need help with a closed loop

[dbacksrat]

I'm looking into a closed loop circulation system....I don't even know where to begin though

does anyone have any links to diagrams/basic ideas?

 

[wayne]

Senor Calfos messageboard on reeef central has a pretty full plan I think.

You're going to have a big external pump pumping back in through another pipe. Which tank is this for, do you have a sump?

 

[dbacksrat]

thanks wayne, I saw that you had mentioned a closed loop in another thread

this is for my 29 "reef"--I don't have a sump because I don't have a siphon overflow...I've heard nothing but bad things about these

 

[wayne]

Well the cheapest 'cheat' is to get a canister filter, and run it with almost no media and then put the return back through a splitter so it returns through 2 or 3 pipes. You thne have a very crude closed loop.
Other versions are more sophisticated versions of this. Drill the tank, water goes straight to a pump, back in through another series of split returns....

 

[dbacksrat]

i've found a pretty good thread on RC--http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=631726&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

this will solve the overflow problem--I have a Rio 1700 pump (not rated highly, but I can't afford a Mag pump anymore)
as for a fuge, I'll probably use some sort of tupperware or maybe a 10 gallon tank...

 

[JustinP]

Unless you already have the cannister to try this with it's not worth buying I don't think. I tried using different spray bars to the output of a Fluval that I had and the flow was so greatly reduced it was worthless, even when I tried splitting the output just once into a "V". I guess maybe if you can find a powerful enough cannister, maybe. Many people are incorporating a design like this one by Calfo which Wayne eluded to http://www.wetwebmedia.com/pbh2oret.htm. The pvc is cheap and you just have to get the water pump. I'm thinking about trying this myself when I get some time.