90g closed loop design help

snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Here's a diagram of what I am thinking. If I am totally off my rocker, let me know. I plan to use Schedule 80 bulkheads for the extra bulk.

My thinking is that the drain in the bottom will help detritus stay afloat long enough to get sucked down into it and back into the water column so it can be filtered out. The drain will have a pre-filter. The pump I am thinking about getting is a Dart/Snapper hybrid. I plan to only have two pumps for this entire system with a backup pump just in case. The closed loop system will feed a BRS dual reactor of carbon and GFO. I also plan on using the pump to pump water out of the tank for quick water changes.
The return pump locline will fit in the top right corner, mainly blowing across the water to push floating debris and particulates over to the overflow. The Return pump will be a Mag 9.5.
I have six returns from the closed loop. I don't think this is excessive. However, if you had to eliminate two, which one would you pick? All of the closed loop returns will have two way split loclines coming from them. I believe the two returns on the bottom of the tank will be best kept spraying water at the bottom of the tank to keep detritus from settling.
Yes, this is a barebottom tank.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Looks good Seth.....Still don't think it needs any type of pre filter or filter in the CL....That is exactly what your main filtration is for to remove the particulates, and your correct in theory about using your flow to direct it towards the overflow box to be removed.....I think the extra filter is just "down the road" an extra chore and would need to be serviced very frequently IMHO......Kinda like a filter sock maintenance schedule and I'm not talking once a week or so.....every other day or so.......
Don't see any issue with your holes......I'd possible move the drain (suction bulkhead) possibly a bit higher, but I do understand your thinking on having it low to pick stuff up, but you will get tons of flow that will blow things around quite a bit, so that's why I'm suggesting it a hair higher.
On the hole issue I don't think it's to many.....The only issue I do see is you'd have to determine are you going to run either a 4Way OM or 8Way OM.....Being you only have 6 holes......It leaves you short for running an 8Way obviously, but your ports must be equal to run the 4Way as well......Meaning The OM has (4) outputs......You can break them down as much as you want, but they must all be equal.....What I'm saying is each port off the OM would could be split into (2) feeding (2) separate bulkheads......How you have it drawn up (2) ports theoretically would supply only (1) bulkhead, while the other (2) ports off the OM would be split into (2) different lines...This would create an unbalance on the OM and affect it's operation......That's why I had kind of mentioned you could either do (2) 4Ways or an 8Way, or you could do a 4Way and a Squirt for the other (2) ports, but that would require an additional pump........
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Interesting. Didn't think of that with the OM device. I never used one so I am clueless.
I guess maybe that's why I hinted at removing two of the holes from the diagram. If I had to remove two of the holes, I think I would remove two of the holes in the lower back pane of the tank.
I am not going to put a filter on my closed loop. I just had an idea about it as was thinking out loud - but you are right, it would have to be serviced with extreme regularity.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member

I would remove the lower 2 holes and adjust the other 4.....Meaning move them downwards.....Using loc line and split those bulkheads into (2) I think you'd have plenty of flow in all directions. There's no reason you have to use an OM to have good; productive flow......
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
You could still drill the tank with the proposed holes, and use a VFD pump, thought it wouldn't have the capability of changing which holes were supplied with water, but definitely would ramp the pump up and down changing flow strength, but the flow strength would be through all 4 holes, but very similar to the OM.....Another option would be an acuated ball valve......A bit pricey IMO, but would alternate or switch where the flow was coming from.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Hopefully I'll get a chance to take some pics, but that's how I'm splitting my CL bulkheads on the back of the tank with loc line and nozzles.....I'll shoot some pics and post them over on my thread.....Just to give you something else to think about......
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Instead of the Reeflo Dart/Snapper hybrid... I think I might just go with the snapper if I don't get the VFD pump - I will have to look into those and price them. The snapper should be sufficient enough for a 90g.
The acuated ball valves sound pretty neat. :D
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Ok, so the Actuated Ball Valves are completely out of my price range. At $400 a pop - I could just buy an oceans motions 8 way. lol
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Heck, I think that maybe with a smaller closed loop system (4 holes) and supplement it with a Vortech MP40 - I could get the flow/currents that I want out of the MP40 and the additional flow off of the closed loop can be extra to keep detritus suspended. But then I'm talking about another $500 added to the bill.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Snapper - $250
Holes $10/per = $80
Plumbing = (schedule 40 if I do four holes) = $75
Vortech MP40 = $450
Total = 855
----
Snapper/Dart = 300
Holes = $80
Plumbing = 250
OM 4 way = $300
Total = $930
There's really not that much of a difference between the two setups. Unless I have my price estimates completely off.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/391456/90g-closed-loop-design-help#post_3471631
Snapper - $250
Holes $10/per = $80
Plumbing = (schedule 40 if I do four holes) = $75
Vortech MP40 = $450
Total = 855
----
Snapper/Dart = 300 $269.00
Holes = $80 Drill your own holes.....
Plumbing = 250 $10.99 per sched 80 bulkheads......standard sched 40 pipe..... $16.49 sched 80 2" bulkhead for drain of CL....sched 40 2" pipe......Misc fittings.....
OM 4 way = $300 $389.00
Total = $930
There's really not that much of a difference between the two setups. Unless I have my price estimates completely off.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Ah. Thanks for clarifying. Yeah, been awhile since I have had to look up prices on that kind of stuff. Lol
I might just do the six holes and not worry about any kind of I'm device. If water flow without motions can be just as good with, then I'll opt out of the om for the time being.
I could drill my own holes certainly, but I don't want to take any chances when I could simply have them Drilled for $10 a hole.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Yup.
So I think I am going to save myself the $520 that it will cost for the 90 and spend under $50 on drill bits for my 110 tall. :(.
It will all be ok.
 
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