Rev's 400+ Gallon Basement Inwall

revhtree · Jul 15, 2016

jsker said:
Nice to have a plumber as a friend, that is quite a bit of savings. Now all you need is a carpenter, electrician, cabinet maker, and tile guy as friends;)

I actually do have an awesome electrician and carpenter! HA!

Shouldn't need cabinet guy or tile. I am thinking of just putting down an epoxy flooring over the cement floor. Good idea?

jsker · Jul 15, 2016

revhtree said:
I actually do have an awesome electrician and carpenter! HA!

Shouldn't need cabinet guy or tile. I am thinking of just putting down an epoxy flooring over the cement floor. Good idea?

yes, I like the epoxy flooring. Just toss a little sprinkle of sand on top of the wet pant so that you will not slip on the floor if it is wet;) if you use the Rustoleum epoxy floor paint sprinkle the sand after you sprinkle the pixie dust (colored paint chips) let is dry and you should be good for non slips.

Leslie Tabor · Jul 15, 2016

I am so into this build! This is going to be amazing! I have to save this to show my hubby later....I want to do a 300 gal in the basement and he thinks I am nuts! Can't wait to see this done!

revhtree · Jul 15, 2016

Leslie Tabor said:
I am so into this build! This is going to be amazing! I have to save this to show my hubby later....I want to do a 300 gal in the basement and he thinks I am nuts! Can't wait to see this done!

Thank you and I will try not to disappoint!

revhtree · Jul 15, 2016

OK there may be a change in plans and I need your input! The drain job is going to turn into like $2500 even from my "friend!" HA! I really don't want to pay that much for this part of the build. I will if I have too but it will put me behind taking a chunk of funds like that.

So I am thinking I may forget the drain on the floor and go with a mop sink that will mount on the wall and tie into another drain that goes outside and down the hill onto my property in the woods.

This will save a lot of money but also give me a way to drain water. That being said it doesn't help if there is a flood or something related to a mishap. Is there anything I can do as far as that goes?

Ideas and thoughts please?

shadow1013 · Jul 16, 2016

What floors are in the fish room where the tank will be in?

revhtree · Jul 16, 2016

Concrete!

AcanSkywalker · Jul 16, 2016

Rev I would think there has to be a floor drain somewhere in your basement no? With those inside walls you can just run PVC to it. jmtc

jt17 · Jul 16, 2016

Could you build a containment area? A single row of blocks around the perimeter of the fish room would be ample to contain 500 gal. You could then build your walls on top of the blocks.
Or you could drill a hole in the floor and install a sump pump.

revhtree · Jul 16, 2016

Our air returns are in the main area of this "workshop" and they drain to a pump that pumps the water up and out. So I know there is no drain.

mfinn · Jul 16, 2016

revhtree said:
OK there may be a change in plans and I need your input! The drain job is going to turn into like $2500 even from my "friend!" HA! I really don't want to pay that much for this part of the build. I will if I have too but it will put me behind taking a chunk of funds like that.

So I am thinking I may forget the drain on the floor and go with a mop sink that will mount on the wall and tie into another drain that goes outside and down the hill onto my property in the woods.

This will save a lot of money but also give me a way to drain water. That being said it doesn't help if there is a flood or something related to a mishap. Is there anything I can do as far as that goes?

Ideas and thoughts please?

A floor drain is a luxury that some have, but I would bet that it is a minority.
With concrete floors you aren't going to have major damage in a flood.
I think the mop sink is the next best thing.

revhtree · Jul 16, 2016

mfinn said:
A floor drain is a luxury that some have, but I would bet that it is a minority.
With concrete floors you aren't going to have major damage in a flood.
I think the mop sink is the next best thing.

I can literally save myself $2000! I want it but it's a very hard pill to swallow!

shadow1013 · Jul 16, 2016

I agree

mfinn said:
A floor drain is a luxury that some have, but I would bet that it is a minority.
With concrete floors you aren't going to have major damage in a flood.
I think the mop sink is the next best thing.

jsker · Jul 16, 2016

The only other way I could see and this would still cost you, is cut a hole in the floor and put in a sump pump in the hole in a corner and float the flour to drain to the sump. the other way would be to build a floor on top of the concrete floor, with 2x6 and plumb it then tile the fault floor.

Another way would to pour a footing about 4 inches around the area you would like the drain and yes cut an area for a small sump pump and have a drain.

Least expensive way is as @mfinn suggested mop sink, $120 in you do it yourself.

I have a drain in my sump with an overflow piped out of the wall of the house is another option Pictures below. this was done for easy cleaning of the sump, draining water to adjust salinity, and we then electric go out I will not have a flooding issues all over my hardwood floors.

rebekwl · Jul 16, 2016

Can't wait to see how this transpires! Following...

ludnix · Jul 16, 2016

revhtree said:
OK there may be a change in plans and I need your input! The drain job is going to turn into like $2500 even from my "friend!" HA! I really don't want to pay that much for this part of the build. I will if I have too but it will put me behind taking a chunk of funds like that.

So I am thinking I may forget the drain on the floor and go with a mop sink that will mount on the wall and tie into another drain that goes outside and down the hill onto my property in the woods.

This will save a lot of money but also give me a way to drain water. That being said it doesn't help if there is a flood or something related to a mishap. Is there anything I can do as far as that goes?

Ideas and thoughts please?

What a large wet vac to go with a mop sink? It's not ideal if you have a massive flood, but easier than mopping it all up and a lot cheaper than the drain. I keep a small one just in case my tank springs a leak.

mfinn · Jul 16, 2016

revhtree said:
I can literally save myself $2000! I want it but it's a very hard pill to swallow!

save the $ for a deep well mop sink ( make sure the tall 6-7 gallon buckets fit under the faucet ) and a good wet/dry vac.

revhtree · Jul 16, 2016

Thanks for the info everyone! I feel better about the decision and so does my wife. She didn't want holes in the foundation.

So shoot me any suggestions for good sinks. I want to get a deep one like you suggest @mfinn and a long one to have plenty of room.

mfinn · Jul 16, 2016

revhtree said:
Thanks for the info everyone! I feel better about the decision and so does my wife. She didn't want holes in the foundation.

So shoot me any suggestions for good sinks. I want to get a deep one like you suggest @mfinn and a long one to have plenty of room.

with a work counter on each side?

I got mine at Home Depot. It was one of the plastic ones with legs and a included faucet.
I'd show it, but it's 20 years old and not picture worthy. lol