Recommended flow for closed loop

[thejuggernaut]

I am building a 120 AGA (48x24x24). I calculate around 650 Gph return from my sump which I know is not near enough, so I am going to get either a 4 way or super squirt compact oceansmotions for my closed loop, My question is what kind of flow I should be looking for to sufficently give a nice flow throughout the entire tank. Pump recommendations would be good also.
Thanks

 

[ek9vboi]

I have never used an OM 4 way before or know how much it cuts down from the pump.

1st of all what do you plan to keep? SPS, LPS, softies, mushrooms, zoos, etc?

The standard IMO for flow is 15-20X the amount of the display. For you it would be 1800-2400gph. For your sump return, 650gph is just perfect - 3-5X. 15-20X is good for LPS/Softies/Mushrooms/Zoos.

For SPS they love flow, so around 40X would be good. If you can not get around that much with the OM 4 way then you might want to look into the Maxi-jet mods... an MJ1200 can put out "2000gph" and I believe them because it is STRONG with the mod. 2-4 of these MJ1200 w/ mods on a wavemaker would be great as well as the OM 4 way. Again, I am not sure how the OM 4 way works... does it use one return at a time or a combination?

 

[thejuggernaut]

It pretty much is just an electric motor that rotates a drum inside, opening up different pipes while closing others. You can change the drums to get different seqences. They are rated for up to 7500 gph. You should check them out they are really cool.

www.oceansmotions.com

 

[SDguy]

A sequence dart with an oceanmotions would be great for your tank IMO.

 

[RichConley]

ek9vboi, IMO, 15-20x is bare minimum.

More is better, 30-40xfor softies, etc, as high as you can go for SPS.

 

[silverwolf72]

Planning on mainly softies. I used the OM compact and a Dart pump. Used a by pass and ran the extra flow to the bottom of the tank to add some extra flow there to help keep things susspended.

 

[stereomandan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8266540#post8266540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
A sequence dart with an oceanmotions would be great for your tank IMO.

Agreed.

Nice efficient pump with roughly 3600 GPH flow.

Dan

 

[thejuggernaut]

I think i am going to get the dart and the 4 way. This tank is getting expensive but hey I've had a 55 gallon fowler for years and it was never like I wanted, so Im gonna build this one right, and never add up the receipts...haha

 

[silverwolf72]

Yeah I skimped on my last tank and wanted to it right this time also. I try not to add things up. ewww scarryyyy

 

[thejuggernaut]

I have noticed that most people using this dart and 4 way setup will get the 3/4" line-loc and split it from there. My question is does dropping your 1" coming off the OM down to a 3/4" then using the line-loc splitter create more head pressure and drop your gph. Wouldn't it be smarter to use a regular pvc 1" splitter on each line then attach two 3/4" line-loc, that way your splitting it before you drop the diameter. To me this would keep you from having that extra head pressure. Does this make any sense, or am I explaining it wrong. It just seems to me that GPH is the name of the game and the best way to get it is to keep everything flowing as easily as possible.

 

[spleen93]

How about a Tunze Wavebox? You'll still need to add something for current though. The Wavebox would be great though for keeping things in suspension.

Spleen

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8286801#post8286801 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thejuggernaut
I have noticed that most people using this dart and 4 way setup will get the 3/4" line-loc and split it from there. My question is does dropping your 1" coming off the OM down to a 3/4" then using the line-loc splitter create more head pressure and drop your gph. Wouldn't it be smarter to use a regular pvc 1" splitter on each line then attach two 3/4" line-loc, that way your splitting it before you drop the diameter. To me this would keep you from having that extra head pressure. Does this make any sense, or am I explaining it wrong. It just seems to me that GPH is the name of the game and the best way to get it is to keep everything flowing as easily as possible.

The problem with decreasing pipe diameter is that it causes more friction. The longer the run of smaller pipe, the more friction, the greater the loss of flow. I do not own an OM, but assume that at any one time, you would have at least two 1" oulets producing flow. Adding 3/4" lockline outlets to the ends isn't going to cause too much loss of flow, it's just going to increase velocity of the water exiting the lockline.

hth

 

[tye_c]

If you want to maximize a Dart then get the 1.5"/2" version of the OM 4 way. Then feed a 2" from the dart to the OM and from there you get 4 1.5" outlets.