Closed loop

[weez1959]

I tried to do a search but I guess I'm not using the right words so can someone explain a closed loop and what it's for or point me in the right direction. I'm ordering my new 90 gallon this week and want to make sure I'm getting it drilled in the right places and getting the right amount of holes.
Anyone here have this and is it any good or a waste of time and $
Turns out I'm getting a slightly bigger tank after all even after the new Stang!

[Reefland]

A closed loop is for circulation. Plumbing is ran from the tank (drilled in various places) directly to the input of the pump and the output from the pump is ran directly back to the tank (drilled in various places). This is the "closed" aspect of the system and it is a nice way to add lots of flow to the tank without having internal pumps.

[weez1959]

Wouldn't fish and whatnot get sucked in to the intake and create sushi for those who didn't get sucked in?
What size pump is usually used in let's say a 90 gallon tank, or is this not relevant. What size holes would need to be drilled?
Does someone have a pic of a good example of this system?

[jsheffel]

I'm adding a post as I am also interested in the reply. I am getting ready to order a new 180 and, based on many of the things I have read on the site, am thinking that I would like to get it drilled for a closed loop. Besides appropriate size of hole, is it normally done with two or four holes (two out and two back in)? Is there some kind of screen that is typically used to cover the "drains?" If you are using a fairly powerful pump, wouldn't passing fish get sucked to the screen (even if it prevented the "sushi treatment," I can't imagine it is pleasent for the fish)?

[Reefland]

Strainers.
Strainers - AquaCave

[Seafrmer]

Checkout

www.oceansmotions.com

You can go to thier forums to see some pics.

Basically, in stead of powerheads, or TUNZEs or modded maxjets, (and all the heat they generate eing added to the tank), you will have a seperate pump that will suck in water and spit it out again into the tank at locations you decide.

The fish dont get sucked in, usually, as there are strainers and filters, but, my anemone did find it and the stainers were not fi8ne enough. so now, I use a filter bag over the strainer. It gets dirty quickly, but I clean it often.

Sometimes I get complacent and dont put iot back on, as my anmeones are comfortable where they are at.

The other side of the coin, (when I had powerheads), my anemone got sucked into that as well.

But, the closed loop, will give you lots of flow, not very loud, (my Sequence DART), is totally quiet.

You can aim the flow towards the bottom of the tank, in fact, I have too much flow, and now run bare bottom,(no sand), as the flow would kick up the sand. I love the look of bare bottom, and it is easier to clean...

Good luck, and keep us posted...


Bill

[jsheffel]

Thanks. That's a great site. To allow the Dart to push what it's capable of, if you were going with two drain openings, how do you calculate how large the openings need to be?

[mbunakeith]

if you are $$$ conscience and want the flow without the power bill, you should check out the new koralia pumps. this would elliminate having to drill your tank and running a few koralias would be far cheaper than running a large pump for your CL. i have a 180 and was contemplating a CL, but the max-jet mods i have now work so well that i scrapped the CL idea. if i had known the koralias were coming out i wouldnt have made the max-jet mods. a koralia 4 blows a lot of water and is too much for my friend's 120g, four foot tank. the koralias use something like 15-30w vs. 150w that an external pump would. just something to think about. i dont know about you, but i dont want to put any extra holes in my tank. also, with my max-jet mods, i can put them on a wavemaker. with the CL you are pretty much stuck with getting an expensive wavemaker of somekind to create random/tidal flow. i dont think the koralias have really been tested on a wavemaker yet, so dont know how well that would work.

[showfish]

I hear they are comming out with one real soon.

[charlie]

Weez, did you ever get a decision on this? Just wondering. If you can give me the dimensions on your 90, I could draw something up for you.

[weez1959]

I decided to forget the closed loop thing, maybe the next tank
thanks for asking though

[charlie]

I decided to forget the closed loop thing, maybe the next tank
thanks for asking though

I think that with the technology of the powerheads that are coming out these days, you are headed in the right direction. I have also decided to go mostly internal with my new 180 when I get it up and running.

[FrozenSeas]

One of the main reasons I went with a closed loop was to get rid of the ugly looking power heads. They also add heat to the water. And you end up having a mess of electrical cords to hide

[charlie]

I will put up with a tunze if it gives me more flexibility than your normal closed loop. Tunze don't add heat to your tank and are less in electricity from what I have heard

[showfish]

I have two tunze units on a multi-controler. I love them. They are price heavy, but you get what you pay for I guess.