plumbing my CL

[renisel]

I'm setting up a 60 cube with a CL system driven by a Reeflo Dart. The pump will be fed by 2" PVC coming from (2) 2" bulkheads in the back of the tank connected by a tee. The 1.5" output of the Dart will feed into an OM 4-way.

The tank already has 1" bulkheads in the spots I'd like to use for the outputs of the CL, and the OM's outputs already have 1.5"->1" reducing bushings. Will I see much reduction in flow if I leave the 1" outputs/bulkheads or would I be better off removing the bushings and opening up the holes in the tank to accommodate 2" bulkheads?

[tkeracer619]

You will be fine. Make sure you intakes are more then just a screw in strainer. If you just use screw in strainers things will get stuck to them (fish, shrimp, ect)

I would use a Tee on the inside of each bulkhead and put two screw in strainers on each intake.

[renisel]

Thanks. I was wondering about the suction at the intakes and had already decided I would be safe and tee them on the inside so each of the two intakes had one strainer near the edge of the back of the tank, and another closer to the middle. I figure this should also spread out the flow pattern.

On a side note, that should say 1.5" bulkheads, not 2" bulkheads at the end of my first post.

[MarlinHooker]

hmmm .... a Dart for a CL on a 60 seems like overkill. That's over 50x/hr for tank vol turnover ...I have a super dart for my CL along with an OM 4-way. The folks at OM in Australia helped design my CL: one 2" input feeding the Dart and the 1.5" output feeding into the OM with 4 1" returns from the 4-way. they suggested using only a single 2" input to the Dart & running a tee with up to 4 feed lines on the suction side. I was orginally planning to have two 2" inputs like you but they very quickly talked me out of that as a 'bad idea'. Going with 3-4 feed lines from a tee to the 2" input will reduce the suction to managble levels, draw water from all over the tank & significantly reduce the "things get stuck to my input" problem which results from one or more big 2" inputs. The area immediately around a 2" input from a Dart will create a mini vortex which most things will not be able to get by. Particularily on a 60g tank I would think there will not be a lot of space for things to escape from the 2" inputs ...

[renisel]

I appreciate the detailed input, but I'm not sure I agree. For the sake of conversation (as opposed to argument), my rationale are as follows:

First, I used to run a Vortech on a 40B SPS tank. Even when it was running at maximum power and pushing around 3,500 GPH (roughly 90x/hr turnover for that tank), the suction it created wasn't enough to cause problem for any of the healthy livestock. A wrasse that was very lethargic due to injuries sustained after a trip through the overflow got stuck to the intake once, but that was it. The setup I'm proposing would spread out the same amount of flow over four strainers on 2" diameter piping. I haven't done the math, but that seems like it would be at least as much surface area for roughly the same amount of intake flow--and hence less water velocity/suction.

As far as it being overkill, I've seen (and had) systems with over 50x/hr turnover that still had plenty of dead spots and didn't suffer any apparent ill effects from the large amount of flow. Part of the reason I've been considering going with 1.5" return holes instead of the 1" holes the tank is already drilled for is that the increased diameter will slow down the output a bit and make it more diffuse. Additionally, I will have a ball valve on the output of the Dart so that I can throttle it back if either the input or the output proves to be problematic.

[d0ughb0y]

Dart on 60 cube CL at full blast will probably turn it into a washing machine.
The GPH of vortech cannot be compared to a real CL GPH. I tried an mp40w on my 60 cube and at max does not seem to move the water as much as the CL, which just use an ehiem 1262 with OM squirt. I almost thought about going bare bottom but eventually found loclines positions to not blow the sand clear of the bottom.

since you have the valve at the output, then I suppose you can tune it down if it turns out too strong.

[MarlinHooker]

rensiel: I hear what you are saying and your math may be right but you won't believe how much flow you get from a Dart - it is a very big pump ... Also, the guys from OM in Australia design Cls for a living to specifically work with their OM systems. So when they recommended doing it a certain way I never really considered questioning it. Not saying yours won't work but I think you will find that you'll be dialing your Dart way down to avoid the washing machine effect ... Also, large turnover rates don't necessarily equate to no dead zones, proper design & location of the system is far more important in my opinion

[dj9264]

I use a Super Dart on my 180. Four 1" inputs into 2" flex and four 1.5 out on a 4-way.

You may be better off to leave the restiction of of the 1" output bulkheads because you'll be dialing back the Dart anyway. Changing 1" holes to a larger size is a hassle.

PS. OM is in Canada. Paul at OM says people often think he is in Australia.

[renisel]

After listening to your input, I'm inclined to go against my initial instincts and try something smaller than the Dart (which will soon be in the selling forum if anyone is interested). I wasn't looking forward to widening all the holes in the back of my tank anyway. Any pump suggestions besides the Eheim 1262? (Not that I'm opposed to using that pump--just looking for other suggestions.) I don't have any experience with the Eheim pumps; is there any good reason to go with that instead of, say, a Mag 9.5 or Mag 12?

[d0ughb0y]

I think an atb flowstar 1500 or equivalent will work fine. When I got my 60 cube, it was configured with an iwaki rxlt40 rated 1200gph, no om though, output is just split to 4 returns.