1 pump for closed loop and sump return?

O.K., so now I guess I,m going to drill my 90 gal. tank and have corner overflows. I am also considering doing a closed loop b/c I HATE powerheads!!

Does anyone have just one pump, like a gen-x, that is their return from the sump and also splits off maybe 2 more ways to work as a closed loop?

I thought I read about this somewhere but it would seem that the return from the sump would be too weak to be effective circulation- anyone have an opinion?

thanks!!
Jan

 

Well.....How big is your tank?

 

I just got mine set up to be able to stay away from power heads. Check it out. http://www.3reef.com/forums/show-off-your-fish-tanks/scenario1313-120reef-build-55711.html

 

I happen to have a 90g tank with a pump that I split off and fed my refugium tank with I only run about 20g an hour to it but it was a noticable drop in circulation. I am running a turbo sea 790. Not real quite though. I would like to know how your drilling and closed loop work out. Glass tank?

 

I would keep this as two separate pumps if you can. Mainly because if you have the ports to the CL way down below the water line it will create a siphon when the power goes off and pour all you water into the sump.

 

It's a 90 gal. glass tank. Between drilling for the overflows and the closed loop this thing's gona look like swiss cheese!!

 

I have one pump for both. I am pushing about 1200 gph through one return pipe. Now i just need to get a water switching device like a ocean motions and make about 4 output lines.

To overcome the siphon Otty was referring to you need to make a small hole in the return line near the surface (at least in my case I can do that since the return pipe goes up and out of the tank).

 

Or you can just use a check valve.

 

You can but if it gets something lodged in the way then your screwed. I guess using both wouldn't hurt.

 

True. I always figured having a redundant system would be best. If I did it I would use two valves on the return. I have a 75 I am gonna set up someday and it already has a bulkhead drilled in the center of the bottom. I will have no choice but rely on check valves. They make lesser and better versions.