Opinions Please

[Salty D-O-G]

I asked in a previous thread about closed loop systems and as mine is not set up that way and I wanted to show a diagram of how I did mine. The nozzels with jet ends point down and around the bottom and the flared end nozzels blow across the top and down the front of the tank. Thanks in advance.

jerry

 

[twilliard]

Looks good!
Better than what I have (none)
I think it should work.

 

[Murfman]

Jerry, I would personally have my returns at the top and point downward to give you the flow you need. The closer to the bottom that you drill, the more pressure is put by the specific gravity of the water. I put two holes at the bottom of my tank and one in the middle for intakes to the Dart and then have two holes at the top for the returns split by lock line. You don't have to have linear flow, just enough flow to keep the water turning over and keeping detritus suspended in the water column.

Here are some images of mine;

Where I drilled

Flow, if I had to do it all over again, I would drill one more in the center top of the back and skip going over the top, like I did.

I have a complete build thread on another forum, pm me if you would like the url.

 

[LakeEd]

Jerry,

Just an idea; I don't know how far down in the tank those return lines are, but if possible, have the flow from them moving in an upward direction.

By this... I have two sets of returns for my closed loop. Bottom set (about 5" off the bottom of my tank), then the upper set (about 14" off the bottom of the tank). I have the lower set blowing across the bottom, thru the rockwork... slightly pointing upward. This setting helps RAISE any detritus to the mid point of my tank. From there, my returns in the middle of my tank again move water thru the rockwork, in a slight upward direction again. Again, RAISING detritus.

By helping move any detritus upwards, I feel the surface skimming of my overflows is better able to help remove it down to my sump, where my skimmer can then take care of its job.

 

[CarlaW]

Ed, you got any pics of yours?

 

[shallowreef]

i like it a lot!!

 

[Salty D-O-G]

Everything is already hooked up and flowing now so changing that is kinda out of the equation. The tank has two overflows which are the returns to the sump and the I have the 3 pumps down at the sump to return the water. My next tank I will definitely do a closed loop system. In fact I may expirement with my 54 corner when I move everything into the 175. I plan on making the 54 a Cichlid tank and put a few Frontosa's in there (I love these fish). Looking at everybodys pics on here they make more sense. To have the returns at the bottom will also help in pulling a current across the sand and also suck up loose debris.

Jerry

 

[LakeEd]

Ed, you got any pics of yours?

Charlie,

I have probably the worlds worst digital camera, so the few pictures of my tank from the display side, are soo grany you can't really make out the plumbing inside. I have 3 returns at both the lower, and upper level, and I'm using 3/4" lockline internal to my tank, on "Y"'s, so each return has 2 outputs. Allows me to direct flow about anywhere I need it.

From the back side, I do have this picture, showing my closed loop plumbing.

 

[CarlaW]

That is just what I wanted to see Ed, Thanx.