My new closed-loop

BigLar · 02-04-2002, 03:10 PM

This weekend I installed a closed loop on one of my 180’s, being powered by an Ampmaster 3000. With all the debate going on about plumbing, I would like opinions. I don’t have pictures yet, so I will describe it.

The pump sits under the far right side of my tank. For the intake, I used a U-tube that goes directly into the pump with 1.5” plumbing, a ball valve, and one 90 elbow.

For the output, I go directly out of the pumps union to a ball valve. Then about a 3’ section of 1.5” flex PVC. The flex goes into a 1.5” coupler to about a 2’ section of 1.5’ PVC. This goes into a 1.5” T. On each side, I used about 3’ of 1.5” PVC with 3 T’s on each side (evenly spaced) that convert from 1.5” to 1”. On each of these outputs, it has a 1” 90 pointed down. The 90 has a reducer to take it to ¾”. A small section of ¾” PVC goes down into the tank, with a ¾” 90 on it.

This configuration provides me with 6 – ¾ “ outputs. I get a lot of flow, but the velocity is weak. I am going to test two options to fix this. One is to reduce to ½” outputs. The other is the cap off 2 of the outputs. Although, after reading some of the latest threads about plumbing, I may need to re-think my design.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I want to get it right on this tank, because I’m going to do it again on my new SPS tank.

**scubadude** · 02-04-2002, 03:28 PM

Im just gonna touch on basics here....you are on the right track of thinking....capping off 2 ports would be the best thing to do first before you change the plumbing....if you did downsize your ports you might get more velocity for each port but you will be decreasing your GPH for your output....HTH

BigLar · 02-04-2002, 04:20 PM

I will cap it off tonight. Other than this, do you think I'm losing a lot of GPH the way I have it plumbed? What could I have done better?

mrok12 · 02-05-2002, 09:05 AM

Where in Mi are you BIGLAR

MROK12

organicreefer · 02-05-2002, 03:44 PM

lose the 3/4 outputs.do not reduce below 1" , going down to 1/2 is gonna give even less flow.
you also have alot head on it i was trying to figure it out ,but im still lost ,i dont know the calculations for the t's.
its alot though ,i can tell you that.

you need to go to 4 (maybe three would be better) no less than 1" outputs into youre tank ,reducing at the last possible point.
you might also want to add a second u tube for intake (splice em together)for redunduncy.jmo

organicreefer · 02-05-2002, 03:52 PM

oh yeah ,split at the last possible point too

02-04-2002, 03:10 PM	#1
BigLar Council Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: US, MI Posts: 289	My new closed-loop This weekend I installed a closed loop on one of my 180’s, being powered by an Ampmaster 3000. With all the debate going on about plumbing, I would like opinions. I don’t have pictures yet, so I will describe it. The pump sits under the far right side of my tank. For the intake, I used a U-tube that goes directly into the pump with 1.5” plumbing, a ball valve, and one 90 elbow. For the output, I go directly out of the pumps union to a ball valve. Then about a 3’ section of 1.5” flex PVC. The flex goes into a 1.5” coupler to about a 2’ section of 1.5’ PVC. This goes into a 1.5” T. On each side, I used about 3’ of 1.5” PVC with 3 T’s on each side (evenly spaced) that convert from 1.5” to 1”. On each of these outputs, it has a 1” 90 pointed down. The 90 has a reducer to take it to ¾”. A small section of ¾” PVC goes down into the tank, with a ¾” 90 on it. This configuration provides me with 6 – ¾ “ outputs. I get a lot of flow, but the velocity is weak. I am going to test two options to fix this. One is to reduce to ½” outputs. The other is the cap off 2 of the outputs. Although, after reading some of the latest threads about plumbing, I may need to re-think my design. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I want to get it right on this tank, because I’m going to do it again on my new SPS tank. __________________ -BigLar

02-04-2002, 04:20 PM	#3
BigLar Council Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: US, MI Posts: 289	I will cap it off tonight. Other than this, do you think I'm losing a lot of GPH the way I have it plumbed? What could I have done better? __________________ -BigLar

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02-04-2002, 03:28 PM	#2
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,318	Im just gonna touch on basics here....you are on the right track of thinking....capping off 2 ports would be the best thing to do first before you change the plumbing....if you did downsize your ports you might get more velocity for each port but you will be decreasing your GPH for your output....HTH

02-05-2002, 09:05 AM	#4
mrok12 Mayor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Van Buren, MI Posts: 1,052	Where in Mi are you BIGLAR MROK12

02-05-2002, 03:44 PM	#5
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	lose the 3/4 outputs.do not reduce below 1" , going down to 1/2 is gonna give even less flow. you also have alot head on it i was trying to figure it out ,but im still lost ,i dont know the calculations for the t's. its alot though ,i can tell you that. you need to go to 4 (maybe three would be better) no less than 1" outputs into youre tank ,reducing at the last possible point. you might also want to add a second u tube for intake (splice em together)for redunduncy.jmo

02-05-2002, 03:52 PM	#6
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	oh yeah ,split at the last possible point too

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