Proposed Closed Loop system, comments pls

[CurvBall]

Hi Everybody,

Well, I'm starting to get ready to set-up my new tank after finally finding a new home

My tank is going to be 1m x 450mm x 600mm (deep). I'll be installing a centre overflow box.

I want to run a closed loop system (CLS) on my new tank and seeing as it is still in pieces I wanted to get your opinions on my CLS layout.
Please refer to the attached picture. Red circles indicate sump return. Lilac circles indicate CLS outlet while the blue circles are the CLS inputs. (The two big red circles are my drains to the sump)

I will be running two SCWD units on this tank, one on each CLS. Sump return will be a constant stream.

My return from the sump will probably rated in the region of 2000 - 3000 lph. But after head pressure, I'm looking at about 1500-2000lph.

For my closed loop, there is actually two of them, they'll be on pumps doing roughly 2500lph.

In total I guess I'm aiming for a complete turnover amount of roughly 7000lph
With my system only holding roughly 320litres, that gives me a turnover rate of 21 times per hour.

Due to the amount of flow in this tank, I'm going to be going with a bare bottom style tank with a thin layer of substrate for aesthetic purposes.

Please let me know what you all think. Any suggestions, advice, opinions welcome.

Thanks

 

[jasontatro]

WOW!!! South Africa... welcome to Reef Frontiers.

 

[CurvBall]

Thanks for the welcome jasontatro.

There are many reefkeepers here in South Africa and I'm hoping to become one of them soon.

 

[Elmo18]

Welcome to Reef Frontiers!

One clownfish species that I would love to get a hand at is the Madagascar Clownfish Amphiprion latifasciatus . Are there any available in South Africa?

I've never seen one in the U.S.

- Ilham

 

[CurvBall]

Hi Elmo18,

Thank you too for the welcome. Regarding the clownfish Amphiprion latifasciatus, I've not seen one myself although my friend runs an import business here, check out his website (www.duraquatics.co.za) and send him an email, perhaps he could help. (just a side note, i'm building this site, it will be up soon, but all the contact info is on the main page at the moment.)

Anybody got any comments on my closed loop system?

 

[Scooterman]

Big Welcome! Glad to have you aboard!

I'd consider two more outlets at the lower portion of your CLS, you will want water circulation down low behind your rocks to help keep things moving nice. Maybe separate the two inlets also, move one to the outer edge on each side but maybe not so low, humm I'd have to look around at a few others. Mike has one going on for Nikki; let me see if I can find that link!

 

[CurvBall]

Thanks Scooterman, let me know about that link.

I've also been thinking that I need some sort of flow in the lower region of my tank, although it would be good to have the lower area kind of low flow for LPS corals and zoo's.

 

[Scooterman]

I can't find it but I know who can so I'll get it to you soon I hope.
As far as the LPS, I have mine in a semi-high flow area, no problems here, also remember unless you have no obstacles in your tank, it will be almost impossible to get that super flow everywhere, so you shouldn't have a problem with finding a home in these slower spots. Now maybe Nikki will see this post and link you to her tank discussion thread!

 

[NaH2O]

CurvBall, WELCOME TO REEF FRONTIERS!!!

Here is the link to my plumbing design: Some Plumbing for Nikki

Having your tank bare bottom, you will want to have flow towards the bottom. This will aid in getting the detritus back up into the water column, which is where you want it (feed the corals and also make it to the skimmer). If you want your LPS to be in a lower flow area, you can situate them in an area around some live rock that would block the flow.

Hope this helps!

 

[Scooterman]

Thanks Nikki, I think you were hiding that link from me LOL!

 

[CurvBall]

schweet!

Thanks for all the warm welcomes, so far this has to be the best board I've been to on the net, thanks for that.

Thanks for the link Nikki, checking it out now.

Reef frontiers rocks!

 

[Doug1]

Hi Curvball welcome to Reef Frontiers
Tell your reefin buddies about us, We would love to see and hear from SA reefers
Can't wait to see pics of it up and running

 

[CurvBall]

Thanks Doug1.

I'll be documenting my tank on my website but I'm defiently going to dedicate a thread here on Reef Frontiers to it too, you guys make a new reefer feel so welcome.

Rock n Roll and beers to everyone... I'll have the vodka.

 

[mojoreef]

hi curvball and a big welcome to reef frontiers. Your return and drain line system looks fine to me. On your closed Loop system there are a couple things that concern me. One is as Scott mentioned the lack of flow in the lower regions of the tank. I would suggest that you reconfigure the outputs a little bit differently. You have an amount of return flow already a high in the tank so I would take one of your closed Loop's and run it out there along with that return output. So one closed Loop going into a scwd and then having an output on either side of the tank up high. Take the second closed Loop and have the outputs come out about mid-way up the tank, and again one on each side of the tank. You can have these pointing lower towards the bottom of the tank and this will help in keeping detritus and so on from landing on the bottom of the tank. Second, because your closed Loop pumps are so small I would only run one input per closed Loop pump.

Hope it helps


Mike

 

[Ed Hahn]

Nice to meet you CurvBall,
I am really interested in this conversation. Thank you
Ed

 

[MarineDreamer]

Another question for Mike.

CurvBall, Welcome to Reef Frontiers!

I’m glad you started this thread, and that Mike, our officially unofficial plumbing consultant has chosen to grace us with knowledge. (That and I’m trying to butter him up so that he’ll answer one of my questions that keeps me up until two in the morning!)

