Need closed loop Pictures

[Chicken_Eye]

I just purchased a new 100 gal with dual overflows and I was thinking about doing a closed loop system from the top of the tank or would it be better from the bottom. I need Ideas and pictures
Thanks

[LoneStar]

Do you know if your tank is tempered glass on the bottom? If it IS then a closed loop is out of the question coming from the bottom pane of glass. You could drill the side walls of the tank fairly low but I would go mid to upper for a closed loop. You can get some LocLine and use that to angle flow where ever you'd like.

LocLine @ Modularhose.com (http://www.modularhose.com)

A Sequence Dart makes a great closed loop pump. Quiet, high flow, low wattage, and it runs fairly cool.

You could try a SCWD or 2 but with a tank that size I think it would not be too effective.

Or if you want to do a big investment with small time cost of running you could get a EcoTech Marine VorTech Propeller Pump. I know, kinda pricey at first but it hardly uses any electricity, adds no heat to the tank and has some awesome flow! With a closed loop the pump and plumbing will be cheaper to set up but you will look at more money to just run the pump.

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/images/VorTechTrio700px.gif

[LoneStar]

Or if using a closed loop, you can add a penductor/eductor on the ends of your setup. I hear they increase the flow rate quite a bit.


http://www.premiumaquatics.com/plumbing/penductor.jpg
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Penductor

I would also suggest in getting a ocean motions 4 way too. That will help randomize the flow throughout the tank ;)


http://www.oceansmotions.com/4way-22-1.gif
http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/?osCsid=570418226bc7275426373933716ec633

[Chicken_Eye]

I am thinking about something like this, only without the drilled over flows

http://www.maast.org/modules/gallery/dow/aag

[caferacermike]

Does anyone actually like the Vortech? I've met 2 people that had them and they both said they were not pleased.

[LoneStar]

Does anyone actually like the Vortech? I've met 2 people that had them and they both said they were not pleased.

I have talked to a lot of people on ReefCentral, in the IceCap forum there, stating they love it. I think by now most of the 'bugs' have emerged and have been worked out and you should get a trouble free unit when ordering one. :)

[LoneStar]

http://www.maast.org/albums/dow/aag.jpg

If you do a setup like that, you will have to drill at least one hole in the back. If you look on the back side, centered, thats where the drain is for the closed loop.

[Chicken_Eye]

But could I not just use my return pump up out of my sump instead of drilling then connect it to a ring around the top of my tank like that one?

[LoneStar]

Well it would not be considered a closed loop. Just a extravagent return system. A closed loop is seperate to the return. A closed loop does not use any water from the sump. It pulls water from the main tank, goes to the pump and then back into the main tank.

On this particular setup, the owner is pulling water from about the middle center of the tank. This would work but I would do the return outlets a little different. If you add too many outlets the amount of gallons per hour (gph) is greatly reduced, meaning a lower flow...
http://www.maast.org/modules/PNphpBB2/files/aaf.jpg

[Chicken_Eye]

What if I necked it down to a smaller pvc

[Ram_Puppy]

Josh, I don't think you want to reduce down to a narrower gauge.

First, you need to stop and think about what your going to do w/ this tank.

are you going SPS reef? or staying softy. (your current tank is a few softies and fish right?) you don't need the 'mega high flow rates' unless your going with critters that need it.

That being said, your closed loop shouldn't be an afterthought, and should be an integral design to your tank.

I wouldn't do the design you posted because it looks like a great way to blast your sandbed to me, and I know Candid doesn't want to look at a tank full of milky water.

I am thinking your most ececonomical start up route - is a Reeflo Dart and an Oceans Motions 4 way.

The dart has a 2" intake and a 1 1/2 inch out port. so you'd have a 2" tube in your tank and a huge screen for it too :) no worries, they aren't that bad. I actually have a screen you can have if i can get it off my 120.

the oceans motions will take that 1 1/2" pipe going into it, and divide it variably (depending on where the drum is) between 1 or 2 pipes.

I would go over the middle w/ 2 X 1" pipes amd hjave them point toward the front corners, and then, run the other two up over each corner, down the back, under the sand bed (if your going to do sand) and have it pop back up and face towards the interior of the tank.

then stack live rock around them to hid them, and poof. closed loop.

those vortex pumps are awesome, but way to expensive right now. another option would be some tunzes, or maxi-jet mods.