Closed Loop Circulation

somethingfishy · 11-15-2004, 02:42 PM

Does anyone used a closed loop for their circulation as opposed to Power heads? I am thinking this may be a good alternative. If you have one could you explain how yours is designed?

Jason McKenzie · 11-15-2004, 03:00 PM

I have a closed loop on my 40G hex.
I used PVC to run the intake from the bottom of the tank up and over the side. I drilled 2 holes mid way down each side of the tank. I use a MAG 9 through a SCWD and then to the holes drilled in the tank. Each hole has a Flared Lock line to drstribute the water.

This is a very simple set up and I'm sure there are way more elaborate ways to run a closed loop.
Check out OceanMotion's

Jason

MacnReef · 11-19-2004, 11:11 AM

I had a closed loop on my 180 but I removed it due to bad planning but I can help.

This is how I had mine set up.

Depending on the pump inlet size, you will need to go a size bigger for this closed loop, due to pump cavatation. Anyway, take a piece of PVC and run it inside your tank about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way down and put a strainer on the end closest to the bottom. Then at the top add an elbow then a "T". One side of the "T" should be pointed at the floor and the other should be pointed at the ceiling. Okay now on the top of the "T" put a cap (but don't glue it) then on the bottom of the "T" run the plumbing down to the inlet of the pump. Then run the return back up to the tank however you would like...using a SCWD or oceansmotions. Now once all plumbed, take off the cap and fill the plumbing with water then put the cap back on and start the pump...and voila!

Mike

NaH2O · 11-21-2004, 11:12 AM

I have a closed loop on my 120 gallon tank. An Ampmaster 3000 is the pump being used, and it runs through a Motorized Ball Valve. The timer on this is set at ~5 minutes, so I switch from one side of the tank to the other every 5 minutes. The bottom outputs of my closed loop are designed to serve as a spray bar, instead of having an actual spray bar. It works very well at keeping detritus in suspension, to go in the overflow and into the sump. Anyway, this is my set-up (also, I don't recommend this set-up on a tank with DSB, as the concept of my tank is to remove detritus and waste, instead of process it - if this was used in conjunction with a substrate, I think there would be a perpetual sand storm).

This is the shot after drilling:

Here is the inside:

chem_fun · 07-19-2006, 04:56 AM

Interesting idea. What's the cost on a Motorized Ball Valve? From a brief search on the internet I'm looking at about $200ish

k9BOLX · 01-26-2007, 09:38 AM

Nah20 what kind of motorized ball valve did you use?

chetrod · 01-30-2007, 06:01 PM

Has anyone tried doing a manifold type installation much like they do with irrigation systems? Those valves run about 20 bucks at home depot

turbo4603 · 01-30-2007, 06:07 PM

The more and more i look into the Ocean Motion systems, the more i like them. I think they work great in almost any system. Jason has his 375 with this system.
Hows it holding up J?