Closed Loop Setup?

demosthenes

demosthenes

Active Member
Okay, I have a 75G in the process of curing with some new Figi LR. Anyway, I no longer have a sump like I did, and have a lower-flow fuge, and have also removed the unsightly Powerheads from my tank. So, I've been toying with the idea of adding a closed loop to my system, but I have NO CLUE as to how to plumb this thing and how it will all work. I plan on picking up a GENX Submersible GX2400 that has a flow rate of 635 GPH. Does this sound like a good pump to use? If not I can pick up the next more powerful model, which is the GENX Submersible GX4100 with a flow rate of 1085 GPH. Let me know how I should approach this and what supplies I may need.
PS I DO have extra PVC pipe if needed and some very nice PVC pipe cutters. I'd just like to get an idea of what I'm getting myself into.
 
richard rendos

richard rendos

Active Member
For a closed loop, I would suggest not using a submersible pump. There is no reason for it to be submersed and pumps designed to be submersible tend to overheat when used externally. I would say to get a little giant, an iwaki,a blueline HD pump, a velocity pump, or dolphin pump. The whole idea behind a closed loop is just to suck water out of your tank through a bulkhead drilled in the side or back of your tank...have that connected directly to the input of you pump. The output of the pump returns water back to the tank. So all you are doing is circulating water from the tank through a pump and back to the tank.
 
justinx

justinx

Active Member

Originally posted by Richard Rendos
For a closed loop, I would suggest not using a submersible pump. There is no reason for it to be submersed and pumps designed to be submersible tend to overheat when used externally. I would say to get a little giant, an iwaki,a blueline HD pump, a velocity pump, or dolphin pump. The whole idea behind a closed loop is just to suck water out of your tank through a bulkhead drilled in the side or back of your tank...have that connected directly to the input of you pump. The output of the pump returns water back to the tank. So all you are doing is circulating water from the tank through a pump and back to the tank.
I am going to assume that you typically put a sump set up in between overflow and return line on a closed loop. . . . .sorry if this is a stupid question, but I have never really understood what exactly is the difference between a closed loop and a typical set up.
 
kinkfish

kinkfish

Member
I have a closed loop system you cannot have a wet dry hooked up to a closed system because the water would just keep coming out of it. the wet dry you need an over flow to prevent it from pouring out the over flow only allows a certain amount of water through at one time. hope this helps This is why I had to go with a closed loop system because my 220 gallon did not have an over flow built in it is just more work to keep clean (gravel vac).
But I think they are a good system as long as you have good water movement.
 
richard rendos

richard rendos

Active Member
A closed loop is separate from your filtration system. It is only for the purpose of circulation. Water goes directly from the tank (through a hole drilled in the tank, not a hang on overflow box) to the inlet of the pump...the output from the pump goes directly back to the tank. Nothing else is in the loop.
 
demosthenes

demosthenes

Active Member
Thanks Richard. Here's my only problem, I don't have a bulkhead drilled (Or I'd be using it for my fuge), and I really don't want to have to drain it out and go have it drilled. So, is there any other way to do this? I've heard of some people putting a submersible pump in the actual tank, like within the rock confines, and connect PVC fittings to it. Does this sound feasible in my situation? Or is there any easier way to get around the bulkhead issue?
 
justinx

justinx

Active Member

Originally posted by Richard Rendos
A closed loop is separate from your filtration system. It is only for the purpose of circulation. Water goes directly from the tank (through a hole drilled in the tank, not a hang on overflow box) to the inlet of the pump...the output from the pump goes directly back to the tank. Nothing else is in the loop.
I finally get it! Thanks
 
richard rendos

richard rendos

Active Member
krux - I have seen that before, but I wonder how good it is at restarting when the power goes out. Seems like it would be prone to running the pump dry. If not, that is a really cool idea.
 
demosthenes

demosthenes

Active Member
Wow, thanks Krux. That wasn't what I was talking about, but it's far superior to what I was planning. Thanks a lot.
 
krux

krux

Member
the pump never goes dry in that setup. when the water shuts off the water stays in the line, and keeps the pump full due to gravity. if you read at the bottom of the page it talks about changes he would make. he said that he would actually remove the siphon break holes from the discharges because there is never any way for the water to drain, like in a sump, where gravity pulls the water down the lines due to a gravity induced siphon.
pretty slick engineering if you ask me, and for folks who need to work around overflows or hang on back skimmers it is an added bonus as he shows how. if you dont have stuff in the way you just eliminate some fittings and run straight across the back of the tank.
 
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