sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
Hey guys I am considering building a small closed loop system out of some of the extras I have laying around the garage. I have never done a closed loop system before and could use a little guidance.
Closed loop help
- Thread starter sal-t-dawg
- Start date
poolkeeper1
New member
Carl, What are you building it on? I thought you were getting out selling everything? My thoughts on Closed loops is they are less effective than MP40's or Tunze pumps and are costly to build and maintain (Pump Wise) As they require large pumps to work well. JMO
Bill
Bill
sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
I am not getting out completely just wanting to do something thats more within my budget. I have a 29gl "guinea pig". I don't think that I'd need a very large pump for a tank that size.
Pickupman66
New member
Karl,
while the MP40's and tunze pumps are great for random circulation, a closed loop will do a great job in itself. I have used one for about 5 years on my old tank and have one on the new one as well. Fishdoc has also used one on his full PS tanks for years as well.
you can do them much cheaper than one MP40 IMHO. I cannot afford one and dont ahve a controller to drive it.
For that size tank, you can get away with a quietone or something rated at 20-40x your tank size. I have a dart rated at 3600 on my 180 currently. on my 75, I had a Gen x rated at 1160 in the loop.
2 ways to do them. 1 is to drill the tank and run everything thru bulkheads. if you cant do that, then you can Utube them over the sides. I did this on the 75, and have bulkheads on teh 180.
if you do the U-tube, on the suction line, make it like a durso but put a screw on cap on the top so you can remove it to prime the system. once primed, you will NEVER have to do it again unless you completely drain the system. I put a union and valve on the inlet and outlet of the pump so it can be removed for maintenance. here is a photo of that in use :
they are relatively and you can build them cheap if you stay in the 3/4 to 1" range. I would recommend 1" to get a flow and not a jet out of the outlets.
here is how mine looked in the tank. the suction line looked like a silencer of sorts with tons of holes.
the gen x
I dont have a photo of the rest of it asn I trashed it when I moved.
while the MP40's and tunze pumps are great for random circulation, a closed loop will do a great job in itself. I have used one for about 5 years on my old tank and have one on the new one as well. Fishdoc has also used one on his full PS tanks for years as well.
you can do them much cheaper than one MP40 IMHO. I cannot afford one and dont ahve a controller to drive it.
For that size tank, you can get away with a quietone or something rated at 20-40x your tank size. I have a dart rated at 3600 on my 180 currently. on my 75, I had a Gen x rated at 1160 in the loop.
2 ways to do them. 1 is to drill the tank and run everything thru bulkheads. if you cant do that, then you can Utube them over the sides. I did this on the 75, and have bulkheads on teh 180.
if you do the U-tube, on the suction line, make it like a durso but put a screw on cap on the top so you can remove it to prime the system. once primed, you will NEVER have to do it again unless you completely drain the system. I put a union and valve on the inlet and outlet of the pump so it can be removed for maintenance. here is a photo of that in use :
they are relatively and you can build them cheap if you stay in the 3/4 to 1" range. I would recommend 1" to get a flow and not a jet out of the outlets.
here is how mine looked in the tank. the suction line looked like a silencer of sorts with tons of holes.
the gen x
I dont have a photo of the rest of it asn I trashed it when I moved.
Pickupman66
New member
OH, and if you are worried about the pump being loud, I have seen mods on them that removes the fan blade and puts a computer heat sink and a cpu fan. I was gonna do this on that Gen x but never got around. you can pick up that pump online for around $100 used. it was a great pump for me. there are lots like them. I dont like the quietones cause they get MEGA hot. actually had one melt the carpet on me. thats why I like this style of pump.
poolkeeper1
New member
For one thing MP40's don't need a controller, They come Included with the Pump. And on another note by the time you buy a pump, Bulkheads, Valves, PVC Fittings, PVC Pipe, Strainers, Etc You can easily have bought an MP 20 or 40 and the amount of Power savings compared to an External pump alone will be cheaper in the long run. I'm not saying one is the only way to go but Cheaper is not really true, Especially on larger pump closed loops. The Best reason to use Vortech's is the possibility's to create many different flow patterns, Waves,Currents,Storm Modes and It goes on and on. JMHO
Bill
PS Are you sure you not meaning Mag Pumps being Hot, I have used Quiet ones with no heat issues at all.
Bill
PS Are you sure you not meaning Mag Pumps being Hot, I have used Quiet ones with no heat issues at all.
