close loop vs powerheads

I am going to follow on this one. Be interesting to see the answers that are posted.
I think the biggest difference is that powerheads are quiter and require no drilling, closed loops have no pump hanging in your tank for all to see.
John
 
We are going closed loop with our big tank. With the right sized pump, you can get the same amount of flow that you would with multiple powerheads. And we are using SCWDs with our closed loop, and that is basically the same thing as using wave makers. I hate the look of powerheads. I had to have 3 in my 40g, and they were a complete eyesore.
 
and less heat. a good powerhead can get you wide spread flow like a tunze, korlia etc. but with becca and brannon's they will have 3600 gph est going through 12 outlets that will be all adjustable and controlable and alter current for under 250.00. hard to find that kind of flow adjustable with almost no heat and low wattage draw.
 
I'm a closed loop fan. On my 390 I have 2 closed loops, both with Dart pumps and Ocean Motion 4 ways. My sump return is also a Dart. I have 20 returns into the tank from those 3 pumps.
 
pros for closed loop, less energy consumption, more room in the tank, better look inside the tank, more flow and just as directable if done right, someone mentioned a noise factor but there are a lot of very quiet external pumps and I know my powerheads in my tank can get pretty loud when a snail gets on them just right, sounds like a jack hammer. Closed loop is really the way to go between those 2 options.
 
Gotta love the snail behind the powerhead at 2am. lol

After seeing Mike's Closed Loop on his 390. Wow. Completely made up my mind to do a closed loop.
 
My opinion is that closed loop is the best way to go Mike. I have been on powerhead systems since the beginning and i dont mind it too much, but when you are keeping tanks for show , and for company , and if you dont want big, bulky powerheads stuck to the sides of the tanks, then definatley go with closed loop. I am about to make the switch soon, i have the Mag24, and Joe is gonna help me with the plumbing (when i can get the money... it shouldnt be too much longer Joe...lol), but i think it is much more neat having uniformity through PVC, get a couple SQDS and some plumbing, a nice pump and you are good to go. I can help you look for the parts if ya want, OH and Mike, are you going to the meeting this weekend? if so, i will bring you the corals, but i dont want to stress them, but just let me know. And agian, thanks soo much for the trannie, it is being put in as we speak, and i MAY be able to drive to the meeting!
 
The biggest negative I heard from folks about closed loop is the cost of electricity to run large pumps. My advice...don't set up a 390 if you cant afford the electricity to run it. I have 3 Darts, 2 Pan World 150s, 3 MH 250, 330 watts of VHO, 2 OM 4way, 3 Eheim 1048s, a power supply to run lots of 12 volt stuff and 2 refugium lights, plus 2 QTs. It costs a few $$$ to run a large tank. The cost of electricity for 2 closed loops isn't going to make that much difference.
 
CL

CL

Well, at many other DO have to worry about it, but i still live with my parents and they have not yet figured out why the electricity has jumped so much in my last year (since i set up the 75...lol). But it is the look of it that i wanting it for, i hate the look of all those powerheads in there, and think that PVC pipes would look alot neater and less obstructive. But yeah, that is a rather big tank, so you would need alot of powerheads, or a couple VERY expensive ones, so i would reccommend CL. If you have the money though, and dont want , the NICE powerheads arent that bad...:D
 
Koralias blow Tunzes out of the water, better flow, less electricity, come with the magnet for free, and personally I like the look better, but then again just my opinion
 
I'm gonna have to be the contrarian on this one. When designing my 345 I looked at all the options and once you figure in pumps, plumbing, valves, Ocean Motions etc. I decided to go with 4 Vortechs on mine. No holes, no plumbing, no locline, very low power usage, can easily be moved around and take up very little room in the tank. Taking everything into consideration cost was about the same but running costs were less. The Tunzes are WAY too big IMO.

Mine's inwall and the wall covers 6" on each side of the tank so the ones on the side can't be seen in the viewing area. The back is black acrylic which helps the ones on the back blend in.

I'm very happy with my decision and will be even happier when I get my wireless drivers.
 
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Closed loops imo are not worth it. The only advantage is aethestics.

You don't get the wide gentle flow you do from the better powerheads. If you drill your tank, you have more possible stress crack failures. The power consumption is much higher. You can easily get the same GPH out of a powerhead without having so many point of failures.(pipes leaking, bulkhead drips, etc).

I went over it so many times and just didn't see the big value. I have vortechs and hands down it is the nicest piece out there. It's simple, looks really nice, and not as bulky as some of the others.
 
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