Rubbermaid Sump with Rollermat?

[ariellemermaid]

Has anyone out there installed a rollermat in a Rubbermaid sump setup? I'm considering a basement sump for my new house and would need much larger capacity than my current 50g glass sump, but I've never installed a rollermat before. So can one just drop in say a Reefmat 1200 (perhaps hanging on the edge or elevated on a platform), plumb the return to it, and be good to go?

 

[everpresentnoob]

I dont see why not. My reefmat 500 is freestanding on its legs in my sump currently.

 

[twentyleagues]

Has anyone out there installed a rollermat in a Rubbermaid sump setup? I'm considering a basement sump for my new house and would need much larger capacity than my current 50g glass sump, but I've never installed a rollermat before. So can one just drop in say a Reefmat 1200 (perhaps hanging on the edge or elevated on a platform), plumb the return to it, and be good to go?

yes

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Absolutely, that's what many of us do. Just stand it on its legs. You may have to play around with the height. I actually plumbed my returns to both sides of the reefmat, but in hindsight that isn't really necessary.

 

[ariellemermaid]

Absolutely, that's what many of us do. Just stand it on its legs. You may have to play around with the height. I actually plumbed my returns to both sides of the reefmat, but in hindsight that isn't really necessary.

Makes sense to me, why wasn’t it necessary?

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Makes sense to me, why wasn’t it necessary?

I felt that the one side could handle the flow and filtration just fine. I used a bean animal style overflow so I had my primary overflow on one side and secondary on the other side. The roller matt was doing almost too good a job so I actually had to shut if off for a while. I could have easily just let the secondary overflow go right to the sump and bypass the roller.

Ive always liked the Rubbermaid sump, I just used a 75 gallon tank and dropped everything in that with no baffles, so same concept. Its great, its so simple.

edit: should have added that my overflows are both 1"

 

[TX_REEF]

I wouldn’t use a rubbermaid as a sump without bracing, it will bow out when significantly full. You’d have to brace it, or use something like a stock tank, not just a standard plastic storage container.

But yes on the roller mat, you can simply use the elevation legs included and let it free-stand.

What’s your system size? The roller mat 1200 is a stout piece of equipment generally for 120 gallon or larger displays

 

[Gill the 3rd]

I guess when the op said a Rubbermaid sump, I assumed it was the Rubbermaid stock tank that you get at a tractor supply. Those dont require bracking and dont bow. I've had a Rubbermaid 150g with oscars for a few years now, and recently have a 300 gallon for my saltwater fish/corals. No bowing at all.

Now if we are talking your typical storage tote, then I would absolutely agree. Those will bow and will only get worse over time.

 

[ariellemermaid]

I wouldn’t use a rubbermaid as a sump without bracing, it will bow out when significantly full. You’d have to brace it, or use something like a stock tank, not just a standard plastic storage container.

But yes on the roller mat, you can simply use the elevation legs included and let it free-stand.

What’s your system size? The roller mat 1200 is a stout piece of equipment generally for 120 gallon or larger displays

Yes, talking about their stock tank/horse trough/outdoor bath as they market it. $200, and quite frankly I can barely find aquarium sumps in the 100-200g range even for thousands of dollars without going custom.

Display tank is 160g minus rock, sand, baffle level. I’m looking at maybe the 100 or 150 depending on what space a new home has in a convenient location. I’m planning for a basement sump so my 50g probably isn’t going to cut it taking the water in the piping into account (one poster said he has 15g in the pipes alone for a basement sump). Not about to rely on check valves to prevent flooding.

Ive always liked the Rubbermaid sump, I just used a 75 gallon tank and dropped everything in that with no baffles, so same concept. It’s great, it’s so simple.

edit: should have added that my overflows are both 1"

Baffling was another question I had so that’s helpful! I’ve come to wonder whether sumps are over-thought and insanely over priced for a box with dividers, and whether that’s even necessary. So long as I can work in mechanical filtration and maybe a skimmer if I need it, I’m just not sure I need 4 separate compartments with baffle grates to clean, etc. Only issue I could see potentially cropping up would be bubbles if the flow is too turbulent with the gravity drop.

