Closed Loop

[KillRoy]

Looking at putting a closed loop on the new tank. New tank will be at Min 240g 96lx24wx24h up to a max of 300 96lx30wx24h.

How much flow is to much flow for a closed loop I currently have a dart and a cascade pump very close to the sequence hammerhead.

Thanks,

Walt

 

[Ratpack]

I am no expert by any means but I think you want at least the Hammerhead or equivilent. Depending on what you keep in the tank, you may even want two loops and use the Dart for the second. But it really has a lot to do with how the tank will be set up and what you plan to keep.

 

[KillRoy]

What I plan to keep in the tank is a mixed reef sps dominate.

 

[Ratpack]

Will you have a substrate on the bottom or go bare bottom?

 

[CaveManNOhio]

I have a 240gl 8'x2'x2', that is drilled on the back for two cls systems. I set them up using a Hammer Head on each side. The pumps are sitting in the basement about 7' below the tank. I ran my suction line with 1 1/2" pipe and the returns are 1 1/2" up to the back of the tank and reduced to 1" into the tank. There are 7 ports on one side and 8 ports on the other.

[/IMG]

I love the flow that I get out of them. To me if you place them right then set your rocks just right you can get some very "natural like" current flow. I also found that they where very easy to hide. Paint them with the Purple PVC cleaner and they blend right in.

 

[KillRoy]

Substrate plan is 2-3 inches of oolite on the bottom and 2-3 inches of CC on the top. I did think of going bare bottom and is still a possibility but as of right now I plan on a dsb.

The purple primer on the fittings is a great idea and will use that.

Do you cycle your pumps off and on What I mean is do you shut down your CL at night and turn on during the day.

I did find a soft start designed for single phase pumps that slowly start the pump.

What do you think?

Thanks for the ideas,

KillRoy

 

[CaveManNOhio]

Mine runs 24/7. Not really sure why you would want to have it run during the during the day and off at night. I know some people like to turn off skimmers during feeding, but I haven't heard of any one shutting down their CLS at night.

 

[Ratpack]

Some people do shut down their CLS at night in an attempt to try and simulate calmer waters at night. However, no proff to show whether it is good, bad or indifferent that I know of.

 

[CaveManNOhio]

From my diving days, the water is calmer on most nights, not always. And even on calm night the current(flow) is still very much evident. I could see if you had wave boxes or extreme flow systems reducing them or shutting them down at night to replicate the oceans currents. But if you have just a standard CLS, I wouldn't see it doing much good shutting it down at night. IMO