Protecting a Closed Loop Intake

Jaws · #1 02-10-2006, 08:38 PM

I used 1" PVC elbowing downwards in the tank and just capped the end of it and drilled a ton of 3/16 holes in the PVC. It's all hidden behind the rock too so you can't see it. I actually made up two identicle setups so I could remove one to clean it and replace it with the other. Hope that helps.

TheReefGeek · #2 02-10-2006, 08:44 PM

Mine is the same idea, just with 1.5" PVC capped behind the rockwork. (But fish and stuff will still get to it I have not doubt)

Min is just with cuts instead of holes, I am still worried of a fish getting stuck. I could try some PVC with holes and compare the suction per square inch with my hand.

Any other ways people have done this?

Skimmerking · #3 02-10-2006, 09:24 PM

Cool I'm not the only one that did this, I have lost 3 turbo's from this so far. I havent lost any fish yet thou.. thee pretty much keep away from the flow thou. I have tried sticking it into the over flow ,but man it sucks to much.

Here is picture of it

Skimmerking · #4 02-10-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus

Cool I'm not the only one that did this, I have lost 3 turbo's from this so far. I havent lost any fish yet thou.. thee pretty much keep away from the flow thou. I have tried sticking it into the over flow ,but man it sucks to much.

Here is picture of it

NOte what i have typed here tried it in the over flow but it was too much suction. Now that was with a barracuda 4500gph if you use a mag 12 might work.

TheReefGeek · #5 02-10-2006, 10:15 PM

Asmodeus, you are running a barracuda too? That is the exact pump I am hooking up, and my intake looks identical to yours, with the horizontal cuts in it.

How have you arranged your return lines? I setup a return manifold with 7, 1/2 inch t's and loclines.

Jaws · #6 02-10-2006, 10:25 PM

The only thing I would be careful with when running it in an overflow is sometimes bubbles from the falling water and foam end up in the overflow and once they go through a pump on a closed loop, you end up with thousands of micro bubbles. JMO

TheReefGeek · #7 02-10-2006, 10:27 PM

And carefull you dont run your overflow dry because you dont have enough linear lenght of overflow to keep up.