 

[hart24601]

I used a 150g stock tank for my basement sump with a reefmat. Worked great. No baffles needed with stocks tanks. I would replace the bulkhead with a good one, my stock bulkhead cracked. That sucked….

 

[hart24601]

My build thread documenting the reef mat. Be ware, the build is not a happy one nor had a good ending. Nothing to do with reefmat though.

Build Thread - IM 150 EXT soft coral lagoon and dartfish shoal

Starting my new build. Tank will not be here until late August but might as well get started. here is my previous build - lots of info there! I will still use the downstairs Rubbermaid 150g stock tank sump...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Gill the 3rd]

Baffling was another question I had so that’s helpful! I’ve come to wonder whether sumps are over-thought and insanely over priced for a box with dividers, and whether that’s even necessary. So long as I can work in mechanical filtration and maybe a skimmer if I need it, I’m just not sure I need 4 separate compartments with baffle grates to clean, etc. Only issue I could see potentially cropping up would be bubbles if the flow is too turbulent with the gravity drop.

My old sump had a bunch of baffles in it and I hated it. I do think sumps are generally overthought, but to each their own. Some people like having a whole bunch of baffles and compartments.

This is my setup - I literally just dropped my reefmat, some rocks, my protien skimmer and heaters in a tank. I even dose kalk and 2-part right into the sump. Same concept that you want to do but with a glass tank.

Note that my refugium is separate. If I did have this in my sump I would have a baffle to separate that from the rest of the equipment.

 

[ariellemermaid]

My build thread documenting the reef mat. Be ware, the build is not a happy one nor had a good ending. Nothing to do with reefmat though.

Build Thread - IM 150 EXT soft coral lagoon and dartfish shoal

Starting my new build. Tank will not be here until late August but might as well get started. here is my previous build - lots of info there! I will still use the downstairs Rubbermaid 150g stock tank sump...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks, I was wondering about getting the level correct; I like the PVC platform idea. I skimmed quickly all the way through looking for plumbing issues. From what I can tell, the real disaster was just a lot of fish deaths (without using strict copper/treatment/QT process)? On the plumbing side it looks like mostly a complete success unless I missed a page; just that one stock tank developed a crack and then a bulkhead failure (but I have read everyone using these tanks recommends drilling out and replacing the bulkhead, so maybe that could have been prevented).

Concerning about the cracked bottom though, it looked like you did go to good lengths to support with cinder blocks and plywood. I wonder if it was just defective; I mean, these things are made for outdoor use- summer sun, winter, sitting on grass and mud. I still have to figure out what to buy or build to get it off the ground though, so that's a good lesson to be extra thoughtful.

 

[twentyleagues]

Thanks, I was wondering about getting the level correct; I like the PVC platform idea. I skimmed quickly all the way through looking for plumbing issues. From what I can tell, the real disaster was just a lot of fish deaths (without using strict copper/treatment/QT process)? On the plumbing side it looks like mostly a complete success unless I missed a page; just that one stock tank developed a crack and then a bulkhead failure (but I have read everyone using these tanks recommends drilling out and replacing the bulkhead, so maybe that could have been prevented).

Concerning about the cracked bottom though, it looked like you did go to good lengths to support with cinder blocks and plywood. I wonder if it was just defective; I mean, these things are made for outdoor use- summer sun, winter, sitting on grass and mud. I still have to figure out what to buy or build to get it off the ground though, so that's a good lesson to be extra thoughtful.

I have a 300g stock tank as a pond in my house right now. Its been set up like this for 5 years. Years ago it was part of my saltwater system before I got out. This one lived in a shed from 2010 until 2020. This was in use from 2004 until 2010. These are really resilient. Yes I would address the bulkhead that comes stock in one way or another, in this one it appears I epoxied it in. For a stand I am using cinder blocks and 3/4" plywood. I am not sure what would have caused the one in @hart24601 to fail the way it did possibly not level or maybe not supported properly. I read through the thread but didnt see where or what they thought was the reason. My salt system years ago was 3 -100g rubbermaids and 2 -300g in the basement below 125g and 120g tanks. The 3-100g where my sump and they were set up to flow from one to another one was full of live rock another was skimmer, heater, and dosing the 3rd was return chamber. The 2 300g were setup for non reef safe fish and one tragically for sharks. You think one of these 300g stock tanks is large and they are until you see a 3' bamboo cat in it. Live and learn I guess, I did have plans on setting up an 8x12 pool but that wasn't going to fly.

