CLS idea, any good?

motorslave · 03-12-2005, 11:31 AM

Okay heres the latest thought to cross by meager brain concerning my CLS for the 150.
Instead of drilling the back of the tank for the returns, have a PVC "loop going all the way around the top off the tank edge. In the front have 4 holes cut into the brace with lock line dropping down and blowing the water towards the rock in the back. Since I am once again wanting to do SPS (this will change about every 40 mins till I actualy start to build!) this would simulate water movement coming into the fore reef. No SCWDs ro anything else, just water. The onlything visable would be the lock line wich would be seen from the back if I do it in a more traditional way.
What do you think?

Robert

tims · 03-12-2005, 01:22 PM

i like the idea RObert.
i have drawn up 3 plans so far and each has gone into the trash..i think the over hte top is a good idea.
i also like Geoff's two little CLS on his tank. very simple and cannot really be seen at all..

oh i was thinking about your starboard thing.. since there is a brace in the center. what you can do is cut the SB in the middle at a 45 degree angle. then smooth the cut up. both edges should now sit togeather pretty nice and you should not really see it..

motorslave · 03-12-2005, 02:12 PM

Hmmm...Sounds like a possability. Im going to take some foam my wife uses to pack her art when she sells it and first cut a piece ti size and then try different size pieces to wee how I can make it fit. I think I am going to go with the top down design for the CLS. At least today thats the plan! You know me though....

Robert

tims · 03-12-2005, 03:40 PM

robert what is lock line?

motorslave · 03-12-2005, 04:52 PM

The black flexable (modular) line you see on everyones drilled CLSs! Premium Aquatics has it in "Misc./Plumbing" Its cool stuff and better than PVC cause you can move it around to change flow patters and such.

Robert

thefatman · 03-12-2005, 05:06 PM

whatever you do, DONT do what i did...

i had the back of my tank drilled, one hole dead center, and one hold dead center, but a few inches lower.

the top hole, has a 14" length of pvc, with slots cut into it, this is the intake for the cls. the water heads on out to the mag24 pump, then back into the lower hole.

from the lower hole, once inside the tank, it elbows down to the bottom of the tank, where i built almost a rectabgle of pvc, but it has 6 different elbows that stick up. i put 45deg elbows on the ends and then capped them, and cut slits in the caps.

the whole thing is covered with 5" of southdown, and the "jets" are all concealed by rocks.

it works nice. and nothing can be seen. my problem is that i used 6 jets, so the water flow is a little slower than i would like. and also since everything is at the bottom, there really isnt much water movement in the top of the tank. because all the water flow gets difracted by the live rock.

luckily i still have water movement in the top, as the tank water is returned from the sump by another mag24, that feeds into two separate return "jets" each pointing at opposite sides of the tank.

i'd like to eventually add a second mag24 and make a cls at the top of the tank, and i had thought about the exact same thing you are talking about.

good luck, and remember the golden rule "he who DIY's anything, MUST post pics"

motorslave · 03-12-2005, 06:09 PM

Oh yeah! Pics will be posted when I get going for sure! The part of the CLS for the top will be fed through 1 1/2 line and the bottom part will be fed through two 1" bulkheads, one on either side of the overflow. The flow through the rack will be done with 1/4" holes strategicaly drilled for direction and location, in the rack. The whole set up will be run with a single pump.

Robert

tims · 03-12-2005, 06:11 PM

robert do they have that lock line at your work too? that looks like it would be a lot easyier to use!..

motorslave · 03-12-2005, 06:13 PM

No I think its pretty much an aquarium type thing. Ive never seen it anywhere but aquarium supply type buisneses. I definately plan on using it.

Robert

motorslave · 03-12-2005, 06:14 PM

Just talked to my Father in Law, hes stoked about cutting the sump pieces on his lazer cutter. Im working on the design right now! Its going to have a few cool touches to it!

Robert

tabwyo · 03-12-2005, 07:36 PM

I don't have a closed loop but my return setup may interest you. It of course starts with the return pump then up to a one way check valve and then to a T. My inlets are at both rear corners blowing down at a 45 onto my rock. Each line has a valve and for 12 hours I have one opne then for the next 12 I switch it to the other side. I know it seem wrather mundane but for the deeper water critters I feel it's more natural. Seeins how wave action only gets down so far. I am more interested in simulating tidal flow wrather than waves. It would be more than possible to duplicate this with a CLS.

Doug1 · 03-12-2005, 07:43 PM

JAy, I remember your pics and other than the DSB I think you were on the right track

A second closed loop setup higher in the tank would help.
You can't minimise the effect of 45 and 90 º bends in plumbing, they do reduce flow to friction loss, add muliple outlets and you get very little flow outta each one, so a couple closed loops with Mag 36 and your return wouldnt be too much

Robert, I remember seeing Mikes(mojo) 300gal tank he had before building the L from hell tank, he had Sea swirls mounted in the front of the tank(Euro braced) to break up the water flow from the standard closed loop as well. I think it worked OK on a 6x30x30 tank , and would do awesome on a tank like you are planning. On the huge L tank he went with motorized ball valves with mega pumps because of the distance and volume he needed to move.
One of my pet ideas is to have , apair of pressure rated pumps on a timer that would cycle them maybe half hour or so, any way have a return from said pump at each end of the tank, 1" line with appropriate Eductor that shoots the increased volume into a 4" pvc elbow to change the direction and widen out the water flow pattern, kind of along the lines of a Tunze stream

volitansman · 03-12-2005, 07:53 PM

Lock line is also available at specialty hydraulic and pnematic connector stores. If you have a parker/hanifin store in your area I know they carry it, but you should be able to look in the phone book and find a store that should have it.

tabwyo · 03-12-2005, 07:53 PM

doesn't somebody about these parts have details on solonoid operated valves wich are perfect for this application?

tabwyo · 03-12-2005, 07:56 PM

If you as much of a tinker fiend as I am(you as well motor). Soft line plum as much as possible. there's nothin worse then slavin on a pvc system for a dan and not liking it the next week. At leat with hose you can move things about some.