Closed Loop planning

[balakoth]

So im moving ahead in the planning of my 90 Gallon.

I would like some SPS, I do want LPS, and I do want some fish.

What flow am I looking for to be able to keep both without harming the other.

Secondly, for a closed loop system, is the return from my sump powering the closed loop? Or should I go with seperate outputs from the tank into a external pump and plumb it back into the system?


Definately want a spray bar with a few returns, and then most likely 2 returns from the sump.

Mag Drive 12 for the return, and a Iwaki WMD40RLXT for the closed loop.

Suggestions? Changes? Throw me in the right direction, Im light.

[balakoth]

Hrm what about these Tunze 6060 Stream pumps, put one on each side. Would keep me from doing a spray bar unless I drilled, so Maybe not the best idea...

[Geoff]

i like CLS for behind LR, and propeller pumps for open water flow. being able to drill the tank to put the exit for the CLS behind the LR helps a lot. this also allows removal of the pump if something clogs it.

G~

[balakoth]

Thanks G. I feel like im a newbie all over again. yet again with changing technology there are 500 different opinions i can read lol. Ive seen your response, that of "No CLS just Tunzes" no Tunzes only CLS..

On and on it goes.

I noticed you have two Mags running two seperate closed loops. Did you do this because in the end it was cheaper than buying one large unit to push all outputs?

For SPS I see a recommendation of 40 x flow. This seems like it could be a bit much if I wanted to get some softies a well? Or could I just be selective in their placement. For the tank Im looking at it seems around 3000+ GPH is a good target for SPS corals.

My 55 was wonderful. But I want to do things all the right ways this time since im going bigger and badder To me the CLS is the most important factor in my tank.

Your website got me thinking about building my own skimmer now.. **** you! lol. How do you feel your customs performance is up to par with say a commercial model such as a MyReef or EuroReef. Obviously you save yourself alot of money, but is the time and possible failures in the build worth it in the end?


Thanks for all your answers, so many new faces around here good to see an old one heh.

[Geoff]

the best thing about making your own skimmer is that you can custom fit them to the spaces at hand.

i really need to update my website, it is horribly out of date. you need to read through my build thread to see what the tank looks like now!!

i now have over 10000gph of flow in my 125g. i do not have the Mag 12's any more, i have Velocity T2's pushing eductors. i have an Ampmaster 3400 dedicated to clearing out detritus from under the LR. the only thing not custom now is the tank itself, and that has been drilled with a coast to coast overflow added.

there are a lot of ideas in the build thread. read through the whole thing, some were better than others, and i have corrected along the way.

G~

[balakoth]

Seeing your new one, id probably just buy one. After seeing prices of Acryllic tubing and the other materials, Its cheaper for me to purchase one.

Was the PVC one not functioning properly, or does the acryllic give you a better vantage of how well the machine is working?


I was looking at the Sequence Dart, 3800 GPH rating for my closed loop. There a reason you use 2 for your closed loop?

I hear mixed reviews on the Coralife 220.. fairly decent priced and more what I expect from a manufactured piece of plastic The MyReefs are nice, but at 275 and without a pump, im just not sure.

[Geoff]

i just had to fit an odd space. it needed to be shorter. going with 6" PVC became pretty expensibe so i opted for acrylic. it still came out less than $100 bucks in acrylic.

i also wanted to try an eductor for the air delivery system.

G~