 

[hart24601]

Thanks, I was wondering about getting the level correct; I like the PVC platform idea. I skimmed quickly all the way through looking for plumbing issues. From what I can tell, the real disaster was just a lot of fish deaths (without using strict copper/treatment/QT process)? On the plumbing side it looks like mostly a complete success unless I missed a page; just that one stock tank developed a crack and then a bulkhead failure (but I have read everyone using these tanks recommends drilling out and replacing the bulkhead, so maybe that could have been prevented).

Concerning about the cracked bottom though, it looked like you did go to good lengths to support with cinder blocks and plywood. I wonder if it was just defective; I mean, these things are made for outdoor use- summer sun, winter, sitting on grass and mud. I still have to figure out what to buy or build to get it off the ground though, so that's a good lesson to be extra thoughtful.

Yeah the disease got me badly. I don’t want to get into it all again but I got velvet either from dr reef or reef cleaners. Both say it’s impossible to get from them…. But it did come from one of those two places so….

The plumbing worked great. The bulkhead was the issue and if I had a backup plan even a pipe I could have stopped the leak for a while I probably would have replaced it.

As for the first sump, yeah who knows. Might have been defective or not enough support as I added more for the second.

Still no issues with how it all worked. In fact it was my favorite system in 30 years of reefing until the cracked bulkhead.

 

[ariellemermaid]

Yeah the disease got me badly. I don’t want to get into it all again but I got velvet either from dr reef or reef cleaners. Both say it’s impossible to get from them…. But it did come from one of those two places so….

The plumbing worked great. The bulkhead was the issue and if I had a backup plan even a pipe I could have stopped the leak for a while I probably would have replaced it.

As for the first sump, yeah who knows. Might have been defective or not enough support as I added more for the second.

Still no issues with how it all worked. In fact it was my favorite system in 30 years of reefing until the cracked bulkhead.

It looks like you went with flexible schedule 40 compatible PVC and had no issues with leaks? I like the flexible PVC idea. Any issues with flow velocity and bubbles when it hit the sump in the basement?

 

[hart24601]

It looks like you went with flexible schedule 40 compatible PVC and had no issues with leaks? I like the flexible PVC idea. Any issues with flow velocity and bubbles when it hit the sump in the basement?

No issues at all. I have been using flex pvc for maybe 15 years in different setups and believe it’s a better solution than hard. I would do the exact same plumbing if I was to set up another large tank, worked perfectly aside from the sump bulkhead of course…

 

[BCSreef]

Yes, talking about their stock tank/horse trough/outdoor bath as they market it. $200, and quite frankly I can barely find aquarium sumps in the 100-200g range even for thousands of dollars without going custom.

l too wanted something in the 150-gallon range. I found this 180-gallon for $470. Shipping was $300 for one or $400 for two. They have many other sizes.

Link: https://www.ntotank.com/180gallon-duracast-natural-white-rectangular-open-top-tank-x7180124

 

[twentyleagues]

l too wanted something in the 150-gallon range. I found this 180-gallon for $470. Shipping was $300 for one or $400 for two. They have many other sizes.

Link: https://www.ntotank.com/180gallon-duracast-natural-white-rectangular-open-top-tank-x7180124

Yeah those are nice but stupid expensive. Do you have a tractor supply near by? The rubbermaid come in 50g, 100g, 150g, 300g, typically much cheaper and they stock them so no shipping.

 

[ariellemermaid]

l too wanted something in the 150-gallon range. I found this 180-gallon for $470. Shipping was $300 for one or $400 for two. They have many other sizes.

Link: https://www.ntotank.com/180gallon-duracast-natural-white-rectangular-open-top-tank-x7180124

$300 shipping?! I feel like you could find a guy on craigslist to drive it to your house for that price.