Large Tank Closed Loop Question For All?

[Kaiden]

I am in the process of getting ready to assemble an 800+ Gallon Aquarium Obsessed Starphire Tank with a Closed Loop add in.

- On to the question at hand? -

What external pumps for the Closed Loop would you choose for this set up? There is a kicker, keep in mind, I want the most flow with the most pressure so I want this tank to really really move. Please give me some suggestions on some strong pumps with strong pressure. Also if possible, I don't want them to sound like a train coming from below the tank.

Thanks...

 

[nyvp]

by far the most efficient way to move water is powerheads. you cant beat a tunze 6301 - 7900gph for 64w that's just crazy. you want the most gph / turnover. in my personal opinion you don't want pressure unless you going from a far distance or from your basement. You want a lot of water movement without stripping the flesh off the corals. That being said the most efficient way for closed loops is use multiple darts. each dart is 160w for 3600 gph vs hammerhead which is 350w and only 5800gph so two darts give you 7200gph for 320w vs 5800 for 350w
other positives are more outlets and more diverse flow as well as backup incase one fails.
if that doesnt fit your needs try a couple of horsepower pool pump that should do the job

 

[tom obrecht]

I'd agree with NYVP. I did a loop system on my latest system and now kind of wish I hadn't. I actually seem to get a better more diverse flow from my powerheads...I use both Vortecs and Tunze streams. The Tunze seems to push the water further down the length of the tank and the Vortecs give a wider flow. If you are set on doing a loop maybe consider adding educators to the outlets and really add some wide flow. In a 800 you could easliy be able to hide them I would think.

 

[acropora nut]

I agree with bolth Tom and NYVP . You will get a much more even push of water with a power head .. I think a closed loop behind your rock formation is ok . Stick with power head's..
Mike

 

[TIMMYE]

I belive the ultimate tank a mxture of both CL and PH. To answer your question you can go with and of the Dolphin Ampmaster external pumps IMO. Nice and relaible. Maybe do your CL with with 8-12 returns coming through the bottom and then use PH for mid and top flow. It is what I have done and I have great random flow. Which is key to SPS.

 

[Kaiden]

You all have been a big help! Here is the problem though! This is a public tank not a home tank! So with that said, I would rather not use PH. I know Tunze etc, I have used them for years they work great. But on a system such as this I don't want to use PH due to the way they look. I have done closed loops with over 50+ tanks, but never got the flow I wanted. So this is why I am just shooting around some ideas and thought maybe someone here might know of a good pump. Also I did plan on having 2 holes in the bottom but running loc line in multi areas.

Thanks.. everyone for the thoughts...

 

[Kaiden]

Sorry DP!

 

[JCTewks]

I would think something like an ampmaster and multiple eductors would do the trick. the ampmaster is pressure rated and you should be able to run four eductors off of one pump. the eductors will give you about 3-5X the volume coming through the nozzle, but in a bigger, more evenly distributeed pattern.

 

[tom obrecht]

How is the tank located? Could you use a combination of circular loops and perhaps surge tanks? Surge tanks can be a bit messy with salt apray but they can give awesome flow. Just a thought.

 

[AuroraDave]

I use an Ampmaster 4000 for my CL and it uses about 170 watts if I remember correctly. (1 amp)

It is not pressure rated, so it wont work with eductors; however I use an Oceans motion 4 way & each of the 4 outputs are split 2-4 times again in the tank with Loc-line.

On my last tank I used the same AM4000, 2" out and reduced to 1" at each of the 6 tank bulkheads. Some of those six were split twice each inside the tank with loc-line and the flow was very strong on every output.

Use 2" pipe and reduce at the end if possible.