Circulation for a 210 gal

[TheReefGeek]

Ed, I am running a barracuda pump on a manifold with 7, 1/2" loc lines, the main manifold is 1". I have to throttle back my barracuda because even with head loss it is too much flow. My tank is 6 foot 180g.

So I think your dart on a manifold plus the stream will be awesome.

I wouldn't use the dart as a return pump, that is asking too much of a single drain line IMO.

I would go with a 500gph pump for a return, I run an eheim, I don't really use it to add flow to the tank, but just to transfer water from the sump to the display etc.

For sump size, are you going under the tank, or in the room?

I would go in the room, and buy a massive skimmer (I am a believer in high skimming, I use an ASM G6). You can use the skimmers you have but I would plan for an upgrade down the road, so plan the sump accordingly.

[ed99]

Thanks all. I checkced out the Calfo manifold- looks like that might be the way to go. I see what you mean with the closed loop flow now instead of the powerheads. A Dart with a foot or so of head loss would give about 3300 gph of flow. With 500-1000 gph flow from the return would that be enough flow? I'm still not clear on what is considered optimal (cost vs the good of the tank).

It's easy enough to add a Tunze later but I may stick with just the Calfo- I like the idea of eliminating the powerheads.

I'll look into the Vortech pumps- hadn't heard of them before.

The sump will likely be half under the tank and half in the room, running perpendicular to the main tank. This will shorten pipe lengths and give me easy access to the skimmers (and will allow an upgrade later). I'm hoping to get away with what I have. Together they are rated for over 300 gal aquariums. But I hear ya, more is better and if the bioloads get too high I will get something bigger.

[mark]

My understanding is that you were planning the Dart as the return from the sump with it's outlet in the tank pointing to the Tunze. If that's the case, the Dart is not on a closed loop, it's just a return pump (and with the Tunze lots of turbulent currents)

Closed Loop (CL) implies zero head. The inlet to the pump is directly from the tank and the returns are below the tank water level.

Here's a link to the manifold (with picture) http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pbh2oret.htm


If you do consider a CL, can do one without OM products but the Waterpix section have lots of pictures of CL:
http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/v...5afba39b2335f1 (mentioned before I'm bias to CLs, I'm DAS75 with the 4-way and Dart)

Don't have a Tunze and they seem like great pumps but if you want to keep your tank clean of powerheads and since you have such a large tank, might consider the Dart on the CL with a smaller return pump. Really then the only flow required through the sump is enough for the skimmer. Some people have problems with high flow through the sump causing micro-bubbles though I'm okay at about 1000gph with a 75g sump.

Things I enjoyed about starting my new tank was researching through all the different options but then all the choices and opinions can also be a bit frustrating.

[TheReefGeek]

I think he is now thinking of going with the Dart on a closed loop manifold like I do.

You are going to have much more than 1 foot of head pressure on the manifold though. First you need to suck water up out of the tank (I use a 1/5" pvc length for this, with slits cut all in it to diffuse the water flow so the pressure per square inch is reduced to a decent level.

You get some head pressure from sucking water up, then for every 10 feet of so of pipe you have 1 foot more, plus 1 foot more for each 90 degree turn.

Try the dart on a closed loop manifold, go 1" all around, with 5-6 t's that are 1" going down to 1/2" threaded so you can thread in 1/2" loc line with nozzles. If you want to test cheaply, start with 1/2" 45" elbows instead of loc line to see if the total flow is good enough, this is what I started with, then bought the loc line later.

[ed99]

Yep, I think I wll do the closed loop with a manifold and a Dart as you suggest. I can see why there would be some head loss if it is 1" pipe. Is there a reason to use such small bore pipe? Also Rory- what do you mean by a 1/5" PVC length? And are all the fittings you suggest available at places like Home Depot or are they more specialized parts?

So what I am looking at now is a 500-1000 gph return pump to get the tank cycling and then adding the CL. If that's not enough flow I'll add the Tunze later.

Yep, there are a lot of options and I'm sure most of them will work but it is interesting to read about what others have done. I'm hoping to minimize the amount of money spent on re-doing something so it is good to be able to bounce the ideas off some of the more experienced folks out there.

Ed

[TheReefGeek]

Sorry I meant 1/2" pipe.

I used 1" because that was recommended to me, and it works, but Im not worried about head pressure because I throttle back my pump anyways.

[EmilyB]

Oh my Ed, that is simply gorgeous ! Nemo is very healthy and happy and waiting to go home. He is an incredible fish, and we will probably replace him.

Did I mention he's totally hosting a GSP rock......... You may have to take that too !!

[albert_dao]

Another option is the WavySea unit. Those really cut out on your dead spots.