Outdoor sump ????

[melev]

I know a guy in west texas who's username on ReefCentral is npaden. He's got an enormous cistern made of HPDE material (food grade plastic such as some Rubbermaid products) that was originally made to store water. He cut off the top section to make the container accessible across the entire vat.

He then dug a huge hole, and placed it inside the hole, and later poured flooring around it and built a building over it. This gave him an enormous sump & refugium, used geothermal heat and is able to maintain a stable environment. Having it outdoors in the sunlight and then exposed to cold night air will be a huge challenge that will take constant monitoring. Your shed will help some, but I think the idea of getting it into the ground will be your best asset.

[Fatman]

I know a guy in west texas who's username on ReefCentral is npaden. He's got an enormous cistern made of HPDE material (food grade plastic such as some Rubbermaid products) that was originally made to store water. He cut off the top section to make the container accessible across the entire vat.

He then dug a huge hole, and placed it inside the hole, and later poured flooring around it and built a building over it. This gave him an enormous sump & refugium, used geothermal heat and is able to maintain a stable environment. Having it outdoors in the sunlight and then exposed to cold night air will be a huge challenge that will take constant monitoring. Your shed will help some, but I think the idea of getting it into the ground will be your best asset.

Whats the ground temp in texas? I know your winters defintely get colder than ours here in South Fla. I remember reading on reef central of a guy in Ft Laderdale trying that since our water table is only 10 feet down, problem is our water table is also 80+ degrees and with the extra heat of the pumps, skimmers, and sun it was not enough to dissipitate the heat.

[carpenterwrasse]

put a skylight and you got natural sunlight for the plants in the fuge

[melev]

Whats the ground temp in texas? I know your winters defintely get colder than ours here in South Fla. I remember reading on reef central of a guy in Ft Laderdale trying that since our water table is only 10 feet down, problem is our water table is also 80+ degrees and with the extra heat of the pumps, skimmers, and sun it was not enough to dissipitate the heat.

I don't know the answer to that, but you could contact Nathan (npaden on ReefCentral.com) to find out more. Odds are he has pictures, a thread, etc somewhere handy.

[jerryc]

If i go ahead with it i may consider a ground Lupe if i can talk the boss
in to it lol

[RWalston]

Reefmaiden on RC has a similar set up as well. Except it is in her garage. If you can find her thread about her tank build up the pictures are fabulous.