[Reefland]

Thanks everyone. The only detail left on the tank is to figure out a closed loop without drilling, using a MAG18.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Thanks everyone. The only detail left on the tank is to figure out a closed loop without drilling, using a MAG18.

Hey Scott,

I think you can do it easily if you can rig up intake directly from the tank. Or, you can possibly hide the pump behind the rocks since you not using a sand bed. Returns could be run above the tank and then in.

[Reefland]

Hey Gene,

I plan on suspending the pump above the tank and dropping the intake straight down in the tank behind the rocks. Then I can plumb the output to run with the back of the tank and drop a couple of outputs from it.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by Reefland

Hey Gene,

I plan on suspending the pump above the tank and dropping the intake straight down in the tank behind the rocks. Then I can plumb the output to run with the back of the tank and drop a couple of outputs from it.

Will you use some sort of current switching device with it or simply run it full throtle from multiple outputs? Sounds like you will need some serious cement to hold everything in place...

[Reefland]

The closed loop is failing miserably. I can't get the pump to run quiet without seriously throttling it back (which makes it worthless). So I am still not finished with the equipment setup. After some discussions with a friend, it could simply be the impeller in the pump which I will replace and try again.

For now, this is the only thing missing. The tank is running, and has been running for a few weeks now. The lights are setup, skimmer running, and a small amount of liverock in the tank to start things out. We will be adding a large amount of Bali Alor rock in a few days to complete the aquascaping at which point the tank will run as is for at least 8 weeks.

Here are a few updated pictures. Pardon my pics as I get back into the groove of working this monster of a camera (I'm not good like Mike, Gene, Charlie and the others...)

[charlie]

We will have to see pics of that rock Scott.

[zhenya]

No worries, Scott, your pictures look good to me.

I love what you;ve done with the room and how tank is integrated into the wall space (love the colors, too )
Good luck on the closed loop, I'm sure you'll get it going while rock is doing it's thing. Don't forget to update this thread when you get the rock and do the aquascape.

[Poseidon]

Pics look good to me too Scott, what camera did you get?

As for the closed loop, have you considered going with Tunzes, or maybe the new "tunze" the uh.... oh crap, VORTECH that is it.... Maybe you can work out a trade with one of our sponsors.... -devil

[Reefland]

Mike,

Not a new camera, just the same Nikon 5400 that I never figured out before.

I had 2 Tunze Streams and still have 1 that I am running now, but want to go without any pumps in the tank and therefore an going to figure out the closed loop.

[Poseidon]

Ahhh IC!

I know what you mean about not wanting the pumps in the tank. Tunzes are rather large. Is your back glass tempered? That would be unusual for sure.... Anyway, before you get the tank REALLY running, why not just drill some holes? I would think 1 1.5" for input, and 2 1" for out put would do great!

[Reefland]

Yeah I thought about that but just ain't comfortable with it. I know I can get the external, undrilled loop working, just need a better pump.

[charlie]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but what pump are we talking about?

[Reefland]

I have been trying with a Mag 18. The problem is it is just too noisy. It was suggested that it might be the impeller so I think I will replace it and try again before going with a different pump.

[zhenya]

Originally Posted by charlie

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but what pump are we talking about?

I know from talking with Scott that it's Mag-18 pump. I think Scott can get it going after he figures out what is making the pump to produce such high noise. I've been using Mag's for years and some had been noisy from the get go and some not.After replacing impeller assembly( including the bushings) the noise would usually go away. Not sure if that is the problem with this particular pump but I think it's worth a try.

[zhenya]

Ooops, looks like Scott was here and beat me with his lightning fast typing skills...

[charlie]

Do you have anywhere local that you could take the pump to make sure that it is the impeller?

[Papa Doug]

Scott, we once did a Mag 12 over the top closed loop and its output was split into a pair of educators. Seemed to work well and not to noisy. I,m not a fan of them for outside closed loop type work though but I prefer Mag,s to run a beckett over externals.

I did a Mak 4 closed loop on my 225g and thats the one I liked best. Although I never put the educators on that one, I seen a double educator, Mak 4 closed loop. Very impressive water flow.

I helped a friend do one, also over the top, with one of those honkin direct drive pumps. I think it was around 4500gph and we split it into 4 outputs. Now that was some nice current and with the elbows on each of the 4 outlets, one could put the flow where needed.

[dibenni]

looks great. where's the live rock - can't wait to see it with some aquascaping.

[Reefland]

Doug,

I think that is the way we will end up going. Some large external pump with about 4 outputs. I am going to T the output into 2 main lines, each with 4 outputs. 1 of the main lines will run across the top of the tank and will be used full time. The second will run along the bottom of the tank, in the back and will be opened up occassionally to help clean the bottom of the tank (a couple of minutes per day). With ball valve controls, I will close the main outputs and open the secondary ones for the cleaning.

The liverock should be coming this week. A fresh batch of rock is supposed to be coming in this week and hopefully we will have about 55lbs to add to the tank.

[Reefland]

This is a much better picture representing the appearance of the tank. I've got to get with my picture geeks to find out why the previous ones look soooo blue. In this image, I used a flash.