Closed loop question

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I had put this in the newbie forum but maybe my Tampa peeps can help me out!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2439731

 

[rogergolf66]

Looks to me the advice u already got from that link was pretty accurate. Did u not get the answer u were looking for?

But

What will u be keeping in the tank? This will help determine what size pump is really needed.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Yeah. I posted to Tampa before getting responses there, but definitely seems like good answers.

I'm planning on doing a mixed reef, but primarily LPS. I would also like to work in some NPS. As for fish, all reef safe. In the long run I would like to try to house some starfish and sponges depending on my water quality.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I'm going to post a pic of my overflow with the PVC closed loop. I would love to hear thoughts on what size pump to use/what gph!

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

Here is a pic of the closed loop on egg crate that will be wrapped around the center overflow. I'm hoping to get the rock on it today. Feel free to ask questions! I'll try to come up with an answer but I'm kinda going day by day (week by week) with this one.

 

[Ted_C]

I would consider losing the egg crate. From my experience - it messes up the flow too much (I think John called this laminar flow turbulence). It will also be a detritus settling point. and very hard to get to and clean if you have it enclosed in rock

I had a tank and rock that was sparkling clean except where I used egg crate. The egg crate messed up the flow so much that it was actually contributing to allow cyano growth. Nutrient rich water just wouldn't move out of the egg crate to the overflows /skimmer. I was only using a small 5" x 8" section as a frag rack. it was the only place in the tank that would grow cyano.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

I would consider losing the egg crate. From my experience - it messes up the flow too much (I think John called this laminar flow turbulence). It will also be a detritus settling point. and very hard to get to and clean if you have it enclosed in rock

I had a tank and rock that was sparkling clean except where I used egg crate. The egg crate messed up the flow so much that it was actually contributing to allow cyano growth. Nutrient rich water just wouldn't move out of the egg crate to the overflows /skimmer. I was only using a small 5" x 8" section as a frag rack. it was the only place in the tank that would grow cyano.

Maybe you can help me out here, cause I think I may be a little confused or I didn't explain myself well enough. The egg crate will be covered with foam and rock, and epoxy and sand will cover the foam. There won't be any egg crate showing when I'm finished with it. Do you still see an issue with that?

 

[Ted_C]

nope - it'll just have to be well sealed so no poo gets in there.

 

[ReefWhatYouSow]

nope - it'll just have to be well sealed so no poo gets in there.

Cool. And there are areas inside caves that would have open egg crate but with your suggestion I think it might be good to spray it with foam and seal it too.

Thanks for the insight!