Closed loop?

[BMcCoy]

I don't mean to sound like a moron, but even with reading thru a lot of posts on here I can't seem to understand what exactly a closed loop is. Can anyone help me understand?

Ben

 

[meco65]

Here is a pic of a closed loop.

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[Jeremy Blaze]

Look here for pics and info on mine.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=814800

 

[BMcCoy]

OK. Thanks guys. That helps alot.


Ben

 

[BMcCoy]

A question about that scwd. How often does it change water flow direction?

 

[PJSEA]

Essentially it's a plumbing system that takes water from the tank and puts it back in the tank and the water never leaves the piping-NO sump, refugium.
You can use it just to get flow thru the tank without having to use powerheads. You can also use it for a chiller or mechanical filtration.

 

[kidzatheart]

My scwd changes flow every 7 seconds.

 

[riemannp]

Also curious about closed loops, but above isn't that clear.

So the intent of a "closed loop" is simply a means to circulate flows .... seems to do the same thing as a simple powerhead, except the pump is external and the pipe penetrations are on back lower part of tank!? If this is true, it seems a LOT of work and equipment for little benefit. What am I missing about "closed loops"?

And what the is "scwd"?

 

[BMcCoy]

scwd= switching current water director. It makes the flow change from one side to the other every few seconds. Thanks for all the info and help guys.

 

[bradleyj]

You don't have all those powerheads and cords hanging in your tank and takeing up valuble space. The closed loop is external and out of sight.