600 Gallon Upgrade Build

[AJT]

I too thought about closed loop but I already had the bottom of a 90 crack at my office only to walk in in the morning to a disaster.


New tank is PVC bottom.

I dont even want to worry about the tank draining while out of town. Personally I would not do a closed loop, no need these days with Vortecs. Very little obstruction in the tank & great water movement. IMHO

 

[Dustin1300]

You can also do things to mitigate risks...Like drilling a hole in wall towards top for return and running a pipe down for the closed loop (Plenty of creative ways to conceal the pipe). Then if you have it 1-2 inches down the worst thing is you drain off the top and might have to drain tank that much to repair fitting/bulkhead! Still scared of bottom drilled tanks!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I'm considering closed loop on my next tank too. I like the back wall idea to drill but point of closed loop is clean look and then you have PVC showing. Such tough decisions
Corey

Cory you are right. I can hide the plumbing coming into the tank, its the pipe draining the water for the closed loop I'm trying to figure out how to hide. Decisions decisions.

I too thought about closed loop but I already had the bottom of a 90 crack at my office only to walk in in the morning to a disaster.

New tank is PVC bottom.

I don't even want to worry about the tank draining while out of town. Personally I would not do a closed loop, no need these days with Vortecs. Very little obstruction in the tank & great water movement. IMHO

I thought about Vortecs also but this being a 360 degree view tank I didn't want any obstructions on the glass. That's why I went with the closed loop.

You can also do things to mitigate risks...Like drilling a hole in wall towards top for return and running a pipe down for the closed loop (Plenty of creative ways to conceal the pipe). Then if you have it 1-2 inches down the worst thing is you drain off the top and might have to drain tank that much to repair fitting/bulkhead! Still scared of bottom drilled tanks!

Point made but considering that my tank and the way its made, man here I go again with this build.

 

[salali]

I love the idea that you got. I am just waiting for you to be finished.

I hope in the future to have a tank like yours.

Are you going to use powerhead?

 

[Happs220]

Hey Wayne,
You order that jack hammer yet! Lol ...
Thanks for all the help at the store. Very much appreciated as I'm the newbie here.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I love the idea that you got. I am just waiting for you to be finished.

I hope in the future to have a tank like yours.

Are you going to use powerhead?

Thanks. Hopefully that idea will work out for me. I will be using powerheads and I have my eye on the controllable Tunzes. It will be another 2 months before the tank will be up and running. Cant do anything until I put the finishing touches on the room.

Hey Wayne,
You order that jack hammer yet! Lol ...
Thanks for all the help at the store. Very much appreciated as I'm the newbie here.

Wassup Steve. Jack hammer is no longer needed........yet. Glad to help you out and welcome to RC. Will be following your build as well.

 

[dca22anderson]

Hi Wayne - I ran the oceans motions with a sequence dart and it
worked great. I wanted to get a little more out of it so I tried running it with a hammerhead and it made lots of noise and didn't work as well. (they advertised that you could run the flow rate a hammerhead produced through it) I didn't find that to be the case even after working with the guy at OM. I loved the OM product but eventually pulled out the guts and use it as a flow through manifold with the hammerhead. I would run the oceans motions with a dart pump anyday. That is my experience and what I learned with what I still consider a great product.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Hi Wayne - I ran the oceans motions with a sequence dart and it
worked great. I wanted to get a little more out of it so I tried running it with a hammerhead and it made lots of noise and didn't work as well. (they advertised that you could run the flow rate a hammerhead produced through it) I didn't find that to be the case even after working with the guy at OM. I loved the OM product but eventually pulled out the guts and use it as a flow through manifold with the hammerhead. I would run the oceans motions with a dart pump anyday. That is my experience and what I learned with what I still consider a great product.

Thanks for the reply dca. Imma see what I can do to catch up to the bar your setting.


Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Hi Wayne - I ran the oceans motions with a sequence dart and it
worked great. I wanted to get a little more out of it so I tried running it with a hammerhead and it made lots of noise and didn't work as well. (they advertised that you could run the flow rate a hammerhead produced through it) I didn't find that to be the case even after working with the guy at OM. I loved the OM product but eventually pulled out the guts and use it as a flow through manifold with the hammerhead. I would run the oceans motions with a dart pump anyday. That is my experience and what I learned with what I still consider a great product.

Thanks for the reply dca. Now it's time to catch that bar you solemnly set.


Sent from my iPhone using Siri and Tapatalk.

 

[biecacka]

Vortechs aren't an option as tank is viewable on ALL 4 sides. CL is really only option unless you find a way to build a "tower" if you will and hide the dry side or magnets if used Tunze. But that is more real estate.
Wayne can't you run CL drain w a large strainer on it and conceal it w rock work from sides. But leave access to it from top side
Corey

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Vortechs aren't an option as tank is viewable on ALL 4 sides. CL is really only option unless you find a way to build a "tower" if you will and hide the dry side or magnets if used Tunze. But that is more real estate.
Wayne can't you run CL drain w a large strainer on it and conceal it w rock work from sides. But leave access to it from top side
Corey

I know that I will probably run Tunzes off the center overflow for more flow. But that will be further down the road when the time comes once the tank is more stocked.

To be honest I am going back and forth on the closed loop. Then I see how reefkeeper2 has his setup and how he produces flow. We will see.

 

[AJT]

I have never had a center overflow & this may be a stupid question, but why dont you use the inside of the center overflow for the closed loop? Run all the pipes thru the center? Draw from the center overflow wall? Heck you could even go over the wall back down the inside & cover it with live rock.

 

[salali]

It is a good idea to make your tank like reefkeeper2. He is a smart guy and the room looks beautiful and well design.

I wish I can ask him this question how he put powerhead if the tank is viewable all the sides?

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

I have never had a center overflow & this may be a stupid question, but why dont you use the inside of the center overflow for the closed loop? Run all the pipes thru the center? Draw from the center overflow wall? Heck you could even go over the wall back down the inside & cover it with live rock.

But how would I do the return. The way I have it drilled now, drilling through the center isn't an option.


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[Newbie Aquarist]

All his power heads are on his center overflow. He has two of them on wavy sea swirls if you look at his channel.


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[biecacka]

Yeah that's the best way to try and use your center overflow.
I'm in similar situation. I'm wanting a cube. 4/4/2 or 5/5/2 and debating on how to get flow and mine will on,y be viewable on 3 sides.
Corey

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Yeah that's the best way to try and use your center overflow.
I'm in similar situation. I'm wanting a cube. 4/4/2 or 5/5/2 and debating on how to get flow and mine will on,y be viewable on 3 sides.
Corey

May I suggest an external overflow. That way you will have more room internally and if not that then maybe a corner overflow.

 

[EgmontKey]

I will invent something and try not to let you down sir.



I see you have been a busy man. Gotta make that paper to support the hobby.

I think the secret is to control the vibrations and having the right bulkheads for the closed loop. So lots of flex PVC will be used in conjunction with quick disconnects and union valves. I have to find the link someone sent me but there are some bulkheads out there that are pretty sturdy. Some of the big aquariums use them but they are made on a smaller level.

Glad you made it back.

Hey Wayne sir! Check this out. I found these clic clamps and ordered a bunch. With these and flex pipe, you are absolutely removing any stress on the bulkheads. Instead the pressure is transferred to the clamps and your cabinet.
http://savko.com/portal/click-clamp.asp

Cheers!

 

[Newbie Aquarist]

Hey Wayne sir! Check this out. I found these clic clamps and ordered a bunch. With these and flex pipe, you are absolutely removing any stress on the bulkheads. Instead the pressure is transferred to the clamps and your cabinet.
http://savko.com/portal/click-clamp.asp

Cheers!

Welcome to RC and thanks for reading my thread. Those clams have been suggested but I never took the time to research them. Thanks again for the link.

 

[biecacka]

I was gonna go either external or slim internal C2C for it
Corey