Garage sump ideas

[Haulin Oates]

So I'm slowly collecting pieces for my garage sump/filter system. A 100 gal stock tank and a ~50gal divided sump, and an iwaki pump. I plan on utilizing all of the following nutrient export devises:
Bio pellets, carbon, refugium, 2 skimmers, extra live rock, and possibly GFO. Basically the 50sump is divided into 3 equal spaces. My plan was to gravity feed into space 1 thru a bio pellet "trap" then thru both skimmers then through a refugium. At this point the water will dump (still under gravity power) into the stock tank full of live rock, and then the iwaki will pull water out, thru carbon and GFO bags and go back to the DT and a frag tank(possibly). Any thoughts on the organization of it all? Would you guys change anything?

 

[coloagro]

So the main is a 100g or? just thinking.

 

[Zooid]

I don't know much about biopellets but I'd consider putting a filter sock before allowing the return water hit the pellets just to get rid of the big particles before they can clog the pellets. Sounds like a nice setup.

 

[Haulin Oates]

Oh yeah! Forgot about the filter sock!! Thanks zooid!

 

[Craigar]

You will have better luck if you run one big skimmer than two small ones. A bigger skimmer will give the air and water a longer contact period to collect all the detailed solids. But other than that it sounds good to me!!!

 

[Luke.Fraizer]

My concern would be heat... My garage has no insulation though. If you have it so that it will be warm during the winter and cool during the summer you will be good!

 

[mortimersnerd]

Not sure how you use your garage, but finding a way to cover it would also be suggested. Anything in my garage is likely to get a periodic coating of metal shavings, welding slag, wood dust or a variety of different oils. Filtering the intake on the skimmer might not be a bad idea, either. x2 on one big skimmer over 2 small ones. Also, is your garage insulated? Mine can get pretty warm during the summer. You may want to consider picking up some hard foam insulation sheets. I used to use these under my basement sump during the winter to keep heating costs down, as the bare concrete can suck a decent amount of heat out of the tank.

 

[Haulin Oates]

Good idea on the foam!! I was going to surround tge tank, but I think I'll set one underneath too!! When budget allows, I will be upgrading skimmers, but until then 2 skimmers will have to do...
My garage is insulated and finished, and I just got an insulated wood garage door, so I think my biggest problem is going to be in the summer.

 

[mortimersnerd]

Setting it directly on the concrete during the summer will likely help a bunch. It's a pain to drain and refill it 2x/year, but it's worth it. I used to run a halide with no fan inside a hood during the summer with no heat issues on a 42 gallon tank and a 100 gallon basement sump. Plan on multiple heaters. It took about 500w to keep mine warm enough during the winter. I used to burn out at least one per year, as one would be on most of the time before the other kicked in.