pros and cons of closed loop plumbing

orthokardia · 12/24/2009, 01:35 PM

what are the pros and cons for plumbing my circulation pump in direct (closed loop) to the overflow as opposed to pulling from a sump.

290gal
iwaki rlt-55

thanks,
bart

tkeracer619 · 12/24/2009, 01:45 PM

If you plumb it into the sump its not a closed loop anymore. Its just another return. Having that much through your sump will cause drainage issues unless you have a lot of overflow drainage and surface area.

Most closed loops pull water from a bulkhead in the back of the tank that has been split off into a couple intakes with large screens on them.

Closed loops use a lot more power but you don't have cords or power heads in the tank. When you need to clean your pumps you have a hard plumbed in pump which is harder to get out but is only 1 pump to clean. If your cl pump fails you have no flow. If one powerhead fails you still have the rest.

orthokardia · 12/24/2009, 01:52 PM

the tank started life with 2 center overflows 2" out 1.5" in which I removed because it is now mounted into a wall. If I screen one of my out flows would you worry about the suction trapping a BTA or seahorse?

ordy1 · 12/24/2009, 03:08 PM

My closed loop runs off a dedicated Reeflo Dart. I have a 2.5" drain at the center of the tank. I have the 1.5" return reduced to 1" and flowing into a Hayward three way valve. This valve is actuated with a Hayward valve actuator. I have two 1" returns on either side of the tank and those are reduced to 3/4". I use 5 1/2" loc-line fittings on each side of the tank. The whole thing is controlled with an AC jr. oscillating every minute and a half.

It's a lot cheaper to go with Vortechs or Tunze streams. Just didn't want powerheads in my already tiny 46 gallon tank.

MX175 · 06/26/2012, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ordy1

My closed loop runs off a dedicated Reeflo Dart. I have a 2.5" drain at the center of the tank. I have the 1.5" return reduced to 1" and flowing into a Hayward three way valve. This valve is actuated with a Hayward valve actuator. I have two 1" returns on either side of the tank and those are reduced to 3/4". I use 5 1/2" loc-line fittings on each side of the tank. The whole thing is controlled with an AC jr. oscillating every minute and a half.

It's a lot cheaper to go with Vortechs or Tunze streams. Just didn't want powerheads in my already tiny 46 gallon tank.

Your reef sounds like its a nice setup. Got any FTS pics?

Allmost · 06/26/2012, 12:10 PM

cons ? more holes in glass, which increases chance of something going wrong. and also alot more pipes outside thank which again increases chances of soemthing bad heppening.

Dustin1300 · 06/26/2012, 12:17 PM

I have a 600 gallon build i'm working on and i've decided a couple closed loops, one with om4 way and other with sea swirls. I will have the drains in the overflow with stand pipes as I don't trust drain in bottom of tank. One cracked bulkhead, seal, pipe, valve and your forced to drain tank for repair and not something i'm willing to do. I'd rather have the drain isolated to overflow!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

aandfsoccr04 · 06/26/2012, 12:26 PM

Something about just drilling extra holes in a glass tank that is holding hundreds of gallons doesn't sit well with me. It's just more of a chance that something can go wrong so I just use the powerhead alternative.

MX175 · 06/26/2012, 01:52 PM

Have you seen David Saxby's closed loop setup? His is an incredibly safe closed loop system that doesn't require any drilling of the tank. At about 4 minutes in, he shows how his closed looped setup is all plumbed without drilling. I'm think about doing the same on a MUCH smaller scale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sMiFzHYFzE

12/24/2009, 01:35 PM	#1
orthokardia Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: manchester, tn Posts: 1,139	pros and cons of closed loop plumbing what are the pros and cons for plumbing my circulation pump in direct (closed loop) to the overflow as opposed to pulling from a sump. 290gal iwaki rlt-55 thanks, bart

12/24/2009, 01:45 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	If you plumb it into the sump its not a closed loop anymore. Its just another return. Having that much through your sump will cause drainage issues unless you have a lot of overflow drainage and surface area. Most closed loops pull water from a bulkhead in the back of the tank that has been split off into a couple intakes with large screens on them. Closed loops use a lot more power but you don't have cords or power heads in the tank. When you need to clean your pumps you have a hard plumbed in pump which is harder to get out but is only 1 pump to clean. If your cl pump fails you have no flow. If one powerhead fails you still have the rest. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

06/26/2012, 12:17 PM	#7
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I have a 600 gallon build i'm working on and i've decided a couple closed loops, one with om4 way and other with sea swirls. I will have the drains in the overflow with stand pipes as I don't trust drain in bottom of tank. One cracked bulkhead, seal, pipe, valve and your forced to drain tank for repair and not something i'm willing to do. I'd rather have the drain isolated to overflow! Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2 __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

06/26/2012, 12:26 PM	#8
aandfsoccr04 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 3,561	Something about just drilling extra holes in a glass tank that is holding hundreds of gallons doesn't sit well with me. It's just more of a chance that something can go wrong so I just use the powerhead alternative. __________________ 120 gallon mixed reef

12/24/2009, 01:52 PM	#3
orthokardia Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: manchester, tn Posts: 1,139	the tank started life with 2 center overflows 2" out 1.5" in which I removed because it is now mounted into a wall. If I screen one of my out flows would you worry about the suction trapping a BTA or seahorse?

12/24/2009, 03:08 PM	#4
ordy1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: new jersey Posts: 425	My closed loop runs off a dedicated Reeflo Dart. I have a 2.5" drain at the center of the tank. I have the 1.5" return reduced to 1" and flowing into a Hayward three way valve. This valve is actuated with a Hayward valve actuator. I have two 1" returns on either side of the tank and those are reduced to 3/4". I use 5 1/2" loc-line fittings on each side of the tank. The whole thing is controlled with an AC jr. oscillating every minute and a half. It's a lot cheaper to go with Vortechs or Tunze streams. Just didn't want powerheads in my already tiny 46 gallon tank.

06/26/2012, 12:10 PM	#6
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	cons ? more holes in glass, which increases chance of something going wrong. and also alot more pipes outside thank which again increases chances of soemthing bad heppening.

06/26/2012, 01:52 PM	#9
MX175 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Carrollwood Tampa Posts: 177	Have you seen David Saxby's closed loop setup? His is an incredibly safe closed loop system that doesn't require any drilling of the tank. At about 4 minutes in, he shows how his closed looped setup is all plumbed without drilling. I'm think about doing the same on a MUCH smaller scale. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sMiFzHYFzE