Closed Loops (New design)

[sphelps]

I'd skip the closed loop and just go with 400-500gph through the sump, a 10x turnover is more than enough for lps. That closed loop will only complicate things and give little benefit. Keep it simple stupid

[banditpowdercoat]

Myka, in my 45g, I built a closed loop and hid the pump inside the overflow. That way, no external drilling was required. My CL pump is a Pentair Quietone 3000. It works great that way. I made a PVC pipe "ring" around the top of the tank for the Loc-Line nozzles. But, I needed more flow. I too had alot of detritus settling. Added a Koralia 2 and all is great now. So, in my 45g I have a Mag 3.5 Sump return, Quietone 3000 Closed loop and K2 powerhead.

[Myka]

Ok, so I sold the 40 and the 75 in BC, and bought a 90 out here in Saskatchewan. So, I'm thinking I will do a small 2-way closed loop on this tank for three reasons:

~ So I can hopefully eliminate most if not all powerheads.

~ T the pump outlet for an easy water change system like superduperwesman did in his nano contest tank. It won't work in the sump because there will only be about 3-5 gallons of water in with the pump. Will a ball valve seal well enough to have no leaks on the bare end when not doing a water change?

~ To get random flow/waves. So I can get away with probably just using one VorTech (later on down the road when I feel rich again) and not have to use two to get a wave action, or maybe I will be happy just using a couple Koralia 4's or some such thing.

So...any input on how many gph I should run my closed loop? Remember I keep LPS only, although I will add a few SPS to the 90 (I think). Pump recommendations? The OM 2-way wants to use a bypass unit if more than 1000 gph is going through it, which from my understanding pretty much defeats the purpose of using a pump with more than 1000 gph. Or should I use a SCWD which will deplete the gph by about 30%?

[hillegom]

myka: I was thinking of buying a SCWD You say that it takes 30% of the total gph?
Thats not very good.

[Quinster]

Originally Posted by Myka

The OM 2-way wants to use a bypass unit if more than 1000 gph is going through it, which from my understanding pretty much defeats the purpose of using a pump with more than 1000 gph. Or should I use a SCWD which will deplete the gph by about 30%?

I have used both the OM products and SCWD, and I would not hesitate spending a little more on the OM product, and the bypass can be used for feeding a refugium, reactors, etc.

[Myka]

The bypass doesn't have a steady stream though does it? Any idea what kind of gph I should be looking at?

hillegom...that is what I have heard about the SCWDs. Not sure how accurate it is though.

[banditpowdercoat]

from what I understand, you put the Bypass before the OM and divert the excess flow so the OM only seed the 1000 GPH

[Myka]

Originally Posted by banditpowdercoat

from what I understand, you put the Bypass before the OM and divert the excess flow so the OM only seed the 1000 GPH

Ohhhhh, well that would defeat the purpose of having a pump over 1000 gph in my case then since I need to steal some flow from my sump pump for the fuge since it's a bit overpowered.

[sphelps]

For OMs I didn't find the smaller version to work that well. The drum was magnetically driven and as a result would get stuck often from something as simple as couple grains of sand. It required frequent cleaning to keep it operational. Now the larger 4 way has a direct shaft driven drum which seems to keep going no matter what. For these reasons I would personally only go with a shaft driven OM, not magnetic.