Ditching the MJ-mods for a closed loop?

[coralreefing]

Yeah, I was thinking I'd try the SCWD & maybe upgrade to an OM later. The last thing I want to do is blow up a SCWD & flood the house. That's the whole reason I'm not using a sump. Couldn't handle a flood....

 

[fishdoc11]

You can get a basic OM 2 way for around $130 last time I checked so they aren't ridiculously expensive for the lower end model. As far as the Squid you might want to talk to Dave (cee) Chris. He runs a couple on his larger tank and I'm pretty sure he's running a larger external pump through at least one of them. I do know he drills them out to 5/8".
Chris

 

[Siffy]

A squirt 4 way (3/4" inlet and outlets) with the 1000+gph bypass and prewired is $182.50. The squirt 2 way is actually $15 more expensive.

 

[waynesworld]

where are you getting the flow accelerators?

 

[Siffy]

I got mine from marine depot.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewI..._3_4_Flexible_Ball_Socket_Tubing~vendor~.html

 

[waynesworld]

Well finally finished with my new closed loop I will have to start a new thread to show what I did thanks to this thread.

You could do an over the tank return with no problem. Just make sure that you get a pump that can handle slightly negative NPSH (Net Pressure Suction Head). Alot of pumps can handle this as long as you prime them before startup.

 

[rcmike]

I had a Mag 24 running through a SCWD for a while. It worked okay besides the fact that it switched way too fast. It was so fast the water never really got to circlulating before it changed to the other direction.

 

[coralreefing]

Hi Mike
Which Oceans Motions do you use?

 

[coralreefing]

I talked to Paul at Oceans Motions. Very nice & very helpful guy BTW. The OM squirt 4 way directs flow to the returns one at a time at 1 RPM. I'm thinking 1000 gph+ from 1 nozzle may bee too concentrated flow if it's directed toward anything. Paul suggests placing the returns at the bottom front of the tank, pointing toward the top & back of the tank. The nozzles aren't pointed directly at the rock but create a rolling effect that circulates the water from the bottom of the tank, up the front glass & across the top toward the overflows.

 

[coralreefing]

Ok closed loop revision 3.

Loop #1
PCX 40 pump
OM squirt
4 returns (I'll try the flow accelerators on them)

Loop #2
PCX 40 pump
Lifegard filter
2 locline returns w flare nozzles behind rock.

 

[fishdoc11]

I would think the bottom of the tank pointing upwards idea would be hard and messy looking if not done from the start of the tank setup........maybe 2 in the back and 2 in the front, all on top?
I would still skip the mechanical filer. IMO it will need to be cleaned every few days and I know that would be a maintenance task I would neglect.
Chris

 

[coralreefing]

I agree plumbing the bottom would be difficult & it would put a lot of hardware in the tank, which I'm trying to avoid. My plan right now is to have tha returns from the filter loop pointing down across the back to create a flow down the back & under the rock to keep detritus from settling there. I'll run the returns from the OM loop forward across the top of the tank on both ends & across the top braces. From there I'll use loc-line pointed back toward the rock. That will still give me the rolling effect but a lot easier & with a lot more flexability. If I decide I don't like the flow I can move the loc-line around until I'm happy with it.

I know what you mean about the mechanical filter but I'm using an Eheim for detritus removal now & it's too small & a PITA to clean. Once the initial cleanup is done, I can leave the mech. cannister empty & just put a cartridge in for a few days at a time, kinda like you use a filter sock.

 

[fishdoc11]

Ah.....that makes sense

 

[fishdoc11]

I thought I would post this......It's the OM super squirt with version 2 drum:
Version 2 - will give a delayed sequence (ie) 1 & 2, 2 & 3, 3 & 4, 4 & 1, repeated.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1312095

Chris