Hey everyone! Just wanted to give an early summer update. Despite the hot weather, and my garage climbing up to 87 degrees… everything is doing well! I’m happy I snagged the JBJ chiller while they were on sale. Otherwise the heat would have really affected the tank. Water changes have been super easy using a Sicce submersible pump. I drain the sump- about 35g- and clean it out. Water flows right out the garage door! And I pump fresh salt water back in making water changes almost effortless.
I recently moved a lot of my LPS from my other tank after a little mishap dosing expired AV fuel. But all have bounced back. I explained the scenario in a YouTube video.
All of the my fish are fat and happy! I do feed a good bit, nori sheet in the morning, Rods in the evening.
My only complaint is the floating particles in the water column. It only annoys me when I record videos. I’m not sure if it’s because of the low turnover rate with the dursos. I’m wondering if adding an ozone generator might help. I do calcium carbonate doses once every few weeks which really seem to help pull organics out of the water.
I recently moved a lot of my LPS from my other tank after a little mishap dosing expired AV fuel. But all have bounced back. I explained the scenario in a YouTube video.
All of the my fish are fat and happy! I do feed a good bit, nori sheet in the morning, Rods in the evening.
My only complaint is the floating particles in the water column. It only annoys me when I record videos. I’m not sure if it’s because of the low turnover rate with the dursos. I’m wondering if adding an ozone generator might help. I do calcium carbonate doses once every few weeks which really seem to help pull organics out of the water.
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CMMorgan
Counting my blessings...
I did the same thing. I was so proud of myself for thinking this was such a great idea. I live in Florida, so I never had to run a heater. The smells were kept in the garage. I did not lose sleep at night worrying about flooding.... water changes were done in the garage, so my house stayed cleaner. My RO was out there, my mixing station.... I really thought I was a crushing it.
It was great ... until it wasn't .
Like d2mini said .... everything in my garage started to rust. My AC handler was right above the sump cabinet. Brand new ... it has rust stains all over it now. Even though my sump cabinet was completely closed and insulated, this became a big problem. I tried fans. When I came to accept that my choice was to AC the garage or run a dehumidifier 24/7 (undesirable in Florida), the experiment was over.
I realize that the success or failure of this concept is going to largely depend on ones climate and tolerance for garage humidity and the rust that ensues. I think that d2mini had a great solution. If you have the room - follow suit.
Good luck on the build!!
It was great ... until it wasn't .
Like d2mini said .... everything in my garage started to rust. My AC handler was right above the sump cabinet. Brand new ... it has rust stains all over it now. Even though my sump cabinet was completely closed and insulated, this became a big problem. I tried fans. When I came to accept that my choice was to AC the garage or run a dehumidifier 24/7 (undesirable in Florida), the experiment was over.
I realize that the success or failure of this concept is going to largely depend on ones climate and tolerance for garage humidity and the rust that ensues. I think that d2mini had a great solution. If you have the room - follow suit.
Good luck on the build!!
OP
OP
Thank yall
I’m sure it’s just as humid if not more down in Florida compared to Charleston. Do you think that alone could cause the rust? Or was running the sump in there kind of the cherry on top?
Thank y’all for the insight! I’m going to keep my eye out on everything. That’s something that has been on my mind as well. I have a bunch of gym equipment next to my tent. I’ll throw a dehumidifier in there in the mean time. I have been toying with the idea of running a mini split. We don’t keep cars in the garage and kind of treat it as another room in the house.
I’m sure it’s just as humid if not more down in Florida compared to Charleston. Do you think that alone could cause the rust? Or was running the sump in there kind of the cherry on top?
CMMorgan
Counting my blessings...
Absolutely the sump. We never had issues prior to the tank build out and we have not had issues since we broke it down. It's a perfect storm of salt and humidity, it just reeked havoc out there. My husband has so much rust on his hand tools, it's just silly. Even the door knob that leads from the garage to the outside is pitted on the INSIDE but not the outside. I have yet to change that out - it's on my list.
I do like your tent idea. I really thought we had covered that base ourselves. We had the sump in a wooden cabinet that was completely insulated and sealed. (Unless the doors were open of course.) It did not happen over night... it just sneaks up on you.
The AC handler is the part that really crushes me. I am going to have to explain to some future home buyer that it really isn't ancient, I'm just a reefer that made a bad decision. OOPS
Truly ... I hope that you find a solution for you. If you can find an energy efficient mini split, you should be golden.
OP
OP
Thank you! I’m hoping to make it through this hot summer and will make adjustments as needed. Hoping this works out long term. If not, I don’t mind moving the sump back under the tank.
I’ll keep this thread updated over time!
Temperature instability of a non Airconditioning space is too much of a draw back IMO. I rather just have a smaller sump or else enclosed a space in the garage as a fish room.
d2mini
5000 Club Member
Houston and Florida have the same humidity. 100% it was the tank in my case.
CMMorgan
Counting my blessings...
This is very true for all of us "Gulf" coasties... we just watch NOAA and roll the dice to guess who is going to start filling sand bags.
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