"simple" closed loop?...

[thebigblue]

i want to setup a closed loop on my 125gal...

just a simple setup with like 1" pvc over the back of the tank down to below my tank (4' head) to a external mag 1800...then back up to the two returns that i plan to put in the front of the tank using 3/4" pvc...

do i just make the whole thing out of pvc? or do i need certain breaks or connectors for when i need to service the loop?...

how do i start the siphon?...

thanks

brad

[Junkzoo]

Brad, i would suggest installing unions so you could remove any piping as needed from the 125. another thing, "dry-fit",,,(no glue yet) the whole setup b4 you get ready to glue it all up,so you make sure it's what you want and where,,

on a siphon,,,,sorry, no help here,,no experience

[Doug1]

Hmmmmmmm we need Andy to elaborate on how he set his up and primes the pump to start. Anywau of putting the pump behind the tank rather than in the cabinet, the lesss heigth the more flow you will get. You might put a ball valve on either side of the pump to save the siphon if you need to service the pump

[Junkzoo]

Ooop! Thanks Doug, forgot about the ball valve

[thebigblue]

doug

i think the pump needs to go under the tank...nowhere for it to go above...

jeff

your alive!...scott and i hadnt heard from you in a while...

[thebigblue]

oops posted before i was done askin questions...

heres a dumb one...whats a union?...and is a ball valve just those shut off valves with the know that you can turn off the flow completely?...

im still somewhat "plumbing challenged"...

thanks

[Minnreefer]

Sounds like a plan to do a simple pvc over the top. A union is just a plumbing part so that you can easily remove the pump for service. So I would think that you would want to have the U over the tank, a valve, then union, then pump, then another union, another valve then back up over the tank. You may be able to start the syphon with a small pump and pump water into the pvc pipe. HTH

Jon

[Just Phish]

Here's my ploan for a closed loop on ym personal 180 using a mak4 for some sea swirls. I am going to have the pump under my tank with a 3/4" feed and a union at the pump for removal. Where the feed goes over the lip of my tank (already full of sand and water and not going anywhere) I will have a t with a threaded plug in the top and the intake well below the surface. To start the prime on the pump I will just pour water into the t and then screw the plug in. The siphon should never need to be restarted after this unless I break it somehow. But power outages shouldn't do it.

The output of the pump will be extended up with hard pvc and then split into a Y with a ball valve on each length and ending in a barb to which I'm attaching 3/4" ID hose. This hose will go up the back of the tank and connect with my sea swirls.

HTH

[thebigblue]

jon and justphish...

that helps alot!...thanks

any good ideas for a decent pump thats not a ton of $$...i know alot of guys use the ampmaster 3000s...but i think there kinda pricey...

i was thinkin about replacing my current return pump (mag1800) with a mag1200, and using the 1800 for the closed loop pump...run externally of course...

i can pick up a 1200 for around $90...

[Minnreefer]

I know what you are talking about about pumps, we might start a closed loop and we are looking for a cheaper pump, we might use a mag 18 or 24 for that. HTH

Jon

[TroyF]

I too did basically what JP described only I used a slip x slip union with a cap. Here's a pic:

[Just Phish]

Very nice looking job! My plumbing has purple primer everywhere. After inhaling the stuff in my garage for the first 50 feet (I have well over 200 feet of plumbing) you just don't care anymore.

[thebigblue]

thanks guys...that helps alot!...

[Junkzoo]

Brad, see the thingie below the cap on Troy's pic? Dat's a union!(removable coupling,, etc. )

[thebigblue]

so you just cement your run right into that thingie...on each end...then that thingie twists off for easy access?...

aaahaaa!