Closed loop questions

C

CodyRay

[Im thinking about doing a closed loop system on my tank. Other than the obvious reason of eliminating powerheads, what other benifits does it have. Also, is there any paint that would be safe you use on the PVC pipe. I would rather not have white pipe sticking out like a sore thumb.]
 
[No powerheads, single pump for maintenance, only a single plug needed, etc.

Just about any plastic paint will work, but it has to completely dry. Even when it feels dry it may not be. I'd give it a week. Most of the poisonous things in paint evaporate out.

Other options would be:
-use black, grey, or clear PVC.
-put many coats of purple PVC primer on it
- coat it in a small amount of silicone and roll it in LR rubble or sand and let dry.
-wait a couple months and let it cover with coralline.]
 
[Honestly if you sand it to give it a rough surface coralline will be all over within 2 months. Painting it works also but I would try to hide it as much as possible behind the rocks and leave it white if it were me.]
 
[im not gonna stack my rocks up high enough to hide them. My last tank was cluttered so my new tank is going to have less rock in it. I figure my fish will be much happier this way. Plus I like the canyon that i have in the middle of the tank. Heres a pic of what i have so far. I might add a little more rock, but not much, and Im still moving stuff around, but you get the idea.]
 
[I might just paint them gray like Chris suggested. THen it would blend in with the back of the tank. BTW, about how much am i looking at having to spend in order to do this??]
 
[Some reasons for a closed loop, some as mentioned...

-Takes up less room.
-Can be custom built and locline used to direct flow better and in more directions.
-SCWD is cheaper and easier then a wavemaker.
-Single pump for maintinance.
-Less pumps heating the water.
-Pump is external to the water, so more heat is disipated into the air instead of the water.
-Free up outlets.
-Less electricity possibly? Not 100% sure on this one.
-Can be plumbed for automatic tank draining for water changes.

..........

....................


NO POWERHEADS TO FALL AND COVER YOUR TANK IN SAND!!!
(sorry I am very happy to be rid of my powerheads after about 3 sandstorms in my temp. tank)]
 
@mwolek wrote:
[NO POWERHEADS TO FALL AND COVER YOUR TANK IN SAND!!! (sorry I am very happy to be rid of my powerheads after about 3 sandstorms in my temp. tank)] said:
[This is really starting to bug me in my tank. I am about to super glue them to the glass!!!]
Click to expand...
 
[Jacob, you can glue the mounting clip of the magnet to your cleaning magnet. In this way you can even move the powerhead exactly where you like it.

Or use the Maxijet hanger clip, which is far more reliable than suction cups.

FYI - use a Sharpie or Magic Marker to color your return pipes black. This is reef-safe.]
 
[You could also use the "new" Krylon Fusion paint. It is made for plastics and comes in a wide array of colors. I saw on another board where someone painted thier eggcrate in a prop tank. He posted it has been in the tank for about six months and no problems.
You could match the blue of your background. Because the paint actually "fuses" with the pipe coriline will still grow on it.]
 
[I'll just mention that I have "painted" pipes using primer and a sharpie and had them in the tank at the same time. Coralline covered the piping quickest on the white PVC. The black it did OK on and the purple was slowest of all 3. I haven't tried the gray PVC. HTH]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top