help me design a closed loop system for my 150

[ryanpal]

thanks melev, i appreciate your input.

i have thought about doing that...two things which made me look into this route and one of which you already mentioned.

1. the issue with being able to get to the pump for cleaning every 45 days. this would require me to setup my rocksape differently.

2. the idea of not having powerheads meant i woulnd't have to worry about anemone's getting shredded (happened twice)

decisions decisions...

 

[melev]

That's true. What I was thinking but didn't post was electricity consumption. If you stuck a MJ 1200 back there, it uses something like 21 watts. The Sequence Dart uses 160w of power by comparison.

If your anemones are happy and staying in place, one powerhead shouldn't be an issue. However, if you see one is wandering, a sponge sleeve over the pump intake will prevent it being damaged. Or you could make a longer intake using PVC drilled full of holes so the anemone can crawl over it completely unaffected.

 

[ryanpal]

i have 2 mj100s with sureflow mods and 2 koralias. if im able to omit those...wouldn't it basically be the same power consumption as the dart?

i guess im more concerned with getting the flow right. besides a closed loop system i was looking into incorporating a spray bar. it seems im completely confused at this point at what route to go

 

[melev]

Spray bars usually don't work out so well. They clog up over time, and those that I know that have used them have pulled them out later when they didn't work.

If you really want better flow with lower power consumption, get a couple of VorTechs. Two of those will provide up to 6000 gph for under 60w of power, with no cords in the tank. Yep, you'll burn through some cash.

The Calfo Manifold you showed could be used with the Dart pump. $220 for the pump, $60 in PVC fittings, no pumps in the tank. Done.

 

[ryanpal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11717454#post11717454 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Spray bars usually don't work out so well. They clog up over time, and those that I know that have used them have pulled them out later when they didn't work.

If you really want better flow with lower power consumption, get a couple of VorTechs. Two of those will provide up to 6000 gph for under 60w of power, with no cords in the tank. Yep, you'll burn through some cash.

The Calfo Manifold you showed could be used with the Dart pump. $220 for the pump, $60 in PVC fittings, no pumps in the tank. Done.

yes the vortechs are very nice.

as far as the calfo manifold....i'm intriged by this, but will it be enough flow...or at least towards the bottom is my biggest concern. old95er thinks it will be.

 

[old95er]

Definitely enough flow. I will always defer to Melev, in all seriousness, he is the Guru. . .I am merely an admirer.

In my experience, the Dart with four outputs at the top of the tank moves the water around nicely. Your expereince may differ, but it should not by too much. My intakes are in the middle of the back of the tank, so water flow is pulled toward them. Make sure you get your intakes low in the tank. P.S., in my 50 gallon, I used the purple PVC primer which looks very much like coraline algae to hide the bright white until actual coralin covered them. Also, if yo go the Dart route, you must have 2 inches worth of intake. I wplit mine into two 1 inch inlets, you could go to four 1/2 inchers and drop each one close to the bottom; whihc should draw enough flow to eliminate the "dead spots".

I hope that I have been helpful.

Peace

 

[melev]

Another option to make the plumbing less visible is to use Krylon Fusion black spray paint (sold at Walmart). It adheres to PVC and doesn't leach anything into the water. Let it cure 48 hours before installing it.

 

[old95er]

Spraypaint in the tank? Really? Over the PVC primer?

 

[melev]

Yes. Assemble the plumbing, then Krylon Fusion (for plastics) the finished product. I did it for my angled tank, but didn't let it cure and my tank got a tad milky. So be sure to let it cure. 7 months later, the black is still there and the reef is doing well.