Closed loops and plumbing them! pics plez

[scubadude]

If you have a Closed loop can you please explain it and show pics if you have please

Im looking for info like

* What type of pump you are using (how many GPH its rated at 0 ft.)
* How many feet of head (explain if you have elbows, t's, or other connectors
* Do you have it hard-plumbed, soft-plumbed, or 50/50?
* What type of outlet(s) (i.e. seaswirl, oscillator...or just plain opening)

Here is my situation....I have a return pump that processes thru my 90gal w/a RIO2500 producing approx. 720 GPH on a 34" spraybar....First off I love my spraybar (it gives excellent water motion throughout almost all of the tank) Im getting a bit more into SPS so I naturally want to increase my flow rate. I am thinking to leave the spraybar setup and just make a closed loop with one 1/2" SS (for now...can put another on later if needed) mounting tthe pump onto the outside of the R. side (near the top) of the stand and hardplumbing the intake with 30" and 2 elbows then using flex hose to plumb the return (i would have had to use 2 elbows if hard plumbed) to the 1/2" SS....I want to eventually have 2 SS's (both 1/2" models) and the spraybar, but im gonna do a slow gradual increase to it...I will buy one pump later on that would power both SS's (probably an ampmaster) But I want to plumb this one now with the mag9 and the way it goes I would have 30" hard plumb and about 38" of the soft flex tube routed to the SS. thats about almost 6' head plus the 2 elbows and watever calculations for the curving in the flexhose...Im thinking I will get about 500-550 GPH . My logic for using the 1/2" models is that they are the most reliable of all their models from what I have read.

[FishTechie]

hi scuba..my 180 is running on a closed loop, I am running a MAG18, the outlet of the return pump is running into a "Y" connector which runs to both returns on each side of the tank, this way i eliminated the need for valves to control flow and both sides get equal amounts of water since the pump is placed under the center of the tank. the "Y" is plumbed with 1" hose to the 3/4" bulkhead fittings, then a reducer brings it back to 1" where it is hard pumbed with pvc to a 1" spraybar which runs the length of the tank connected to the other overflow..

basically if you want to increase your FLOWRATE you need to increase the diameter of the plumbing, since a larger diameter will allow more water flow with less force...

p.s. I also only have one 90degree elbow on each side, other than that its smooth sailing through the entire system...hth

[golfish]

Scubadude,
Here's a picture of Bajathree's intake line. I'm sure he won't mind me borrowing this pic for you. its the same as mine except I used all gray pvc. This supplies the AM3000 and the output is also 1.5" pvc about half way up the back of the tank, it then T'ed off to 1" PVC up to the two 1" Sea Swirls. I would like to get a picture of my closed loop but it just can't be done....