10g closed loop finished

[zlwags85]

well after a couple days of neglecting schoolwork, i finished the closed loop for the 10g. The SCWD switches about every 8-10 seconds. Its ran on a mag3 and im guessing that the actual flow is around 125 to 175 gph. That will be plent for LPS wont it? I know most LPS are medium to low flow. heres some pics. I basically took melevsreef.com and modified it with return U-tubes and a drain. Also the area about the scwd is for a hang on the back filter which clears it by about 1/2 inch. I built the stand in high school and it works perfectly, about 1 inch of the tank is not on the stand but not a problem thus far

 

[blooper74]

I hate you. Just kidding, I am jealous. I could never do that good. It looks really good. The flow should be ok for LPS.

 

[Horace]

I am actually thinking of re-working my Mag 9.5 return with a SCWD myself. Right now I dont get any switching flow in my tank which I think would be nice to have. I just have the standard return that the stock AGA comes with but I have it Y'd off into two returns pointing different directions. The way it works is very limiting and frankly just plain sux . I will probably just put two different returns in the back right and the front left of the tank, because right now I have a Seio and a modified maxijet in the other two corners.

 

[llewoh05]

sweet.

my swcd should be here anyday now for my 10gal. but i thinking about a 4 port manifold for mine

 

[blooper74]

That might be nice.

 

[brad23]

How much does one of those cost? And what is the advantage to using it over just a T fitting?

 

[blooper74]

I think they are like $50.00. What it does it is switches back and forth to make your current go in different directions. Something like every 5-8 seconds the one side closes and the other opens. A lot of people really like them. You could put it on your return and it would add a nice change in current to give your tank for diversity in water motion.

 

[brad23]

I see, I'd probably use it on the 180g

 

[zlwags85]

they are between 29 and 35. If you watch ebay they sell for 29 all the time and i think drsfostersmith has them on sale for like 34. Depending on the pressure it switches the current at a certain speed. since i only have a mag 3 on it, it switches every 10seconds from one output to the other.

 

[hubris007]

Haven't sat down to do the math, but i bet i could figure it out...
How about pump-->T-->2 valves-->2 SCWD's-->4 returns.

By playing with the valves, i think you could get some real variability in the flow, with the two SCWD's pulsing at different rates. Also would let you increase the size of you pump without maxing out the pressure on the SCWD's. Just something i've been kicking around. Haven't searched it, since i'm never on between 2AM and 3AM which seem to be the only times you can search on RC unless you give them money.

 

[Horace]

The drawback to them is I think the max flow is something like 1200gph or so. This means you cant stick a sequence dart on there and expect it to work . They also drop your flow by about 25% because of the head pressure they put on ur pump. But they do work pretty well from what I hear.

 

[lglamb]

I think a sqwd might be lost on a 180. The vary rate increases
with flow rate, and you'll have fairly good flow rate in a 180.
Seems like they started making a larger size model, not sure.

On a bigger tank, bigger flow, you might look into one of the
OceansMotions devices. A bit more expensive, but (IMO)
better design and function.

 

[LegoZ81]

cool
I'm not up for the challange of what I posted here for a DIY OceansMotions type device yet but I may look into it

 

[llewoh05]

yeah they are kinda meant for smaller tanks that don't have the room to use something along the lines of a wavemaker.

 

[zlwags85]

well after i got back this weekend the SCWD had stopped switching the current. Since i got it from a local reefer, the warranty was void. I decided to cut it open and find what the problem was and hopefully fix it. found the problem at least. The revolving door which is a half circle was getting stuck on in 2 places. Both of outlets had a small peace of plastic that was not flush to the rest of the body(from casting). So what i did so far was filed it down all the way and now the door is not getting stuck. Im going to try to close it back up like this guy did or similar
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=76847&st=0

the gearing on it is kinda interesting and more complicated than it needed to be. if i take all the gearing apart again i will take some pics

 

[zlwags85]

alright well after fidling with it all day, i ened up deciding to go from 1.1/2 inch PVC to a slip to a bushing that is 1/2 inch female threaded. I can either use a hosebarb fitting or just directly skrew it into my mag 3. The PVC fits extremely tightly into the SCWD(i had to sand it for about half hour before i could force it in)
Im hoping that its so tight i wont have to PVC cement it in, and just put a ring of silcone or something around it to keep it water tight air tight so that i can open it easily if needed. Heres some pics so far, havent tested it yet, gonna wait till tomarrow to ensure that PVC cement is all dry and everything.
Pic of the SCWD with propeller

Pic of the SCWD with propeller parts removed

Pic of the PVC to slip to bushing

pic of the gearing housing

pic of the gears