Need you opinion - Sump in stand or out?

[reefr4kps]

Long story short, got home yesterday to a small flood in my stand. Sumps in there and couldn't for the life of me find out what happened. Anyway, will have to tear the tank down this weekend to get the sump out of there and put it in another stand to find out what’s going on. The current stand is particle board and even though I used 3 coats of outdoor polyurethane, I just bought a pine stand to replace it because I don't trust it anymore.

I’m thinking though that I’d rather keep the sump out of the stand and somewhere else close by. What do you all do? Would really like to hear your comments......

 

[Anonymous]

In stand, but only if its still highly accessible.

What size tank / stand? - If it were me and I had the luxury of a big tank I think I would prefer to plumb two small sumps together to keep accessibility AND keep them in the stand.

JMO..

 

[tenshi]

What GratefulDiver said. Although its nice to have one large sump, I think its beter to be able to pull anything out of your stand through the front stand doors.

 

[tazdevil]

If there's a closet nearby, you could make a "disaster drain pan" in it, run it to the nearest drain, then place the sump in the closet on the pan. If it floods, the water will go down the drain basically.

 

[reefr4kps]

I just posted specs, helps from typing it all out.

I decided at the last minute to put it in the stand and I've been regretting it. The stand is a particle board (AGA?) with a small opening and that should have told me something before I put it in there. There's only about 5" to play to stick my hand in there, not to mention the fuge is in the back of the sump facing the wall with barely room to reach. I just bought a pine stand with double doors so I"ll size that up for a possibility.

The nearest closet is 10' away but I have room on the floor next to the tank in the corner - I like the 'disaster drain pan' idea, it will definitely sit in another container.

I'm just not sure if the mag7 head will run another 3-4 ft for the return?

Thank you for your ideas!

 

[Anonymous]

I hate having my sump in-stand. Makes sump maintenance such a headache! My current system is plumbed through a wall into a laundry room. In my previous house though I built a separate box for the sump and just put plants on the lid...looked just like a piece of furniture and was very inconspicuous.