closed loop plumbing

[Benny Z]

going to use a dart for a closed loop on the 200g.

i've got two 1" bulkeheads roughly 6" off the bottom of the tank on the back wall, one on each end. i was thinking about expanding these to 2" bulkheads and merging them for the pump intake, but then i got to thinking about it some more. instead, i think i'm going to use them as the pump returns, with a short pipe coming out of each one into a "T" and then 90* elbos to make a total of 4 return openings. what i'd like to do is aim each outlet down so that they are facing the bottom of the tank...with the elbo this would put them about 3" to 4" off the bottom.

i'd stack my rock around the plumbing, possibly on some lifts to keep most of it off the bottom of the tank. this should create a large undercurrent that will continually blast the bottom of the tank to keep detritus suspended. ...or, at least that is my theory.

for the pump intake, i'm considering drilling a hole for a 2" bulkhead on the right side piece of the tank.

what do you think? does it make sense? is this a good/bad idea?

there wouldn't be any direct flow hitting the corals, but i'm thinking it will create a ton of water movement all throughout the tank. do you agree?

*i will also be using two penductors on the sump return plumbing, one on each end facing each other. the pump driving these will be a pcx-55.

 

[mflamb]

Why not use a Dart for the sump return? It's twice the flow at slightly less power usage.
Mike

 

[Benny Z]

i don't want that much flow through my sump, plus the dart is not pressure rated so it won't run the punductors as efficiently.

...and i already have both pumps.

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I see no problems with your idea. I would however suggest atleast 2 intakes for the pump, either 2x1.5" or 2x2". Two reason, clog prevention, and to reduce the suction power of one. I have 2x1.5" feeing an ampmaster 3000, and I am still surprised how much flow is going into them.