Do I need closed loop?

dmbnpj · 02/05/2007, 10:10 PM

Trying to hook up a seaswirl. My return pump in my sump is a Rio 1700 (crappy I know). I am hooking up the seaswirl to a Mag 7 pump. When I plumbed the Mag 7 to the seaswirl and turned the pump on, it sucked the water from the sump away from the return pump. Is the only way to solve this by creating a closed loop on the mag 7 with plumbing pulling water from the main tank display instead of letting the mag 7 pull the water from the sump?
Thanks for any help!
-Jeff

bertoni · 02/05/2007, 10:47 PM

You should be able to run the Mag7 as the return pump, I think. I don't understand the current setup. You're running two return pumps?

dmbnpj · 02/05/2007, 10:55 PM

No, I dont have the seaswirl attached to the return. My return pump is the rio 1700 with plumbing up through the overflow exiting into the display.
The seaswirl I am trying to hook up has a Mag 7 also in the sump with plumbing up the back of the tank to the seaswirl.
So I am trying to get both pumps working down in my sump but without the problem of having one overpower the other and drain the sump.

bertoni · 02/05/2007, 11:06 PM

Why not just run one pump? They both are dumping water into the display, right?

dmbnpj · 02/05/2007, 11:11 PM

Yah, so why not do it in two locations for more water flow. Is that a bad idea?

gregbot9000 · 02/05/2007, 11:16 PM

well with 2 pumps in the sump, it might return the water to the tank faster than it can drain from the tank. assuming its a 1'' drain(600 gph)

bertoni · 02/06/2007, 01:24 AM

I agree.

dmbnpj · 02/06/2007, 02:24 PM

You are right, so I can do a closed loop circuit and then the 2nd pump in the sump wont be a problem right?

bkiba · 02/06/2007, 02:29 PM

that is correct. If you need the flow from both pumps hook the higher flow one up to a closed loop and it will not effect the level of water in the sump or the tank. It will only give you the flow you desire in your display.

Just want to ensure you know what a closed loop is:

There will be at least two bulkheads (holes) in your main display tank, usually in a side panel or something. The pump has to be an external pump (not a drop in) and then the out of the pump goes in one hole and the in to the pump comes from the other hole.

Sorry for the simple explanation, I just want to make sure you aren't thinking of dropping the other pump in your sump and doing something crazy and thinking it is a closed loop.

zoomfish1 · 02/06/2007, 02:31 PM

Right, it won't be drawing water from the sump, but from inside the tank:

http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html

Look here for a good way to do this.

dmbnpj · 02/06/2007, 02:38 PM

From melevs site, he is using a mag 5 pump. I plan on using a mag 7 but I thought mags had to be submerged?

Like you see from melevs closed loop I was hoping to use the pipe with holes drilled in it to pull water from the main display and then travel down to the pump (using plumbing a direct line to the intake of the pump-not drawing water from the sump). Then use plumbing to go back up to the tank and exit out of the seaswirl. Will that work?

zoomfish1 · 02/06/2007, 02:42 PM

That way would work. Melev uses a SCWD before the returns from the pump. I am using a mag7 on mine also. Melev eventually changed the mag5 to a mag7 for increased flow and said it worked better for him

dmbnpj · 02/06/2007, 02:45 PM

Yah actually reading further on his webpage I noticed that. Also said plumbing it externally worked fine with him for 6 months other than a little salt creep.

02/05/2007, 10:10 PM	#1
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	Do I need closed loop? Trying to hook up a seaswirl. My return pump in my sump is a Rio 1700 (crappy I know). I am hooking up the seaswirl to a Mag 7 pump. When I plumbed the Mag 7 to the seaswirl and turned the pump on, it sucked the water from the sump away from the return pump. Is the only way to solve this by creating a closed loop on the mag 7 with plumbing pulling water from the main tank display instead of letting the mag 7 pull the water from the sump? Thanks for any help! -Jeff

02/05/2007, 10:47 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	You should be able to run the Mag7 as the return pump, I think. I don't understand the current setup. You're running two return pumps? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/05/2007, 11:06 PM	#4
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Why not just run one pump? They both are dumping water into the display, right? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/05/2007, 11:16 PM	#6
gregbot9000 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Orlando, Fl Posts: 405	well with 2 pumps in the sump, it might return the water to the tank faster than it can drain from the tank. assuming its a 1'' drain(600 gph) __________________ _-Greg-_ ----------- "If I had a nickel for every time I was wrong, I'd be broke." Stephen Colbert" Current Tank Info: 20g Display + 10g Sump = my awesome mixed reef tank.

02/06/2007, 01:24 AM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I agree. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/05/2007, 10:55 PM	#3
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	No, I dont have the seaswirl attached to the return. My return pump is the rio 1700 with plumbing up through the overflow exiting into the display. The seaswirl I am trying to hook up has a Mag 7 also in the sump with plumbing up the back of the tank to the seaswirl. So I am trying to get both pumps working down in my sump but without the problem of having one overpower the other and drain the sump.

02/05/2007, 11:11 PM	#5
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	Yah, so why not do it in two locations for more water flow. Is that a bad idea?

02/06/2007, 02:24 PM	#8
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	You are right, so I can do a closed loop circuit and then the 2nd pump in the sump wont be a problem right?

02/06/2007, 02:29 PM	#9
bkiba Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bridgewater, NJ Posts: 1,410	that is correct. If you need the flow from both pumps hook the higher flow one up to a closed loop and it will not effect the level of water in the sump or the tank. It will only give you the flow you desire in your display. Just want to ensure you know what a closed loop is: There will be at least two bulkheads (holes) in your main display tank, usually in a side panel or something. The pump has to be an external pump (not a drop in) and then the out of the pump goes in one hole and the in to the pump comes from the other hole. Sorry for the simple explanation, I just want to make sure you aren't thinking of dropping the other pump in your sump and doing something crazy and thinking it is a closed loop. __________________ "...and all the fish that lay in dirtied waters dying.... have they got you hypnotized?" -Robert Plant

02/06/2007, 02:31 PM	#10
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	Right, it won't be drawing water from the sump, but from inside the tank: http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html Look here for a good way to do this. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

02/06/2007, 02:38 PM	#11
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	From melevs site, he is using a mag 5 pump. I plan on using a mag 7 but I thought mags had to be submerged? Like you see from melevs closed loop I was hoping to use the pipe with holes drilled in it to pull water from the main display and then travel down to the pump (using plumbing a direct line to the intake of the pump-not drawing water from the sump). Then use plumbing to go back up to the tank and exit out of the seaswirl. Will that work?

02/06/2007, 02:42 PM	#12
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	That way would work. Melev uses a SCWD before the returns from the pump. I am using a mag7 on mine also. Melev eventually changed the mag5 to a mag7 for increased flow and said it worked better for him __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

02/06/2007, 02:45 PM	#13
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	Yah actually reading further on his webpage I noticed that. Also said plumbing it externally worked fine with him for 6 months other than a little salt creep.