Closed loop for an undrilled tank

[mattseattle]

I thought this was great information for those of us who don't have a drilled tank nor the resources to drill a tank. I've been rethinking my plumbing setup and how to rid my tank of powerheads and I think this link is a great idea so I thought I'd share it with you.

http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/closedloop.html

Let me know your opinions on this setup.

 

[fishermann]

looks like it should work, i have 2 glass tanks and think this mite work. I too am tired of powerheads and such. You could put some of those adjustable knuckle nozels on the outlets so you could change the flow directions. Well be interesting to see what mike thinks of this?

 

[alde]

I have done this very thing using this very photo for reference on my 120. I am using a SCWD and a Mag 12 and it works great. I have had no problems with it in the 3 months it's been running and the corals love it. I also have a SCWD on my return using a Mag 18 and it works great too.

 

[TDEVIL]

this works great

the only thing i changed was instead of using all the elbows, i used 45's, a bit more plumbing but it helps with the flow

TD

 

[mattseattle]

well it's awesome to hear feedback about this before i start building something. this will be my first 'real' plumbing project and it looks relatively simple. guess Home Depots hould have all the parts I need except for the pump and the SCWD.

anyone have pictures of the one they built? how did you solve the issue of draining water out of it if you have to service the pump or anything?

 

[mattseattle]

well i just ordered a SCWD and a Mag-Drive 5. that should give me the flow i need in my tank (55 gallon) and allow me to get rid of the 2 maxi-jet 1200's i have in each corner.

what size pvc pipe did you use? 3/4" or?

 

[Katchupoy]

I have this for some time now. And I got it from Marc too...

 

[esmith]

Matt: He posted further down on his page this link http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/tank/scwd_plumbing_diagram.jpg for adding the drain. Just put a tee on the inlet just before the pump, and a ball valve behind the tee...then you're good to go.


He also said he used 3/4", which is what I would use. This will allow for slightly increased water flow.

On a side note, he also said that he upgraded to a MAG 7 for increased flow.

HTH,

Eliyah

 

[mattseattle]

yeah that's a good point Eliyah. I just called and changed my order to a Mag 7 instead of the 5. Guess I'll probably need the additional flow anyways

I just measured the space between my tank and the wall and it's only 3.5" and the pump is 3.8" - guess I'll have to drop the pipe down about 6" more and mount it in and behind the stand somewhere. That'll take away a tad bit from the over all flow so it's probably good I went ahead with the mag-drive 7.

 

[esmith]

What about using a 9? You do have a 55, and the CL and Melev's tank is only a 30..,and since you're going to have to run it from inside of the stand it might be better.

Just a thought.

Eliyah

 

[mattseattle]

yeah i thought about that....i think the 5 will give me enough flow. i'm going to leave one of the maxi-jet 1200's in there anyway behind one of the rocks to keep good flow behind the rock surface. i'm also running 400gph through my return pump. i think between the mag drive 5 on the closed loop, the maxi-jet 1200 behind the rock and the return i should have enough flow. i still have my DSB so i don't want to get too much in there till i remove that a few years down the road

 

[mattseattle]

but now you me thinking maybe i should go ahead with the 9 i think i'll call in the morning and change it to a 9. i can always put a control valve on the output to throttle it back some if it's too much.

Eliyah - thanks for spending more of my money!

 

[esmith]

Anytime, just give me a holar and I'll be happy to talk you into it!

I'm actually passing on some of the same things I'm thinking about right now, because I'm going to be moving and setting up a new tank with a closed loop system, except that I am going to be returning it into a spray bar behind the rock work (except I'm going to drill the tank). I'm also looking at getting something like the MAG9 so that I can also have a couple of returns over the side as well as the spray bar, this way (hopefully) I will have no need for any power heads.

I already have a MAG7 running my return, which is going through a spray bar, but it's not quite enough flow by itself.

Let me know how it works out, since you'll probably have yours up and running before the end of the month when I move.

Eliyah

 

[mattseattle]

i also noticed that the mag 9 is slimmer at 3" versus the 7 which is 3.8". the 9 is longer and higher of course but i think the 9 will probably be a better fit behind my tank.

too bad it's not easy to just move the stand and tank about half an inch more from the wall but no way i'm tackling that.

alot of these issues are poor planning on my part when i first set up the tank. now i'm having to re-plan around my initial mistake.

it'll work out i'm sure but kinda frustrating now with the new projects i want to do.

 

[Katchupoy]

Hey Matt, Here is my setup last Nov. 2003

 

[mattseattle]

looks pretty easy to build....and it works well for you?

i noticed on your outputs that you have it just pointing straight down....do you normally have another piece that adjusts it across the tank?

 

[Katchupoy]

Hey guys, Just my two cents.

If you can affor sea swirl... I'll go for it. But here you go, here's my observation.

It is only good if your tank is smaller than 24" wide. The flow will not make any difference if its bigger than 24" wide.

Now if you have bigger than 24", you will need at least two SCWD or a very powerful pump (maximum SCWD can handle).

The reason is... the transition between the left and the right output is really short. Not enough for the water to travel from one side to the other. So that will not even make the corals sway.

Unless, you put the outlet on the front side of the glass which direct its outlet to the corals. That will probably do the trick.

If I'm going to do it again. I'll have the sea swirl or just a wavetimer and several ph's.

I am fortunate to have a 24" wide box. But still doesnt make a wonderful job. I have a 700gph pump right now. Maybe I should make it at least 1000gph.

BTW, there are two options for SCWD. 1/2" and 3/4".
I have 1/2". Also if you can also use a flexible clear hose with 3/4" ID. It will make a big difference. I can explain further if you want. But I'll stop for now.

 

[Katchupoy]

about the pointing down.... I will just add another elbow on it without using the adhesive so i can adjust/direct it to the wall for indirect effect.

 

[Katchupoy]

Here is another picture last month...

 

[mattseattle]

i did not know that...my tank is 48" long so in essence you are saying the scwd would be too fast for the flow to make it out of the outlet and produce enough effect before it switched back to the other side?