So, Mike: I’ve got a similar layout on my 60Lx18Dx25H; I.E. a center over-flow. I was thinking of putting the intake(s) for my CLS inside the overflow box. I was hoping to push somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000-1200 GPH.

So, two questions:

First: Is putting the CLS intakes in the overflow box a bad idea? I’ve been looking at plans from people on Reef Frontiers, and I’ve noticed that no one seems to be doing this. Is this because the box can’t handle this amount of flow or of some other reason that I’m not yet familiar with?

Second: If my math is correct, I’ve approx. 110 gallons. Is 1000-1200 GPH enough flow for SPS’s? (I’m going to have an Iwaki MD-20RLXT on the sump, that’s 600GPH at 5’ of head.)

Oh! And yes, I HAVE to have sand. Not a DSB, just for looks.

 

[Elmo18]

Re: Another question for Mike.

Second: If my math is correct, I’ve approx. 110 gallons. Is 1000-1200 GPH enough flow for SPS’s? (I’m going to have an Iwaki MD-20RLXT on the sump, that’s 600GPH at 5’ of head.)

Oh! And yes, I HAVE to have sand. Not a DSB, just for looks.

If you are talking about overall total flow in the tank for a 110 gallon for SPS system, I would think its on the low side. I believe average tanks should get around 10x turnover. However, 20-30x, and I know some of you have way higher turn over rates, will be better than the 1000-1200. I know in my 75 gallon tank, i have 4 MJ1200's in there and I find it to be very low. My return pump, adds the rest of the flow. I know we can really never come close to keeping SPS here in the same wave/tidal conditions as they experience in the wild, but i would try to get more flow for them.

- Ilham

 

[CurvBall]

Thanks for everybodys comments so far on my CLS system.

I’m glad you started this thread, and that Mike, our officially unofficial plumbing consultant has chosen to grace us with knowledge.

No problems Marinedreamer I dropped mojoreef a PM after checking out Nikki's thread about the plumbing mojo was doing on her new tank. I thought if there was anybody who could help with my CLS, it was mojoreef. His tank is AWESOME:exclaim: :exclaim: :exclaim:

Okay about my closed loop:
mojoreef said: "Second, because your closed Loop pumps are so small I would only run one input per closed Loop pump."

Now that being said, could I run my closed loop inputs in my overflow box so I can elimate the need for the completely in the tank. That way I have less chance of having fish, snails, etc getting sucked up.

marinedreamer said: "First: Is putting the CLS intakes in the overflow box a bad idea? I’ve been looking at plans from people on Reef Frontiers, and I’ve noticed that no one seems to be doing this. Is this because the box can’t handle this amount of flow or of some other reason that I’m not yet familiar with?"

As far as some of research into CLS goes, it is unwise to install your CLS inputs in your overflow because of the amount of 'suck' it causes. This might lead to the inputs pulling air into the loop. (yes I know I'm a complete hypocrite :lol However if you install an elbow that makes the input face down, you could elimate this 'air sucking' problem. The again it depends on how much flow, correct? mojoreef?

If this is the case, I'm going to put my CLS inputs in my sump box.
Here is my new proposed layout for my CLS.

Note the lower outputs

Thanks again to everybody here at Reef Frontiers, you guys are the best.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Curvball,
Be careful, there are copy cats lurking in the shadows. Mojo is really smart. I think that guy is part fish. Some one told me he was a Badger once. I am still wondering why this guy is so smart? What ever type of animal he is...he is very caring for people and animals. I wish you luck. But again be careful there are people that love your idea and want to do it also. Please tell me how it works out? I have been working lots of OT at work and want to spend it before I get it. Do you have any Ideas?..laughing..
Take care..
Ed

 

[wanareef]

Welcome to the addiction

Thanks for everybodys comments so far on my CLS system.

Okay about my closed loop:
mojoreef said: "Second, because your closed Loop pumps are so small I would only run one input per closed Loop pump."

Now that being said, could I run my closed loop inputs in my overflow box so I can elimate the need for the completely in the tank. That way I have less chance of having fish, snails, etc getting sucked up.

I would say no, because there is always a chance for the pump to cavitate, not enough flow for the pump and as you have stated "I've noticed that no one seems to be doing this." What I did for my intake was to spread the "suction" with a large BH and a 4way piece of PVC, three inlets w/a screen. I can take a picture if needed. In fact I have a SCWD on the rose tank.

marinedreamer said: "First: Is putting the CLS intakes in the overflow box a bad idea? I’ve been looking at plans from people on Reef Frontiers, and I’ve noticed that no one seems to be doing this. Is this because the box can’t handle this amount of flow or of some other reason that I’m not yet familiar with?"

As far as some of research into CLS goes, it is unwise to install your CLS inputs in your overflow because of the amount of 'suck' it causes. This might lead to the inputs pulling air into the loop. (yes I know I'm a complete hypocrite :lol However if you install an elbow that makes the input face down, you could elimate this 'air sucking' problem. The again it depends on how much flow, correct? mojoreef?

If this is the case, I'm going to put my CLS inputs in my sump box.
Here is my new proposed layout for my CLS.

Note the lower outputs

You could also install a "spray bar" along the back-bottom of the tank to help with the flow down there

Thanks again to everybody here at Reef Frontiers, you guys are the best.

Good luck