Closed loop without loop

[trigger78]

Has anyone ever formed a peice of pvc that ran hidden throughout the rock work and drilled holes in it as to make water shoot out in multiple directions? I am assuming that a larger powerhead could make this work.
I am trying to think of a way to have flow everywhere without seeing phs or having the tank drilled anymore. The tank is going to be an in wall with one end being the open corner. I want to be able to look down the front and back of the rock work without seeing phs.
Anyone?

 

[trippkid]

Yes, you can do something like that.

 

[maelv]

I am going to put a closed loop in my tank as well and someone mentioned this method.....said he had done one like that before..so it is possible.

 

[trigger78]

Originally Posted by maelv
I am going to put a closed loop in my tank as well and someone mentioned this method.....said he had done one like that before..so it is possible.
Yeah I wonder how big the powerheads need to be for say 3' of shaped pvc with a bunch of holes?
I just dont want to add more bulkheads to the tank just the main two for draining is all that I want. I can hide the powerheads in the rockwork where they can be easily disconnected from the tubing for cleaning.
Oh yeah nice tank I have read one of your threads too bad you have to start over but it will be fun for ya!

 

[reefforbrains]

3"??? Hole shmokes thats some major flow.
I would at very least manifold it down to 1.5 at least before trying to route it. Too much recipricating mass to try and force water through 3 inch pipe wihout some mondo horsepower.

 

[trigger78]

Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
3"??? Hole shmokes thats some major flow.
I would at very least manifold it down to 1.5 at least before trying to route it. Too much recipricating mass to try and force water through 3 inch pipe wihout some mondo horsepower.
I said 3' ft of constructed pvc per powerhead. Yeah will use small pvc not even 1.5 and put a cap on the end is what I was thinking? I was thinking of doing three this way and having my returns from the sump for the top, and I may put one on the bottom even though that would only be pushing water one way. May change to two on the bottom if need for the back or front.
Has anyone done this on this forum?
Anyone please!

 

[reefforbrains]

LOL 3 foot, not inch. my mistake.
Yes many have done it. I hide powerheads because I am too whacko about moving things around from time to time to do any permanent infrastructure..

 

[trigger78]

do you know any gph's or the widths of the pvc that have been fairly productive in moving lots of water this way?
And yes I dont want to see the powerheads either. I am buying 100lbs of base rock and seeding it with over 100lbs of live. I plan on making some sort of diagram of the tank layout before putting any rock into the water. Then I am going to make the pvc and glue all the rocks how i want them and then place them into the tank. Will glue like three or four seperate sections into place way me and whoever helps me will only be lifting about 50-75 lbs at a time.
Thanks and if you can think of who or how they had it set up would greatly help! I don't want to buy too small of ph's!

 

[trippkid]

What size tank are you putting together? If said, I forgot, sorry. Are you thinking of MJ's or something like a Mag-drive? You can use 1/2" with the MJ's pretty easily, Mag-drives would handle bigger pipe better,IMO. My last tank before we moved was a 55 with spray bars behind the rocks, I used my return pump though.
Matt

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by Trigger78
Yeah I wonder how big the powerheads need to be for say 3' of shaped pvc with a bunch of holes?
I just dont want to add more bulkheads to the tank just the main two for draining is all that I want. I can hide the powerheads in the rockwork where they can be easily disconnected from the tubing for cleaning.
Oh yeah nice tank I have read one of your threads too bad you have to start over but it will be fun for ya!
Thanks, yeah it will be fun....I can't wait.....so you are going to make a closed loop using powerheads? That is interesting..I had never heard of that...but then again, I haven't really looked too much into closed loops. I have an idea of how I want mine to be and it works for (in my head anyhow).
Sorry I can't answer your question, but pretty sure someone here will be able to...

 

[maelv]

Originally Posted by trippkid
What size tank are you putting together? If said, I forgot, sorry. Are you thinking of MJ's or something like a Mag-drive? You can use 1/2" with the MJ's pretty easily, Mag-drives would handle bigger pipe better,IMO. My last tank before we moved was a 55 with spray bars behind the rocks, I used my return pump though.
Matt
I am assuming it is a 144 gallon Trigger has on order....here is the other thread.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/277231/need-help-suggestions-for-new-setup

 

[big]

I am building such a contraption as I type.
Mine has multiply purposes. A new larger sump and refugim in the basement of our new house. First idea was cooler water to circulate, second was much larger space for sump and refugium.
My new monster I am building uses a 3600 GPH pump in the basement with 1-1/2 in. PVC supply to a necked down one inch in the tank. Valves and semi closed bypass loop will control flow in the tank, which will be around 1500 to 1800 GPH max accounting for head rise, elbows etc. loss. So far my best idea seems to be piping down each rear corner with a 90 degree across the back of the tank, both capped and terminating near the center of the tank. This seems to be the easiest to hide. One thing to watch for is the ability to have even out-flow at desired spots or areas. Mine uses smaller drilled holes closer to the source end and larger holes farther out the PVC line. for a more even distrubution of flow....... Good Luck with yours..... Warren

 

[trigger78]

Originally Posted by big
I am building such a contraption as I type.
Mine has multiply purposes. A new larger sump and refugim in the basement of our new house. First idea was cooler water to circulate, second was much larger space for sump and refugium.
My new monster I am building uses a 3600 GPH pump in the basement with 1-1/2 in. PVC supply to a necked down one inch in the tank. Valves and semi closed bypass loop will control flow in the tank, which will be around 1500 to 1800 GPH max accounting for head rise, elbows etc. loss. So far my best idea seems to be piping down each rear corner with a 90 degree across the back of the tank, both capped and terminating near the center of the tank. This seems to be the easiest to hide. One thing to watch for is the ability to have even out-flow at desired spots or areas. Mine uses smaller drilled holes closer to the source end and larger holes farther out the PVC line. for a more even distrubution of flow....... Good Luck with yours..... Warren
I just tried this setup with a 200 gph powerhead (the only extra smaller pump i have laying around. I use 8 inches of 3/8" pex tubing then put a 90 and another 6" of tubing, then another 90 then 6" more inches of tubing. I drilled approx. 10 1/8" holes into each section.
Flow was really weak! I did this in a large cooler. Going to try to hook up another larger ph from the dt.

 

[trigger78]

Originally Posted by maelv
I am assuming it is a 144 gallon Trigger has on order....here is the other thread.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/277231/need-help-suggestions-for-new-setup
Yeah that is the thread. I switched tanks though. I spent 3 full days getting the basement ready for the sump, ro/di, mix containers, ect... and when I finished the basement still showed signs of bugs getting in so am now builing a 180 in wall with corner visable. It would have been too hard to build a inwall setup with the half cylinder and really got to thinking about the fish's swiming room it the shorter tank as well.