circulation

[Krish]

Yeah, they look cool... Less friction as well

 

[ronj]

the intake for this thing is huge..it's 1 1/2".. i am going to have to hide it behind rocks or something...do you think it would hurt my intake flow if i started the intake from the tank with a 1 1/4 or 1'' and then after it was out of the tank, bring it back up to the 1 1/2"?

 

[Krish]

You'll want to start with the biggest plumbing size and then work your way down. You know, you could use (2) suctions from the tank and then join them into 1 before it goes to the pump. Maybe (2) 1 inch suctions which is equal to a 2 inch plumbing. That way, you wouldn't have to worry about a single very strong suction that may suck in a few small fish (if you have any that may get too close). It would be shared betwen 2!

 

[moortim]

I think krish has the right idea with using two intake tubes, i wouldn't like the looks of a 1.5 inch pipe in a tank that size. I know some people don't care for the mag pumps but I think you made a good choice with the mag12. A mag 5 seems really small now doesn't it.

Tim

 

[ronj]

it really does seem small..about the 2 intakes, that sounds like a good idea, but would 2 of them mess up the suction on the intake?

 

[moortim]

it really does seem small..about the 2 intakes, that sounds like a good idea, but would 2 of them mess up the suction on the intake?

No, it should be fine. All the pump will see is whatever size intake you have hooked up to it. The two 1" lines will allow more flow than the single 1.5" pipe.

Tim

 

[ronj]

i am going to try the big intake first...i hope it doesn't suck any fish in it..i came home one day and my yellow tang was stuck to a powerhead

 

[moortim]

i came home one day and my yellow tang was stuck to a powerhead

I lost a firetail goby that way once, it sucked rolleyes: :lol

Tim

 

[Krish]

The weaker the suction the better chance for a fish that bumps into it. If you look at a lot of closed loops, people use 2 suctions joined into one. That's how I will be doing mine. When I did the closed loop on the 75gal, I used a single one and didn't lose any fish. I guess it depends on the pump.

 

[ronj]

i think i might put the suction closer to the bottom...my tangs don't really swim around the back bottom

 

[ronj]

the holes that i am drilling in the intake pipe will also help spread out the suction, instead of being just all at the strainer

 

[Krish]

Oh yeah...I forgot about them I did put any holes in mine that's why I forgot. I put that cool little cover around mine so you couldn't see anything and so my fish couldn't get to it. Yeah, enough holes and it will disperse the suction quite a bit. Make sure none is above the water level though or it may cause the siphon to break after a power outage

 

[ronj]

yeah, i am going to get it about 2",maybe 1 1/2" , from the water level before i start the holes...if it does leak, i will only lose 1 1/2 to 2" of water before the suction stops...it's still alot of water, but it's better than it emptying half the tank...

 

[Krish]

Oh...The suction won't stop from that! Once the pump is running it will be still be sucking which means you will be pulling in air and water into the pump which will be transferred to the tank. Trust me...Those holes won't be enough to break the siphon. I'd put them low enough incase you shut off your return pump to the sump (if you use one) that the water level won't go below your holes in the intake for the CL. If it does, you will be spitting bubbles all through the tank from the air...Just pray the thing doesn't leak

 

[ronj]

i mean if it does leak, once the water level drops down to the holes,which there will be plenty of, i don't see how it wouldn't break the siphon if all it can pull in is air

 

[Krish]

The strainer will still be submerged as well as some more of the holes so it will be sucking I've had some really nasty experieces in the past with floods

 

[ronj]

i am going to put alot of holes all the way around it...if the water level is lower than these, all of the holes in the top will be in the air...it may spit and sputter at first, but when it hits 2 rows of holes and nothing but air, the suction will stop...my bio wheel 350 HOT filter is just like this and the suction stops as soon as the water level drops below the vents in the top of the intake pipe. the vents are on the extender part of the intake pipe...see if you can look at the filter on a website

 

[ronj]

i just looked it up. it's called the mid-level intake...it's about 3-4 inches in the water..you can open it for mid-level intake. mine is open. when water gets below the mid intake it immediately stops suction, even though the bottom strainer is still submerged

 

[ronj]

i tried to draw a picture in paint...don't laugh ...this is what my new pipes look like..the holes go all the way aroud the pipe

 

[Krish]

Well, if it is above water level like that during operation, then you will have a lot of problems with bubbles etc. You have to make sure it is below water level during use.