Floor drain planning/ AUTO water changes

[pledosophy]

I'm setting up a 210g soon and want to put a floor drain in, that will be plumbed to come up into the sump to protect from overflow, but also to make general maintenance much easier(water changes, RODI in stand for ATO, skimmer draining etc).

I spoke with a plumber and the quote is $800.

Any advice for someone doing this for the first time?

I had a recent injury to both my arms so I am trying to find away not to carry or move water jugs. I figured with the size of the stand I can put a 30g tank (which I have) in the stand and just make my water change water in the stand and pump it in, and have it drain out into the floor drain.

Any advice on that?

THanks

 

[Scooterman]

That is a neat thing to do. You can automate the entire process. Not sure of any advise but would like to see the process as you built it. Then maybe I could shoot ideas your way.

 

[user 26995]

Great idea. wish I could do it. keep us posted on the project. being able to mix the new saltwater and pump it in is nice to be able to do. On my 240, I set it up so I can hook a 2-1/2" hose to the pipe from the overflow. I run the hose out to the driveway and pump the new water in and as its running in one side, the displaced water runs out the opposite side and out the hose.
make sure that the line from your new saltwater container does not go below the water line in the display tank. otherwise, when you turn the pump off to stop pumping the new water into the tank, it will start a reverse siphon and drain the water out of the tank back into the mixing container.

 

[kpiotrowski]

I plumbed mine out the wall and tied into storm drain.

 

[pledosophy]

That is a neat thing to do. You can automate the entire process. Not sure of any advise but would like to see the process as you built it. Then maybe I could shoot ideas your way.

Thanks. I am trying to just have the whole project quoted and then hire someone to build. I can post pics when it is done, but probably not along the way.

make sure that the line from your new saltwater container does not go below the water line in the display tank. otherwise, when you turn the pump off to stop pumping the new water into the tank, it will start a reverse siphon and drain the water out of the tank back into the mixing container.

No worries, I've been reefing for about 15 years, so I know a bit about siphons. I've actually been looking at doing a peristaltic pump for the water change part. Was able to get a code for the Apex that will sense when the water change tank is ready and then slowly pump from that tank to the display. So similar to what you are doing, except I can program mine to take a week to do 30g's.

I plumbed mine out the wall and tied into storm drain.

I'm doing the same thing, just going through the floor to get to the drain (the wall where the tank goes is not exterior) Any advice for me after having yours set that way?

 

[kpiotrowski]

depends on where on planet earth you are from lol. If freezes in winter I would insulate. I just used expandable foam to fill in the gaps in in the wall and it worked well to hold it in place also. my build thread http://www.reeffrontiers.com/threads/66360-kpiotrowski-s-300DD