To drill..or not to drill (closed loop)

B

BigSteve

what's everyones thoughts on this? I am thinking about upgrading my tank and initially thought of placing a CL, but after a while, thought against it. If it was 5 plus yrs ago, It would be a no brainer...of course. But, with the advent of these flow pumps (Tunze/Vortech), it seems that CL can become a thing of the past? Plus, who knows what other advances are going to be made.
My reasons not to where increased heat, electical issues as well as a possible area for a failure (Pluming/bulkhead). The only thing is im liking the pretty sticks. I could see the tank being 70% sps and the rest higher flow tollerant corals.
There is a part of me that doesnt see the difference with a MJmod tucked low behind the rocks for "good flow" on my controller as compared to a CL.
Thoughts?
 
Personally I would drill for a closed loop. You can always not use if you decide not to. In fact I have 2 holes in my tank that were for a closed loop I'll probably never use. Reality is closed loops will always be a good alternative. It's much cheaper to get a big pump and some plumbing than 3 or 4 Tunzes or vortech's. Having said that I'll have 6 tunze's in my tank and no closed loop!

Point being it's better to drill and not use then not drill and wish you had later.
 
I would do a CL. I personally like the look of no power heads. I guess it what you like better really, like you said you can achieve great flow with or with out a CL.
 
@ss95003 wrote:
I would do a CL. I personally like the look of no power heads. I guess it what you like better really said:
You have to deal with plumbing or powerheads either way. I actually found it easier in my case to hide the powerheads behind rocks rather then have plumbing going over the back. I guess you could always swiss cheese the back and have several outputs also but I wasn't will to do that.
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on thing that made me not want to drill for my closed loop is the fact that i am going to have a hood, are you going to have a hood? i am doing a closed loop, but i am just going to loop it over the back of the tank, enables me to have the benefits of no powerheads and lower anti-siphon holes without messin with the tank.
 
@WeMa wrote:
on thing that made me not want to drill for my closed loop is the fact that i am going to have a hood said:
hmmmm...good point, I forgot about that!!!!

Kieth,
Good points. I wonder how long I would have to run the tank to recover the cost of juice/heat :p ...

i have a vortech now...I could see myself getting another, then a couple of MJ mods/Korialas (sp) behind, plus my returns. That would seem decent flow in a 210.
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If you don't mind the holes, don't mind the risks of potential leaks, don't mind the chance that livestock might get sucked against the intake... go for it. My tank has two on the back that I've never used and probably never will. I feel they were drilled too low in the back and if something went wrong, most of my reef would be exposed to heat of MH lighting. The fish and anything in the bottom third would be okay, but that's mainly softies. Too risky for my taste.

When I had my little 29g, I loved my closed loop because there wasn't a lot of room to hide powerheads. In my 280g, I just have three VorTechs and the return line.
 
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