Tying into the Basement - Pic Intensive

[JohnS_323]

I dug up a bunch of pics of our journey of tying into the basement. The process started Thanksgiving weekend, 2005. I began by drawing out a detailed version of my plan. I created a shopping list from the plan and separated all of the parts out into buckets based on where they'ed be used. I did that so that when we went to work on a section we wouldn't have to hunt around for any parts. This was important because we had to pull out the existing wet/dry filter and once we started I wanted things to happen fast.

Here is a chronology of how we did it:

First we made the manifold:

Then we started tying into it.

Here is the manifold prior to hooking into the pump:

Now tying into the pump:

Here is everything in the basement finished and ready to go through the floor:

Under the cabinet prior to cutting the sheetrock (this was gut check time!)

Sheetrock Cut!

Drain Hole cut through floor:

Return Hole cut through floor:

Under Cabinet Complete!

Lines coming through floor tied into basement:

Whole Basement (then) View 1:

Whole Basement (then) View 2:

Whole Basement (Now) View 1:

Whole Basement (Now) View 2:

Manifold Now:

Refugium:

 

[lithivm]

That system is insane (in a good way). A lot of planning for sure. It seems very busy if youu had to do it again would you make more streamlined or is that really as big as it needs to be?

Thanks a bunch for all the pictures, I will begin planning for my baby version of that.

 

[Phyl]

Planning was definitely key to the success of it all.

The extra ports (there were 3 extra in the original completion pictures) have all come in handy as we automate and streamline more of the system. The more ports you have the more you can use the one pump for (providing it has enough guts to get you there).

Tying in the waste water is the bulk of change between the first set of completion pictures and the final pictures. That has been an amazing time saver. It makes water changes a complete no brainer. We throw two valves (an extra for backup, could probably due with 1, but in the event of a failure I don't want waste water in my system) and dump water into the drain system. Put them back and throw a third valve and the water change is complete. Less than 10m and no carrying water, pumps, hoses, etc.

There isn't anything I'd remove from our original implementation, knowing what I know now.

I have to admit though, the plumbing into the house waste system was John's baby. I was petrified of the prospect. In action it is a critical part of the system.

The second (larger, raised) sump is a frag tank and wouldn't be necessary. We use it to hold the club raffle stock.

 

[lithivm]

what kind of aquarium is this setup dedicated to?

 

[Phyl]

A 120g display with a 150g stock tank (frags), a 55g fuge, and 100g sump (filled to about 50).

 

[JohnS_323]

I know it looks crazy but it's not really as complicated as it looks once you know where everything goes. I'm not really good at organizing my electrical wires, which adds to the overall look of confusion.

To answer the question of would I streamline anything, I don't think so. When I first started planning this whole thing someone suggested that I use a manifold to maximize the number of things I could feed with a single pump. That sounded like a really good idea so I went with 6 ports which seemed to be WAY more than I'd ever need. As the system evolved, I found myself going through ports pretty quickly. I continually found ways to reduce mags and maxijets and other feed pumps. I'm now down to my last port, which is being saved for the next integration (whatever that may be).

One thing that may be overkill is my use of union ball valves. I really like them though and put them in all over the place. That's just my preference, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely use the same amount (if not more).

If you have any questions during the planning process don't hesitate to ask. There are a ton of people here who have a lot of good ideas.

 

[mikem]

Looks good John. If you ever need a job as a plumber, LMK.

 

[FOOLISH08015]

Yet's see some tank shots!!!!

 

[dflint]

you should sticky this or keep it somewhere on the server where it will always be accessible.
very well thought out plans...

 

[Marcelog]

When you coming to do my house John? ;D

Marcelo -

 

[JohnS_323]

Thanks for the feedback!  Just to document the process further, here are the drawings I came up with before I started:

Under the cabinet

Basement Then

As I continued to add on to the system I would come back to this drawing and use it to plan whatever it was I was trying to do.  Here is the drawing of where the system is right now (Man how I wish it looked this clean in person!):

Basement Now

 

[Marcelog]

Very nicely done.

Marcelo -

 

[lithivm]

What did you use to draw your plans? AutoCAD?

 

[saltwater4life]

nice but where the tank shots

 

[Phyl]

The drawings (artwork?) are done in Visio.

 

[JohnS_323]

Yeah, the drawings were all done in Visio. Here is a full tank shot from last November. I need to get some better ones, though. The color in this one is a little funky . . .

{edited to replace out dated photo}

 

[Symbiote]

Wooo, Stock tank envy. *drool* Anyone have a napkin? How much for a tour?

 

[JohnS_323]

Wooo, Stock tank envy. *drool* Anyone have a napkin?  How much for a tour?

LOL! FREE tours available, just let me know when you want to come by.

 

[blange3]

Wooo, Stock tank envy. *drool* Anyone have a napkin?  How much for a tour?

Just patience, John and Phyl have hosted club meetings in the past, and I hope they do it again. It's a great system to see in person! ;D

I see John and I were typing at the same time!LOL

 

[Symbiote]

John, Seriously, I'd like to take you up on that. Jackson isn't too far from me and I have some friends in the area. Could make a dual purpose trip. Thanks!

-Jon