Closed loop system - Under the sand or not?

M

masharp1126

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[Getting ready to add a closed loop system to my 110g. My question is should I leave the returns towards the top/back of the tank, similar to the one on Marc's website, or run them down the back, under the sand and place them at the two bottom front corners. Fish Gallery has a display setup with the returns under the sand pointed back towards the middle of the reef. By doing so, there would be more 45 degree angles and would probably give up water flow. If I do run it under the sand to the front, what size Mag pump would you suggest? I would appreciate any and all advice.

Thanks]
 
[If you run them under the sand, be sure to drill anti-siphon holes at the top of the pipes, 1/2" to 1" beneath the water's surface. That way if something goes wrong and the plumbing bursts or the pump leaks, only 1" of water can be siphoned out of your tank. These holes should even be drilled in the intake side.

A Mag 9.5 closed loop would be nice, without the SCWD. Or maybe with the oceansmotions device.]
 
[How many openings do you plan on? What size piping? What are you going to keep in the 110?

Depending on the answers you could go with what Marc suggested or bigger. With 4 openings and 1" pipe I would suggest at least a Mag 12 and maybe bigger.]
 
[I am working on a closed loop for my 105, 48 X 18 X 28. I am using a Velocity/Poseidon T3/PS3 rated at 800 GPH at 3 foot head pressure. The intake is 1 1/2" and the return is is 1 1/2" down to the floor of the tank then I used a Tee to split it to 2 - 1" pipes and the the oulets are 3/4" 45s. I am running the outlets to about 5" from each front corner. I have it all plumbed and running in fresh water on the tank and the flow seems pretty good. The surface of the water, 28" up, is moving pretty well. With that said I wish I had a bigger pump and could do more outlets. Bigger would be better. :nod: Also if you went bigger/more outlets and used the oceans motions you would get a much better random flow from them multiple outlets. Oh well, next time.]
 
[Thanks for the suggestions. After looking at the OM Squirt, I'm thinking about running four outlets from the OM, two under the sand and positioned near the front corners, then two more at the top rear of the tank.

Probably 1" intake and outtake, then 3/4" 45 degree outlets. Unless I would get better flow with 1 1/2" intake and outtake????

In addition, I'll have one more outlet at the top of the tank coming from the sump/refugium.

BTW, just finished my sump/refugium based on one of Marc's models. Doesn't look quite as goods as his, but works great so far and NO leaks.

Tank inhabitants - will start out with the more hardy soft corals, gradually moving to LPS and SPS when the time is right.

I'm taking pictures as I go, and plan to post sometime in the near future. I was a member back in the early 90's when Bob Coco (if I remember correctly) started the group. Went to many meeting at his house. Got busy with work and family and dropped out for several years, but plan on attending and joining again at the March meeting.]
 
[Hey Mark,

I would strongly suggest you go with the larger pipe. Here is why. First, if you go with a Mag 7 or higher they will tell you right on the instruction sheet that you need to run twice the diameter piping for maximum flow. In my case I have a Mag 9.5 with 3/4" inlet/outlet. So that means 1 1/2 piping. That is sort of bummer because 1 1/2" ball valves/unions etc are almost twice the price of 3/4". Also there is a spread sheet/calculator available on Reef Central that will estimate you GPH based on you plumbing configuration. I did mine both ways, using 3/4" and 1 1/2" and the difference was considerable. Using 3/4" piping the estimated flow was 546 GPH. Using 1 1/2" it was 748 GPH. That is a 200 GPH difference. Just because I am a suborn fool I went ahead and did a few experiments to make sure that the physics/math were telling the truth I went ahead and bought the parts and built I (unglued) both ways. Guess what big difference. Now one thing that you will need to understand, there is a difference in the volume of flow compared to the force of the flow. Using the 3/4 inch piping the force/jet of the water coming out of the end of the pipe was greater but the overall water volume was less. Now you can make up for this by putting a 3/4" outlet on the end of the 1 1/2" pipe. Now this will decrease the volume of the flow some but it also increases the force of the flow.

Well I hope that made sense. I know I need to post pictures. I say that all the time. I will hopefully do it soon.]
 
[Or you can go with a pressure rated pump such as an Iwaki and run 3/4" on the output. That 1.5" piping takes up a lot of room, believe me!

The pump is a little more expensive but you will get pretty close to the rated amount of flow without having to have insanely large piping!]
 
[
Just because I am a suborn fool I went ahead and did a few experiments to make sure that the physics/math were telling the truth I went ahead and bought the parts and built I (unglued) both ways. Guess what big difference. said:
Love that!]
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@kwl1763 wrote:
[Or you can go with a pressure rated pump such as an Iwaki and run 3/4" on the output. That 1.5" piping takes up a lot of room said:
[And I just happen to have one for sale!!!! :D]
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@crash519 wrote:
[[I]@kwl1763 wrote:[/I][quote="Or you can go with a pressure rated pump such as an Iwaki and run 3/4" on the output. That 1.5" piping takes up a lot of room said:
And I just happen to have one for sale!!!! :D]"]
[Scratch that! Evidently I don't have an Iwaki :very angry:]
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