Closed loop design help please. 225g plastic tank.

[BrokeColoReefer]

I am setting up a brand new system. The tank will be a open top design, and i do not want any plumbing to be on top of the tank.

Currently the tank is drilled in two locations, and i would like to add two more and one return for the closed loop pump (reef flo dart) the tank is shown below, and you can see the two holes that are already drilled.

I would like to add two more holes in the bottom of the tank towards the front, and cover them with sand or rock to hide them. I am a bit 'scared to drill holes in the bottom of the tank. The other option would be to drill two more holes in the back of the tank plus one for the return, but i dont think 5 holes in the back is a good idea either. If this where your tank, and you where going to set it up right the first time, what would you do? I am planning on using a oceans motion 4 way for this project.

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

Here are some other photos

 

[james3370]

i saw this today linked in a differnt thread & REALLY like the way it looks. hope it gives ya some ideas

http://www.oceansmotions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1129

also check out the rest of that forum for addl ideas & ask some questions there. the people that run Oceansmotions are very helpful

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

James, thanks so much! i could not resist picking up this tank. I have promised my self to cut zero corners this time, and i want to get all the holes i will ever need drilled before i fill it up. I will go over to the oceans motions website and check it out!

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

So, are closed loops totally out of fashion? I could surly put some vortechs in here, but i though that i would actually get better circulation with a closed loop system on a OM 4 way. The Tunze's 6100 i had a few years back drove me nuts with the whining they did, and from what i understand, the vortechs do the same.

How would you design flow for this system if it where your setup?

 

[dsun]

Here's a pic with how my tank is being built.

As you can see, I have 8 holes in the bottom of the tank and 4 on the back wall. The two upper holes on the back are for returns from my sump. The two lower (bigger) holes on the back drains for the closed loop. The idea is that I will have 2 independent closed loops.

Each drain from the back wall will feed a Dart. The output of the Dart goes to an Oceans Motions 4 way. The four outputs go to the bottom of the tank. I plan to have 45 or 22.5 degree elbows on the bulkheads to allow me to direct the flow from the CL. Having two independent OM4s should create very randomized flow in the tank.

I know some people talk about CL being out of fashion with the Tunzes and Vortechs. For me, I don't like powerheads in the tank and the Vortechs don't allow me to direct flow very well. Also, with flow coming from the front of the tank I expect to get nicer coral growth patterns. Maybe it's just me but I see nicer/denser growth on the sides of the corals that are getting blown on by the current. With powerheads mounted on the back wall, that usually meant the side of the coral I'm not seeing...

Now as far as Vortechs, I am still considering getting one but just for the sake of having the battery backup. That's one benefit they have that I can't reasonably get with a CL.

 

[BrokeColoReefer]

well since i have the top holes already drilled, i will put my returns there as well, i think i am just going to go with two lower holes for the one dart, and 4 spread out holes along the bottom. I was thinking i would want some of the closed loop returns up higher but i really don't see any reason to do that now. I think i will spread out my 4 holes on the bottom in a random pattern and cover the fronts of the pvc with rock work, i am planning on two separate "islands" with sparse rock work.

thanks for the reply! i love your tank.