Closed Loop or Vortechs?

[ryddo]

I just checked Perfecto's (Marineland) website and it states that there is no tempered glass in the aquarium.

 

[tangtang clown]

If you drill the bottom, are you planning on installing bulkheads? I can only drill the back of my tank and I want to put some of the BHs near the bottom/behind the rock. Would you our anyone else worry that the BHs may leak?

 

[biecacka]

bulkheads can leak, its that simple. now its usually due to human error......but a leak is a leak. if you put them on the bottom, id fill the tank about 2 inches or so to cover the BH and see if the leak over the next 24 hrs

 

[biecacka]

lance crazy idea, could i use a hammerhead as my return pump with mulitple drilled holes, as if it was a CL. one pump for everything??

 

[tangtang clown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15644340#post15644340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
bulkheads can leak, its that simple. now its usually due to human error......but a leak is a leak. if you put them on the bottom, id fill the tank about 2 inches or so to cover the BH and see if the leak over the next 24 hrs

I will definitely do a freshwater run in the garage for a few days.

 

[tangtang clown]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15644370#post15644370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
lance crazy idea, could i use a hammerhead as my return pump with mulitple drilled holes, as if it was a CL. one pump for everything??

The only problem I see here is if the return pump is getting water from you sump, you will probably have a s**t ton of flow through your sump.

 

[lancepender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15644370#post15644370 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
lance crazy idea, could i use a hammerhead as my return pump with mulitple drilled holes, as if it was a CL. one pump for everything??

Yes, you could do this.. But you would just loose flow per hour as a whole.. intead of running two pumps with a turn over rate of Approx 35x to 50x. You would be around 25x an hour. But because you are running a mostly softy tank. I dont see anything wrong with it..

Just make sure the sump can handle that flow.. So you dont get micro's.

 

[lancepender]

I ran a hammerhead/ Blackfin 6000 for a return on those pics tank.. But, It was on the first floor and the sump was in the basement. So, the water needed to drop about 8 to 10 feet in 2-2" lines.. It dropped into a 150 gal livestock water tank for a sump. The water was so strong that it would blow the fitting on the bottom where the 50 micron filter socks hang right off.. and water everywhere.. A few lessons learned there..haha

There strong pumps...haha

 

[lancepender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15644340#post15644340 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
bulkheads can leak, its that simple. now its usually due to human error......but a leak is a leak. if you put them on the bottom, id fill the tank about 2 inches or so to cover the BH and see if the leak over the next 24 hrs

For sure!!! Always do a fresh water run when possible..

 

[lancepender]

I cannot help you guy's with Glass.. Don't trust the stuff... I'm 50- 50 on Glass tanks.. One, we blew up every side of it.. After the first side.. We started just to test our skills, and blew up all of the other's...fun fun haha

20 min later.. tried the second tank.. I drilled two 1" holes for a overflow. and Got it done with no problem..

Good luck...

 

[biecacka]

i would like acyrlic but 1) scratches to easy, 2) more money. however if i can find a good deal on a used cube of similar size im all in as i would honestly prefer acrylic for the drill aspect and its lighter. i thought about building the tank.......

 

[biecacka]

my biggest concern with a CL is i want to avoid the use of pumps in the tank or i might as well go with a few tunze or vortechs. if i tried to run 1 pump i want to make sure a bigger pump would use less watts and still cover the tank.
my vision is a 48x48x24 cube tank with a valley of sorts in the middle and plenty of swimming "lanes: on the outside. like a race track so thinking about different flow options. few months out on build but would like to start to pic up peices of equipment i currently dont own

 

[lancepender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15645856#post15645856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
i would like acyrlic but 1) scratches to easy, 2) more money. however if i can find a good deal on a used cube of similar size im all in as i would honestly prefer acrylic for the drill aspect and its lighter. i thought about building the tank.......

yes, the stuff does scratch easy..

Depending on how you are going to do the lights and how you want the top to look. This is pretty much the deciding factor from a somewhat affordable tank to a expensive tank. Because, if you don't care about the top (having a cross for the bracing). The tank will have 4 access holes on the top. Then they or you can go with 1/2" acrylic. If you want a full open top just with a rim around the edge of 6-8" (Called euro- bracing). You will be doing it in 3/4" acrylic..

If you need two people to contact for quote or you want me to get you the quotes.. Just let me know.

 

[lancepender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15645887#post15645887 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
my biggest concern with a CL is i want to avoid the use of pumps in the tank or i might as well go with a few tunze or vortechs. if i tried to run 1 pump i want to make sure a bigger pump would use less watts and still cover the tank.
my vision is a 48x48x24 cube tank with a valley of sorts in the middle and plenty of swimming "lanes: on the outside. like a race track so thinking about different flow options. few months out on build but would like to start to pic up peices of equipment i currently dont own

The issue of only doing one big pump is that. You dont have any room for expansion for flow. If you do one big pump. Like a hammerhead or such. Then thats it. Inless you drain the tank and re-drill.. Not fun..

But, there is a good reason why people have been going to the new PVC bottom's... So, they dont need to worry about the tank cracking.. or just going Acrylic from the start..

 

[lancepender]

This goes for everyone with or thinking of a glass tank.. Talk to the builder and draw the layout out of the holes. Just have them drill them.. Then Its covered under your warrantee.

There is only one or two Acrylic builders that I know of that don't charge for hole drilling.. But, sometimes its well worth the wait to drill, till you see the tank in your house. Might be more up front cost.. But, knowing it wont crack is to me well worth the sleep I'll be getting at night...

 

[tangtang clown]

I have had no issues drilling my glass (not on wood). My only thought is "Is 3/8" glass strong enough to had 20 inches of water?"

Is there a way I can do a CL with 2 intakes and 2 outputs?

 

[biecacka]

lance, your right, depending on the look you want is when it gets expensive. i want a rimless tank and glass is cheaper than acrylic in that matter...still am kicking around the idea of building it myself. with lots of practice b4 of course
if i go glass i will have glasscages brill the tank for me

 

[lancepender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15647613#post15647613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biecacka
lance, your right, depending on the look you want is when it gets expensive. i want a rimless tank and glass is cheaper than acrylic in that matter...still am kicking around the idea of building it myself. with lots of practice b4 of course
if i go glass i will have glasscages brill the tank for me

I wouldn't have them do anything.. I've heard of a lot of bad tanks being built by them.. Plus, I know with acrylic. They charge per hole.. gets real expensive..

I've seen there tanks at some local expos in Tampa. Great company for reptile terrariums and such. But wouldn't trust them with a few hundred gallons.

Just my Opinion

 

[lancepender]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15647436#post15647436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tangtang clown
I have had no issues drilling my glass (not on wood). My only thought is "Is 3/8" glass strong enough to had 20 inches of water?"

Is there a way I can do a CL with 2 intakes and 2 outputs?

I'm glad you've been successful.. That makes one of us..hahaha

Ya, just do exactly that 2 in and two out.. just T them. Just make sure there the same size as the input/output of the pump.

There is no rule on how many inlets/outputs there are.. I just like 2 inlets and how ever many outlets. All the same size as the pump.

 

[elijaher]

This is a good thread.