Closed loop and plumbing for a 75 gal

[berner]

I'm looking for help designing flow via a closed loop system for my 75 gal reef tank. Specifically, does anyone have a solid setup that they might recommend? My tank is rectangular with corner overflow and spray bar. The current configuration utilizes the spray bar as return and I would like to incorporate the spray bar in the closed loop design.

Thanks in advance.

 

[returnofsid]

I recently did a closed loop in a 75 but it was a HOB design as it's not a drilled tank. Wish I could offer advice, but I really don't know. I'll bump it to the top for you though, in hopes that someone wiser can answer. In the meantime, check this link out. You may have to search through the archives but there's a ton of great info on designing closed loop systems.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/

 

[returnofsid]

Also, check out the "Plumbing and Water Flow Workshop" in the same forum you originally posted to. Might also think about moving this to either the General Discussion or the DIY forums. Also, check out IAP's forum. It's in the sponsors of RF area.

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=42

 

[berner]

Thanks for your replies. I'll move this to the DIY forum and hope some other chime in. I'm really looking for someone to give me ideas on how best to maximize the flow and then I can begin to design the plumbing to support it.

Let me know if you have seen other threads that might help.

Thanks again!

 

[Brenden]

Am I understand you want to tie the CL in with the return?

 

[btuck]

I just did a 75 with a closed loop. I used an oceans motions super squirt and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[Jerrow]

I'll throw my 2 cents into this... Let me start with my setup involved drilling 6 holes in the back of a glass tank so this may not be the route you want to go.

I am using a 4 port Oceans Motions to control the direction of flow in the tank. I have a Dart pump to drive the flow.

I drilled four holes along the bottom of the back as entry points for the CL. Each hole being the output of one of the ports on the Oceans Motions. There are two holes in the middle of the back (one on the right and one on the left side) that are in intake to the Dart.

Here's a picture to help...

I then built a frame work out of PVC pipe for my rock to sit on top of to keep it off the bottom glass. This frame has 4 seperate "sections"; each section connected to one of the holes in the back of the tank. These sections then have one or two loc-lines to direct the flow as needed.

A so-so picture showing the PVC frame

A picture of the Oceans Motions plumbing project

And finally a picture with sand over the frame

This setup worked well for me because of the aquascape I wanted to do with two islands and an arch... Probably wouldnt work for other people. As you can see in this picture you don't really see any of the loc-line after the rock was put in place.

My inspiration for this type of setup came from Steve Weast's plumbing designs; if you would like some more to look at http://www.oregonreef.com

 

[gadandy]

I used a Closed Loop design that I found on the following website: www.melevsreef.com. There you will find the DIY plans utilying a SQWD device although the design can be modified to fit what you need. Good Luck!!

 

[berner]

Michael:

That's a great idea. I've looked at Oregonreef many times but never closely at the plumbing and circulation as that is such a complex system. At any rate, thanks very much for sharing and glad you did as that is a very interesting design... I'll plan to do the same. With so many points of flow (outputs in the tank) was there a problem with pressure... not enough?

Thanks again!

 

[berner]

Brenden: Nope. Spray bar incorporated in the closed loop with a seperate return.

 

[Jerrow]

Michael:

That's a great idea. I've looked at Oregonreef many times but never closely at the plumbing and circulation as that is such a complex system. At any rate, thanks very much for sharing and glad you did as that is a very interesting design... I'll plan to do the same. With so many points of flow (outputs in the tank) was there a problem with pressure... not enough?

Thanks again!

If I didn't have the Oceans Motions in the loop I would say the flow would be dispersed too much, but the Oceans Motions only has two of the four ports open at any one time so I think it works out rather well. The only thing I will caution you on is that with the loc-line outputs at the bottom of the tank you will cause some sand storms until everything is settled in. I have a ball valve on the output of the Dart (one of the few pumps you can dial back and not harm) that I slowly opened up over the period of about a week. The Oceans Motions is a sweet little toy, but any sand storms will give you some headaches with it.

Hope it all works out for you!

 

[berner]

Thanks again. Which Ocean Motions product did you use?

 

[Jerrow]

Thanks again. Which Ocean Motions product did you use?

4 Way with a version 1 drum

http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=32&osCsid=9cd6f6037e0eafb9bfa90bab7d4a0328