Closed loop. Thoughts?

[AddictedtoSalt]

Im currently working on ideas for an upgrade. I will be going with a standard 150g 5 x 2 x 2 right corner overflow drilled for 2 - 1 1/2" bulkheads and a single 1" return on the left for the sump return.

Ive been considering doing a closed loop on it instead of powerheads.
I really dont like seeing them in the tank.

Im thinking aabout single OM 4 with 1" outlets or a pair of seaswirls on a dart or my current dc10500 should be plenty of flow.
Pro's, con's. Thoughts. Suggestions all welcome

 

[solitude127]

I like the idea of closed loops but I'm always worried about the bulkhead leaking.

 

[Riblet]

External pumps and unprotected bulkheads inside of living areas make me nervous.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

My 2 current returns are in the backwall of the tank, so I'm to concerned with that.

 

[newtothis]

Your seaswirl idea would work out nicely… I had a standard 150g in the past with 4x1' return on 2x1' scwd powered by a laguna1200, it was also supported with 2x6215.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

I was thinking of doing 2 returns over the top to seaswirls and 2 through the back down lower.
Maybe run the plumbing down into sandbed and hide the outlets in the rock

 

[rayray]

Pros: hides returns (no visible blocky pumps), very controllable with dc pumps
Cons: less efficient than powerheads (impeller further from water), requires space behind tank, if you add seaswirls even more motors to maintain, leaks, bulkier plumbing, less flow options

I had closed qloops the first 10yrs of teefing because everyone wanted a piece of natural reef look, now people are ok with a mosaic of frag tiles, racks, the latest pumps & lights showing off like lookamah tatas!

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Pros: hides returns (no visible blocky pumps), very controllable with dc pumps
Cons: less efficient than powerheads (impeller further from water), requires space behind tank, if you add seaswirls even more motors to maintain, leaks, bulkier plumbing, less flow options

I had closed qloops the first 10yrs of teefing because everyone wanted a piece of natural reef look, now people are ok with a mosaic of frag tiles, racks, the latest pumps & lights showing off like lookamah tatas!

Im trying to get away from all that.
No frag rack, plugs etc.
I want a more natural look and movement with as little equipment visible in tank as possible.
Also I think maintaining 2 pumps (return and closed loop) with seaswirls or OM is same as say a return and 4 powerheads if plumbed right. Plus fewer spare parts etc. I would think. Yes, no, maybe? I dont know.

 

[lowbudget]

i never liked holes in my tank...

 

[solitude127]

One reason I like mp40s. Very lie profile.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

Anybody else have an opinion?

 

[JOSE CASAS]

I worry that a $1.00 plastic seal could leak years from now and my time and $$$$$ could be wipe out because of it. No close loop for me. If you Google there are many horror stories because of bulkhead leaking on close loops. hth

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

How about mounting the inlet in an overflow box and running the returns over the top. Ifnyour gonna worry about a bulkhead leak you may as well ditch the overflow box and go with a canister filter.
Seems like the only thing bad so far is a leaking bulkhead. There are ways to prevent it happening and/or not using them to begin with.
How about doing a hybrid closed loop.
I.E. the loop pump is feed from the sump as opposed to from the dt itself?

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

To the top.

 

[robert_ellis]

I have a closed loop and still run power heads.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[rayray]

How about doing a hybrid closed loop.
I.E. the loop pump is feed from the sump as opposed to from the dt itself?

Thats called a standard return pump lol

 

[rayray]

But seriously, you could drill the cloosed loop drain 1inch from the waterline to minimize the leak on the vertical bulkhead. On RC i think someone explained how on vertical bulkheads the water pressure is more on the lower part which tilts the upper seal into the tank, separating it from the tank wall. on horizontal bulkheads equal pressure is felt on the seal. People have put the closed loop drain the of internal overflow wall then put a 2nd bulkhead horizontal next to the main overflow drain. Or you could use a self-priming CL pump and go over the top with both the drain & return.

Or just hide poweheads better. Make an internal powerhead box for tunze streams. Thats a whole different topic.

 

[Spinner]

There are several ways to plumb a close loop system with most hobbiest following the most common way they see on forums. I find with larger tanks a well planned out close loop system is hard to beat. The beauty of a well planned/installed close loop come into play once corals have grown in not when a tank is new with frags on dry rock.
As far as leaking goes........when was the last time you thought about your home water pipes leaking? I have had (1)240, (2)300's, (1)750 gallon reef's with all being close loop and leaking was something I never worried about. Flow......I have 16 inlets plumbed into my current build with 5 different flow pattern's along with (1) 6 outlet Flow Wolf powered by (1) Barracuda, and (2) Dart's powering close loop. While the main flow and close loop system will cost me $ 50.00 a month to run PG&E I have 360 degree flow with total valve control and never have to worry about blocked/reduced flow as marine life grows.
A note....I plumbed my close loop to run with two pumps but if I want I can shut down one pump and the other pump will flow out all inlets. This way water does not stagnate in the off pump lines and keeps flow going if a pump is ever in need of a repair.

 

[AddictedtoSalt]

That sounds like a great system. Anyway you can post a few pics of the plumbing before the rock and water? How are the pumps being fed?

 

[Spinner]

Each close loop pump is being feed from two different places with 2" one in DT about a foot off the bottom and one from built on skimmer return. This allows me to adjust skimmer water height without affecting feed to close loop pump.