My idear for a close loop circulation system

george1098 · 04/17/2006, 08:16 PM

Hi all
seriousely contimplating an upgrade from my 33 gal system to a 90 gal tank. here's my idea for a close loop circulation system. as alwais, feedback, critisism and suggestions welcome. The idea is to add a good amount of random flow while hiding unsightly powerheads and nozzles and such behind/ within rock piles. I think the wave maker device will give a nice back and forth movement inside the tank, just like real waves on the reefs.

hope everything is clear. only the close loop circulation is shown in the diagram. keep in mind there will be additional flow from the return pump and any other means i can think up. what do ya think?
any suggestions on a pump to power the system?

rich99rich · 04/17/2006, 08:36 PM

I think you may lose a lot of flow by tee'ing off each side of your SCWD.

george1098 · 04/17/2006, 08:38 PM

hmm yes i agree, but i think thats the way the SCWD's work... are there any alternatives to that style of wave making device?

rich99rich · 04/17/2006, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by george1098
hmm yes i agree, but i think thats the way the SCWD's work... are there any alternatives to that style of wave making device?

What I meant was that you're adding a T to each side of your SCWD, which will restrict flow even more than just adding a plain old SCWD. Personally, I don't care too muich for these devices. I had two hooked up to my tank, but both of them are no longer working. I got them to work again by cleaning them out, but after a few weeks, they stopped working.

george1098 · 04/17/2006, 08:47 PM

hmmm if it involves cleaning i'm going to have to add valves to the system then arent i. thanks, i may re-think the SCWD idea

NCreefwannabe · 04/17/2006, 11:35 PM

also, where the spots are T'ed, wont get much flow, since the water will likely go forward to the next output. Some will come out but not enough to make a diference. Also if all the water flow is shooting into each other, itll be just chaos inside. The water wont get as far. For a 90 g, just take off the T, and have them shoot from the ends.

Qwiv · 04/17/2006, 11:52 PM

It looks like you are placing the intake to the closedloop pump in an overflow. Is that correct? I would not recommend that. The water going over the overflow normally has a bunch of bubbles in it. These will be sucked into the pump and cause a microbubble problem. You will also need to make sure your overflow never runs dry to protect the pump. Plus you are adding to the noise in the tank by running more water through the overflow then needed.

george1098 · 04/18/2006, 06:16 PM

Yea i think i'm over estimating the size of a 90 gallon tank. probably only 4 feet in width. i think i could get away with having only two towers instead of 4. the intake i put in the overflow box only to make one less thing i have to hide behind rock. on second thought it would make more sense to have it in the tank, especially for the noise reductiong bit, because this tank is only about 6 feet away from my head when i sleep.

so, so far, get rid of the two middle towers behind the T fittings, put the intake inside of the tank, add some ball valves and small draning valves so i can remove the pump for maintenence and possibly do away with the SCVD.

anything ells?

what should i use to plump the sysytem? i was thinking vinyl tube would be the simplest and cheapest.

i've never use bulkheads before. how do i attatch pipes to them and what fittings do i have to look for/order?

xtrstangx · 04/18/2006, 06:31 PM

Use an OM Squirt/Super Squirt instead of a SCWD.. http://oceansmotions.com

You'll need a big pressure rated pump, IMO.. Especially with 6 exits (or is it 8?). The flow will go out the first two cause its the path of least resistance.

04/17/2006, 08:16 PM	#1
george1098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Halifax NS Canada Posts: 1,336	My idear for a close loop circulation system Hi all seriousely contimplating an upgrade from my 33 gal system to a 90 gal tank. here's my idea for a close loop circulation system. as alwais, feedback, critisism and suggestions welcome. The idea is to add a good amount of random flow while hiding unsightly powerheads and nozzles and such behind/ within rock piles. I think the wave maker device will give a nice back and forth movement inside the tank, just like real waves on the reefs. hope everything is clear. only the close loop circulation is shown in the diagram. keep in mind there will be additional flow from the return pump and any other means i can think up. what do ya think? any suggestions on a pump to power the system? __________________ I'm not as think as you stupid i am Current Tank Info: None at the moment

04/17/2006, 08:38 PM	#3
george1098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Halifax NS Canada Posts: 1,336	hmm yes i agree, but i think thats the way the SCWD's work... are there any alternatives to that style of wave making device? __________________ I'm not as think as you stupid i am Current Tank Info: None at the moment

04/17/2006, 08:47 PM	#5
george1098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Halifax NS Canada Posts: 1,336	hmmm if it involves cleaning i'm going to have to add valves to the system then arent i. thanks, i may re-think the SCWD idea __________________ I'm not as think as you stupid i am Current Tank Info: None at the moment

04/17/2006, 11:52 PM	#7
Qwiv Persistant Perspective Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Belmont, CA Posts: 2,168	It looks like you are placing the intake to the closedloop pump in an overflow. Is that correct? I would not recommend that. The water going over the overflow normally has a bunch of bubbles in it. These will be sucked into the pump and cause a microbubble problem. You will also need to make sure your overflow never runs dry to protect the pump. Plus you are adding to the noise in the tank by running more water through the overflow then needed. __________________ If I knew keeping fish would be so hard, I would of had kids by now. Current Tank Info: 50Cube + 250DD + Nano

04/18/2006, 06:16 PM	#8
george1098 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Halifax NS Canada Posts: 1,336	Yea i think i'm over estimating the size of a 90 gallon tank. probably only 4 feet in width. i think i could get away with having only two towers instead of 4. the intake i put in the overflow box only to make one less thing i have to hide behind rock. on second thought it would make more sense to have it in the tank, especially for the noise reductiong bit, because this tank is only about 6 feet away from my head when i sleep. so, so far, get rid of the two middle towers behind the T fittings, put the intake inside of the tank, add some ball valves and small draning valves so i can remove the pump for maintenence and possibly do away with the SCVD. anything ells? what should i use to plump the sysytem? i was thinking vinyl tube would be the simplest and cheapest. i've never use bulkheads before. how do i attatch pipes to them and what fittings do i have to look for/order? __________________ I'm not as think as you stupid i am Current Tank Info: None at the moment

04/17/2006, 08:36 PM	#2
rich99rich Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Seal Beach, CA Posts: 307	I think you may lose a lot of flow by tee'ing off each side of your SCWD.

04/17/2006, 11:35 PM	#6
NCreefwannabe Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 953	also, where the spots are T'ed, wont get much flow, since the water will likely go forward to the next output. Some will come out but not enough to make a diference. Also if all the water flow is shooting into each other, itll be just chaos inside. The water wont get as far. For a 90 g, just take off the T, and have them shoot from the ends.

04/18/2006, 06:31 PM	#9
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	Use an OM Squirt/Super Squirt instead of a SCWD.. http://oceansmotions.com You'll need a big pressure rated pump, IMO.. Especially with 6 exits (or is it 8?). The flow will go out the first two cause its the path of least resistance.