Pickupman66
New member
Naw bill. I had a QO 4000 that melted the carpet when I used it as an external. after that, I bought the gen x.
an MP 40 is $419 on amazon. for me, that is a bit high. yes, they may use less power in the long run, but I cannot afford that. its much easier for me in my situation, to get a $100 external and $50 worth of plumbing parts. Yes teh vortec can do storms and all that neat things. if I had teh money, I would get one, and I was planning on it till I got sticker shock.
fwiw, my dart is running about 150 watts or so.
the mag 9.5 that I had ran way cooler than that quiet one. I will never buy one of those again.
Carl, Its your tank. if you want help with the loop, holler at me. if you want to go the vortec way, let bill know!
an MP 40 is $419 on amazon. for me, that is a bit high. yes, they may use less power in the long run, but I cannot afford that. its much easier for me in my situation, to get a $100 external and $50 worth of plumbing parts. Yes teh vortec can do storms and all that neat things. if I had teh money, I would get one, and I was planning on it till I got sticker shock.
fwiw, my dart is running about 150 watts or so.
the mag 9.5 that I had ran way cooler than that quiet one. I will never buy one of those again.
Carl, Its your tank. if you want help with the loop, holler at me. if you want to go the vortec way, let bill know!
gannmann9876
Member
dont worry about the rock karl. sounds like you have plenty of other stuff to worry about.LOL good luck with your build. just so happens i have a quiet one 4000 and a iwaki 30 something which ever one has the jap motor and plenty of 3/4 inch plumbing a couple of bulkheads and other plumbing stuff in the garage.
poolkeeper1
New member
FYI, There was a used MP40 Sold for 275.00 just yesterday and they go right around 300.00 all the time. If you want new I know where to get a better price than you quoted for them.
It's not like I never had a closed Loop, Just don't think they compare to the new Technology out today, They are just a lot of work to build and you only get direct flow.
Bill
It's not like I never had a closed Loop, Just don't think they compare to the new Technology out today, They are just a lot of work to build and you only get direct flow.
Bill
sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
Is the pump only used for flow in the tank? How would you tie in a sump?
sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
Preeshee8tcha gan!!
commonstranger
New member
Ive run Quietone pumps and never had a problem out of them. Melting the carpet is extreme almost sounds like a wiring problem/defect on the pump. Geesh! I can see both sides here the main thing is to do what you want and how you want the system ran. Id go with the MP20/40 too. Might have to save up some money but Id go that way.
commonstranger
New member
Also meant to say if its just a 29g a MP20 would rock that thing. Not too much to invest on that.
Pickupman66
New member
Carl, mine are both strictly circulation. Suck the water in, blow the water out. the larger the outlet, the bettter the flow as it wont be as direct. i used dual 3/4's on my 75. on the 180, I have dual 1" bulkheads, but they are split into 2x 3/4 lockline. I have 2 seaswirls and tow Hydor flow's on just the sump return and that in combo together with the loops pointed at them gived my tank a very turbulent random flow.
zef004
New member
I would go with mp10 for a 29gal. I got one on my frag tank that is 29g on the back wall. And run it at 50-75%.
And bill makes a good point you can find a used one cheap mp40w anywhere from 250-350 for the new ES and mp20 around $200 and mp10 $100-$200 for ESW.
Like everyone said this your tank do what you want.JMO.
And bill makes a good point you can find a used one cheap mp40w anywhere from 250-350 for the new ES and mp20 around $200 and mp10 $100-$200 for ESW.
Like everyone said this your tank do what you want.JMO.
poolkeeper1
New member
Choice
Choice
That would actually require setting a tank up first, To worry about Hypotheticals in this case is just Fodder for Debate. I have seen many tanks come and go without actually being set up in Carl's case:idea::fun4::fun4:
All In Jesting Carl, As it's just an observation I've made, Hah.
Bill:jester:
Choice
That would actually require setting a tank up first, To worry about Hypotheticals in this case is just Fodder for Debate. I have seen many tanks come and go without actually being set up in Carl's case:idea::fun4::fun4:
All In Jesting Carl, As it's just an observation I've made, Hah.
Bill:jester:
sal-t-dawg
Registered Nut Job
Guilty as charged!!
Its hard to make up my mind and stick to it. Theres just too many cool tanks!:blown:
AdrianBryce
New member
I would go vortech too. You can find brand new mp10s for 150 right now. they have the original driver, since vortech changed the design. The new types are in the 220 range
commonstranger
New member
Carl like I said you need to find a stanrd tank and take off my friend. Bigger and Better isnt always best. You have it in you to have a nice tank Ive seen what you did while you had the 75 up and running for a little while. Just grab and good normal tank and get to work sooner than you think youll have a tank that rocks. Just need to be in it for the long haul.
Similar threads
