Use Megaflow's "return" as a closed loop instead?

[AnemicOak]

Has anyone tried this? Does anyone thing it'd work?

I was just thinking maybe this would work. I've got a 75 with Megaflow in it. Could I use the regular drain as intended (run to my sump) and then make a smaller Dusro for what would normally be the return using this as a drain for a closed loop with an OM Squirt? I'd just run the return from the sump up over the back of the tank.

Would the Megaflow provide enough water the make this work? If no can I modify it my widening or removing some teeth or something?

What would be other ways to possibly make this work?


Thanks!

[skeety]

The flow rates won't work with this.

The amount of flow you'd want to get from a CLS won't flow through an overflow fast enough.

You'd, more than likely, have to drill a large hole(s) in it.

[AnemicOak]

Ok, if that's a no go is there a way to do a CL without drilling my tank? I'm kinda chicken to drill the tank & screw it up.

The OSM Squirt needs like a 800-1,000gph pump or so I think. It can't take over 1,300gph. I was thinking it'd be a good way to go for water movement.

[aussiereefer82]

[quote=AnemicOak]Ok, if that's a no go is there a way to do a CL without drilling my tank? I'm kinda chicken to drill the tank & screw it up. QUOTE]

Melevs design works well, a number of people here have used it. It runs an SWCD but you should be able to adapt it to rum the OM.

Here is the link
http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html

[AnemicOak]

Ok, just had a thought. Not sure I can explain it right, but I'll give it a whirl. Could I take the return plumbing pipe from the Megaflow & use a second 90 to kind of wrap it over the side of the overflow I then run a pipe off the 90 to feed the CL? Maybe I'm just not sure about how you feed a CL properly.

Here's a couple of really crude drawings to kind of show what I'm thinking...






I tried to search for some type of closed loop handbook thread, but didn't turn much up.



Thanks

[aussiereefer82]

I cant see why not. This would work the same as Melevs design in principal, its just that the down pipe to the pump would be inside the overflow instead of on the outside of the tank. You would still need the T fitting on the top to prime the pump. Why do you want to use the overflow return for the CLS?? Why not just run the return through this and build a seperate Melev style CLS, would be the same amount of pipes and stuff in the tank right??

Maybe someone with more experience will see some reason why it wont work, but it should.

[volitansman]

I just had a thought, put a hole in the megaflow and then run a 90 off of the return pipe and annother peice of tube to go through the hole you just put in the megaflow housing and use that as your cls intake that way the overflow would work as intended. Does that make any sense? anyone think it would work?

[AnemicOak]

I guess I could just run a setup like Melev did. I don't have a shelf behind the tank to set anything on so the runs would be longer. Don't know if that would cause any issues with noise or vibration (having longer runs). I guess running through the return hole is really just making things overly complicated. I tend to do that sometimes.

Does it need the long intake with holes drilled in it or???


Right now I'm weighing my options. Considering a single Tunze stream with controller & a couple of PH's, some Seio's, the CL with a Squirt or Super Squirt or just some MaxiJets on a wavemaker. I was thinking the CL would help eliminate the stuff in the tank look.

Thinking corals will be mainly SPS. Probably going either starboard of faux sb for the bottom.

[volitansman]

I would say yes it needs the long intake, the shorter your intake the higher the suction, therefor the more likely something in the tank will get stuck to it.

[tims]

Okay just trying to keep up..

gota ask.
the over flow for you is 600 ghp. you want to make part of it a CLS. how are you going ot have each return run back to the tank?

[AnemicOak]

Ok, forget all the junk for yesterday about using the Megaflow for any part of the closed loop. I'm going to leave it alone & use it as the drain and return for my sump.

I did a quick drawing of how I see the returns for the CL running. These would run up over the back of the tank. Wondering if it should work. To feed it I'd make something like what Melev did.




The Super Squirt is capable of handling up to 2200gph. Not sure if I could feed it from one pipe or if maybe I'd need two? Is there a big advantage to drilling the tank for the drain(s)?


Hope this makes sense. Should provide quite a bit of flow (also have an Ocean Runner 2500 for a return from the sump) I'm thinking. Wouldn't have any big Seio's or Tunze's hanging in the tank. Thoughts?



Thanks.

[skeety]

You should look into using Flex-PVC. All those 45° and 90° angle's add up.

[Viv]

What about drilling through overflow

[wharyat]

Looks good Brian.

[tims]

brian i agree with vince using flex would be a bit better less drag..
i also agree with vince looks pretty good!

the bit map picture is a bit small got a bigger one?