Closed loop intake placement

Alera · 04/04/2010, 06:40 AM

I'm setting up a 40 breeder and have decided to do a closed loop as I want to have little to no equipment showing in the display. Ideally I would like to drill and run all plumbing for the CL through the bottom of the tank and hide it in the rock work. After thinking about this though, it seems like having the intakes hidden would pose a problem for maintenance but I have seen a few set ups that were done this way.

For those of you that have an intake on the bottom, do you regret it now or has it really not been an issue?

Thanks in advance.

Newreeflady · 04/04/2010, 09:00 AM

If you aren't doing a sandbed, then maybe I'd go this route. Otherwise I'd go higher up- at least 6" off the sandbed. jmo. I went about 6" above and it worked out well. If you want to go lower, perhaps you can upturn the intake, extend it, and then have a removable strainer about 6" up

Be sure to have TUBVs right outside of the tank so you can easily remove the pump if need be without draining it.

-A

Alera · 04/04/2010, 09:30 AM

Thanks newreeflady. I do plan on having a SSB and would just raise the intake up some to be a few inches above the sand or even silicone a piece of PVC around the hole to act as a dam. What I'm wondering though is about maintenance with the intake being on the bottom and under rocks. Do you find that you have to clean your intake often?

Newreeflady · 04/05/2010, 08:57 AM

No, I don't find it needs much attention. it is nice to put a 90 out of the bulkhead facing upward and having a female thread, 1"- then put a strainer on there. The strainer is really easy to unscrew for maintenance, but doesn't seem to gather much more than the occassional piece of macro algae in my system. Of course, you should make sure you can reach without moving rock if you're stacking, since you could cause a rock slide or have difficulty getting the same config again- plus it distrubs your creatures.

gl.
-A

Alera · 04/05/2010, 09:17 AM

Great...thanks once again.

tangtang clown · 04/05/2010, 10:35 AM

I used a 1.5" bulkhead on the back and I 4 1.5" PVC intakes on the inside to divide to the suction. Check out my build thread for pics. So far I love it. Cheers.

Alera · 04/05/2010, 10:44 AM

Nice set up tangtang. That's one hell of a plumbing job you've got there.

Thanks for input and ideas.

Untamed12 · 04/05/2010, 11:34 AM

You need to build access to that input strainer somehow. If things go well, you won't need to access/change/clean it very often...but inevitably you will so you have to plan for access to it.

Alera · 04/05/2010, 11:56 AM

Thanks Untamed12, that's the conclusion I've come to as well. I'm planning to hide it on the back side of a rock stack so that's its not easily seen, but is easy to get to for cleaning.

Thanks for the input.

richroyjr · 07/23/2010, 06:03 AM

TangTang,
I am new to RC and am just starting to figure out how to navigate. I would like to see your build thread because I am planning a new tank and want to use a closed loop system. I would like to see what you've constructed and would like to know how to view your pics.

Thanks,
Rich

04/04/2010, 06:40 AM	#1
Alera Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Solon, OH. Posts: 26	Closed loop intake placement I'm setting up a 40 breeder and have decided to do a closed loop as I want to have little to no equipment showing in the display. Ideally I would like to drill and run all plumbing for the CL through the bottom of the tank and hide it in the rock work. After thinking about this though, it seems like having the intakes hidden would pose a problem for maintenance but I have seen a few set ups that were done this way. For those of you that have an intake on the bottom, do you regret it now or has it really not been an issue? Thanks in advance.

04/04/2010, 09:00 AM	#2
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	If you aren't doing a sandbed, then maybe I'd go this route. Otherwise I'd go higher up- at least 6" off the sandbed. jmo. I went about 6" above and it worked out well. If you want to go lower, perhaps you can upturn the intake, extend it, and then have a removable strainer about 6" up Be sure to have TUBVs right outside of the tank so you can easily remove the pump if need be without draining it. -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

04/04/2010, 09:30 AM	#3
Alera Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Solon, OH. Posts: 26	Thanks newreeflady. I do plan on having a SSB and would just raise the intake up some to be a few inches above the sand or even silicone a piece of PVC around the hole to act as a dam. What I'm wondering though is about maintenance with the intake being on the bottom and under rocks. Do you find that you have to clean your intake often? __________________ MIKE Current Tank Info: 10g nano / 40 breeder in the works

04/05/2010, 08:57 AM	#4
Newreeflady Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Ithaca, NY Posts: 4,840	No, I don't find it needs much attention. it is nice to put a 90 out of the bulkhead facing upward and having a female thread, 1"- then put a strainer on there. The strainer is really easy to unscrew for maintenance, but doesn't seem to gather much more than the occassional piece of macro algae in my system. Of course, you should make sure you can reach without moving rock if you're stacking, since you could cause a rock slide or have difficulty getting the same config again- plus it distrubs your creatures. gl. -A __________________ A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor’s cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. “It’s overfull! No more will go in!” the professor blurted. “You are like this cup,” the master replied, “How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup.” Current Tank Info: 56g, 20g.

04/05/2010, 09:17 AM	#5
Alera Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Solon, OH. Posts: 26	Great...thanks once again. __________________ MIKE Current Tank Info: 10g nano / 40 breeder in the works

04/05/2010, 10:35 AM	#6
tangtang clown Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The DUB, NC Posts: 2,711	I used a 1.5" bulkhead on the back and I 4 1.5" PVC intakes on the inside to divide to the suction. Check out my build thread for pics. So far I love it. Cheers. __________________ Mind over chatter.

04/05/2010, 10:44 AM	#7
Alera Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Solon, OH. Posts: 26	Nice set up tangtang. That's one hell of a plumbing job you've got there. Thanks for input and ideas. __________________ MIKE Current Tank Info: 10g nano / 40 breeder in the works

04/05/2010, 11:34 AM	#8
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	You need to build access to that input strainer somehow. If things go well, you won't need to access/change/clean it very often...but inevitably you will so you have to plan for access to it. __________________ Fishlist: Tangs: Yellow, Vlamingi, Blonde Naso, Unicorn, Atlantic Blue Others: Maroon Clown(s), Foxface, Majestic Angel, Hawkfish and more.. Current Tank Info: 400gal Envision Acrylic reef started 04/07

04/05/2010, 11:56 AM	#9
Alera Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Solon, OH. Posts: 26	Thanks Untamed12, that's the conclusion I've come to as well. I'm planning to hide it on the back side of a rock stack so that's its not easily seen, but is easy to get to for cleaning. Thanks for the input. __________________ MIKE Current Tank Info: 10g nano / 40 breeder in the works

07/23/2010, 06:03 AM	#10
richroyjr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4	TangTang, I am new to RC and am just starting to figure out how to navigate. I would like to see your build thread because I am planning a new tank and want to use a closed loop system. I would like to see what you've constructed and would like to know how to view your pics. Thanks, Rich