Closed loop or powerheads? or both?
- Thread starter snaza
- Start date
Avast Marine
.Registered Member
Panworld 50px-x on a om squirt for a 54gal.
scottfarcuz
New member
You dont need to worry about a back siphon with a closed loop. It has no where for the water to drain to.
I use tunzes and hide them the best I can in the rockwork
iamquockie
New member
I like the closed loop. I currently run a mag 7 that gives okay flow to every part of my 60g. I just personally like the appearance of the close loop over the 4 or 5 powerheads. U gotta admit, powerheads arent the greatest looking machines ever made
well, on this topic can I ask, could I put a pump in the canopy that would basicly pump a stagnent siphon?
I would put a pvc tube about 2in under the surface of the water (with netting over the intake) and then make the return line split off instead of using 3 400 gph powerheads? My main concern is that the water level in the tank might drop and the pump would run dry but that would only happen during a water change and I could shut the pump off.
I am not going to have space to run another closed loop system without putting a pipe outside the tank.
I would put a pvc tube about 2in under the surface of the water (with netting over the intake) and then make the return line split off instead of using 3 400 gph powerheads? My main concern is that the water level in the tank might drop and the pump would run dry but that would only happen during a water change and I could shut the pump off.
I am not going to have space to run another closed loop system without putting a pipe outside the tank.
toothman
Premium Member
Please read this advice from someone who has had both several ways:
Plumbed closed loop disadvantages:
1. The pumps make noise, even a super quiet dart does. In general the low speed pumps are quiet (dart, hammerhead, red dragon) but they have no pressure. High pressure pumps Iwaki, genex, pan world, are really loud. This may not be a issue if you have a remote filter area or a tank built in a wall. But the pressure makes a nice closed loop.
2. Even with a plumbed closed loop you have to hide the plumbing, I really do not think it much harder to hide a tunze than closed loop plumbing. When you see most tunze they are mounted on the side of the tank but there is no reason not to use the rock hiding product, or just put the pump in the rocks.
3. All said and done closed loop is more expensive than tunze. (With Ocean motion 4 way and good ball valves and bulkheads.)
4. More heat with closed loop. If you keep you room temp at 73 degrees you most likely will not need a chiller.
5. You need to do a lot more work to install a closed loop.
Advantages:
1. Nice wave makers like ocean motions can be added.
2. If the pump fails you just turn the ball valves off and add a new pump.
3. It is slightly easier to hide the plumbing, not as invisible as you may think.
4. Tunze pumps calcify and need 3 month vinegar soaks.
Hope this helps.
Plumbed closed loop disadvantages:
1. The pumps make noise, even a super quiet dart does. In general the low speed pumps are quiet (dart, hammerhead, red dragon) but they have no pressure. High pressure pumps Iwaki, genex, pan world, are really loud. This may not be a issue if you have a remote filter area or a tank built in a wall. But the pressure makes a nice closed loop.
2. Even with a plumbed closed loop you have to hide the plumbing, I really do not think it much harder to hide a tunze than closed loop plumbing. When you see most tunze they are mounted on the side of the tank but there is no reason not to use the rock hiding product, or just put the pump in the rocks.
3. All said and done closed loop is more expensive than tunze. (With Ocean motion 4 way and good ball valves and bulkheads.)
4. More heat with closed loop. If you keep you room temp at 73 degrees you most likely will not need a chiller.
5. You need to do a lot more work to install a closed loop.
Advantages:
1. Nice wave makers like ocean motions can be added.
2. If the pump fails you just turn the ball valves off and add a new pump.
3. It is slightly easier to hide the plumbing, not as invisible as you may think.
4. Tunze pumps calcify and need 3 month vinegar soaks.
Hope this helps.
golfish
Team RC
For years I did a closed loop with 2x1" Sea swirls. For the past year I've been using a Sequence Barracuda on a closed loop to feed the two SS's. There was very little head pressure and I used 1.5" all the way to the SS's. I thought the flow was pretty sweet until I bought one of those propeller mods for a Maxi Jet 1200 power head. This little pump put out a LOT more flow then what I was getting from one of the SS's...Next I bought a Tunzi 6080, these put out even more flow...I've always been a big fan of CL's but I just could see using that large power sucking pump that puts out less flow.
I removed the CL from my tank and mounted the MJ and Tunze to my SS's for random flow. The Tunzi is kind of big and awkward so I'm going to move it to another location and use another MJ mod.
IMO, CL's are great when done right. The Ocean Motion and a properly drilled tank is a good way to do it. Drilling the tank isn't an option and my electric bill is really starting to eat into my wallet.
I removed the CL from my tank and mounted the MJ and Tunze to my SS's for random flow. The Tunzi is kind of big and awkward so I'm going to move it to another location and use another MJ mod.
IMO, CL's are great when done right. The Ocean Motion and a properly drilled tank is a good way to do it. Drilling the tank isn't an option and my electric bill is really starting to eat into my wallet.
