closed loop versus powerheads

[Fishingpcola]

Which is prefered? Closed loops general have bigger external pumps which consume more power but are out of sight. Powerheads are sightly and can allow various flow. Upside is low power consumption. What is your preferrence?

 

[sikpupy]

I think both have thier pluses and minuses. I say PH just so you can move them around. If it were to just keep the water circulating, i would say closed loops, as they make the tank look MUCH better. I was thinking of doing both, but, thats a LOT of work, planing and piping, lol.

 

[xenon]

I had a really high quality CL and it sucked balls.

Unless your tank is so huge that the biggest powerheads are not capable then do not bother with a CL.

Too much heat, power and the flow is way too direct.

 

[JustinReef]

^^ LOL

Depends on how you set up a closed loop. The flow does not have to be so direct and can be better than powerheads in my opinion. I miss my closed loop

If you have enough outlets, properly plumbed with an OM 4 way, you will get amazing flow. Your outlets can be split with loc line for great flow patterns.

As for too much power and heat, get a top of the line pump and you eliminate that. Costly though.

 

[Otty]

PH's suck and make a tank look like crap alone from the heat and possible short they cause. You go to all the effort to have a nice tank and then all you see is pumps and cords in the tank. That to me shows that you did not take the time to design your system before you started it.
A CL is a must for a reef tank as you want chaotic flow and not just have something blasted from one direction.

 

[mrkalel]

I think with the new smaller PH from Tunze, I dont see any problem with look issues,

but I do know that once you drill, you cant go back....

 

[ihopss]

I would go with a closed loop.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

All about preference here. I just built a closed loop with an OM 4 way on a 225. I'll be adding a Vortech for additional flow and for the battery back up feature. I like the clean look of my closed loop but honestly it was a TON of work to plan and set up. If I had it to do over again I'd just run 4 Vortechs. I HATE seeing wires in tanks. Also, heat's a major concern for me, I can't have a bunch of powerhead motors inside my tank. Vortechs are external and add less heat.

 

[barclayrl]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13552331#post13552331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xenon
I had a really high quality CL and it sucked balls.

Well said...

The electricity involved is insane... 200-300Watt pumps.. vs 20Watt tunze.. to me its a no brainer.... Power heads are much less complex as well.... and they wont leak on your floor... LOL..

Closed loops are for tanks that have big spaces and for owners that have time to tinker.. Powerheads are set it and forget it..

 

[seaskraP]

i run a closed loop with an OM and dart, and really like that it is pretty much hidden, but as pointed out, its a lot less energy efficient than PH's. four tunzes i think use about 50watts, as opposed to a dart at 100+. setting up, and plumbing a CL is not easy either.

one potential option for PH's if you dont want to see them is using those fake rocks that hold the tunzes, that along with some sneaky cord hiding could give you a nice setup.

also, my first CL setup was pretty loud, PH's are almost silent.

 

[PaulieWalnuts]

i would either go CL or votech power heads...i hate power heads but those are so small and are very cool.

 

[pledosophy]

I use both, on both my tanks.

Powerheads are quite easier if you have to adjust your flow for certain stock, or change flow levels, change flow direction etc, etc etc.

IME you can hide them pretty well with planning,

 

[jh2pizza]

I use a Dart pump. Uses little less that 170W with it turned down slightly. I love the flow. Low velocity, high turn over. No power heads to clean, maintain and look at.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Yea, if you're going to go with a closed loop, a Dart is perfect for the application. You want a flow rated pump, note pressure. Consider a Dart with an OM 4 way. At 170 watts and 4 nozzles that's a little over 40 watts per output. Each output on a Dart will give you PLENTY of flow. So if you look at it that way, they aren't as energy inefficient as a lot of people think. You'd have to have four pumps on a wavemaker to get the same result. 40 watts per output isn't THAT much in the scheme of things.

 

[seaskraP]

yeah 40 isn't that much, but compared to a tunze 6010 with 1,100 gph @ 11 watts, a CL uses substantially more energy

 

[psteeleb]

I have both setups in my system. The main advantage my CL has is pulling from one spot and returning to another, this way you get way more overall tank circulation. My closed loop suction is up under my rockwork so it's pulling water into the rockwork, something a PH won't do for me.

 

[seaskraP]

sorry meant tunze 6065. 1,700 gph @ 12 watts.

http://www.tunze.com/149.html?&L=1&C=US&user_tunzeprod_pi1[predid]=-infoxunter025

i do like my CL but wish it was a little more efficient.

 

[seaskraP]

whoops.

 

[FishNFun]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13553293#post13553293 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psteeleb
I have both setups in my system. The main advantage my CL has is pulling from one spot and returning to another, this way you get way more overall tank circulation. My closed loop suction is up under my rockwork so it's pulling water into the rockwork, something a PH won't do for me.

I've never heard of anyone having their CL intake under their rockwork but, in my opinion, that's a VERY COOL idea. I learned something new today!

 

[Tswifty]

I'm planning on using both on my current tank.

CL ran by a Barracuda hooked to an OM 4-way, and 2 large Tunze stream pumps.