closed loop intake location

cnaegler · 05/30/2010, 08:29 AM

Hello everyone,
Ok, so i'm preparing to drill my "new" acrylic 300 reef tank for a closed loop. I'm having trouble deciding on where to put my 2" intake pipe so i decided to get everyone's opinion. I thought about putting it on the back panel with a strainer such as this:

http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...lene-Strainers

but then i'm not sure if i want to have a 2" pipe coming out the back because i have a fish room behind the tank and don't want to run the risk of hitting the pipe as i move around behind the tank.
My other option is up through the bottom, but i"m not crazy about seeing a pipe sticking up through the sand with a more traditonal strainer such as this:

http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...cid=9812162289

I guess it's mostly a personal opinion but i would like some input as to what the pros and cons could be to each method. Thanks everyone!

ebonline · 05/30/2010, 09:07 AM

I have the same strainers as your first link and they are 2" and both are drilled in the back wall about 1' off bottom and about 2' from each end. These come out the back and feed into a "T" which then feeds my pump. I put in 2 instead of a single because I wanted to try to cut down on some of the stronger suction out of just 1 strainer but 1 would work fine.

das75 · 05/30/2010, 11:39 AM

Bottom or side, you can position your inlet so you never see it.

My 2" CL intake is plumbed through the bottom of one of my overflow chambers then enters the display area through the side wall of the chamber. About 12" off the bottom, strainer sort of similar to your second link and all built a rock wall over it. With a Dart and a 2" not worried about to much suction.
Inlet is on the left side behind and a little above the zoas

Here's a great example of a CL inlet on the bottom (and great tank Dez from Canreef (build, post 98 the inlet)). The inlet is on the right bottom

jtma508 · 05/31/2010, 07:48 AM

My inlet is in the back center about 3" above the sand bed. It has a Tee and two 6" one-inch diameter strainers. The rockwork pretty much hides it.

cnaegler · 06/03/2010, 05:05 PM

Awesome info guys! I appreciate everyone's input. I've decided to put one 2" inlet in the center of the tank about halfway up. it's about 11- 12 " off the bottom. thanks again guys!

05/30/2010, 08:29 AM	#1
cnaegler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sylva, NC-Western North Carolina Posts: 960	closed loop intake location Hello everyone, Ok, so i'm preparing to drill my "new" acrylic 300 reef tank for a closed loop. I'm having trouble deciding on where to put my 2" intake pipe so i decided to get everyone's opinion. I thought about putting it on the back panel with a strainer such as this: http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...lene-Strainers but then i'm not sure if i want to have a 2" pipe coming out the back because i have a fish room behind the tank and don't want to run the risk of hitting the pipe as i move around behind the tank. My other option is up through the bottom, but i"m not crazy about seeing a pipe sticking up through the sand with a more traditonal strainer such as this: http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategor...cid=9812162289 I guess it's mostly a personal opinion but i would like some input as to what the pros and cons could be to each method. Thanks everyone! __________________ Craig _________________________ ATL "Superman" acro, Vivid's Rainbow Delight acro wanted You can want in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first!! Save the reefs! Buy captive bred fish and aquacultured corals! Current Tank Info: Downsizing to a 120 BB SPS tank, 6205 &6305 Tunze on 7095 controller, Current USA extreme 8 x 54 fixture

05/30/2010, 09:07 AM	#2
ebonline Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Georgia Posts: 93	I have the same strainers as your first link and they are 2" and both are drilled in the back wall about 1' off bottom and about 2' from each end. These come out the back and feed into a "T" which then feeds my pump. I put in 2 instead of a single because I wanted to try to cut down on some of the stronger suction out of just 1 strainer but 1 would work fine. __________________ Eric Current Tank Info: 180 Gallon Display with 500 Total Gallons in construction process

05/30/2010, 11:39 AM	#3
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	Bottom or side, you can position your inlet so you never see it. My 2" CL intake is plumbed through the bottom of one of my overflow chambers then enters the display area through the side wall of the chamber. About 12" off the bottom, strainer sort of similar to your second link and all built a rock wall over it. With a Dart and a 2" not worried about to much suction. Inlet is on the left side behind and a little above the zoas Here's a great example of a CL inlet on the bottom (and great tank Dez from Canreef (build, post 98 the inlet)). The inlet is on the right bottom __________________ . Current Tank Info: 145g Starfire display (mixed reef) w/75g basement sump & 20g refugium, Barracuda return, Dart w/OM 4way CL, AI Hydras and Director.

06/03/2010, 05:05 PM	#5
cnaegler Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Sylva, NC-Western North Carolina Posts: 960	Awesome info guys! I appreciate everyone's input. I've decided to put one 2" inlet in the center of the tank about halfway up. it's about 11- 12 " off the bottom. thanks again guys! __________________ Craig _________________________ ATL "Superman" acro, Vivid's Rainbow Delight acro wanted You can want in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first!! Save the reefs! Buy captive bred fish and aquacultured corals! Current Tank Info: Downsizing to a 120 BB SPS tank, 6205 &6305 Tunze on 7095 controller, Current USA extreme 8 x 54 fixture

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05/31/2010, 07:48 AM	#4
jtma508 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,232	My inlet is in the back center about 3" above the sand bed. It has a Tee and two 6" one-inch diameter strainers. The rockwork pretty much hides it.