closed loop suggestions

[suckair]

I have two dolphin amp master 3k pumps “was a exchange due to problems with a previous dolphin pump” and I want to implement a closed loop system in my 105g reef. I would like to use both pumps for the closed loop system and would love suggestions. If anyone has advice or pictures of their closed loop setup I would appetite any suggestions or help.

Thanks

 

[michaelross6]

I don't have any pictures of the closed-loop system I've been using, but perhaps I can help.

Having two pumps is good. I have the intakes of the pumps connected to perforated pipe placed under the rock. That draws water down through the rock, which is helpful, IMO.

The pumps are plumbed in parallel so that the entire output of both pumps goes to one side of the tank, then switched to the other side using motorized ball valves and a wave-maker. The plumbing is also such that I can back-flow the inlet pipes to clear the perforations of the under-rock pipe by closing the outlet valves, then turning one pump off at a time for a few minutes each. That is probably as clear as mud but it works <G>. You just need a cross-connection on the outlet plumbing BEFORE the ball valves that control the outlet flow. When both outlet valves are closed and one pump is off, water is forced back through the pump chamber of the pump that is off and under the rock.
One bit of advice I have is to have ball valves on both inlets, both outlets, and the cross-piece, as well as having true-unions to make removal of the pumps easier and water loss at a minimum.

FWIW,

Mike

 

[npaden]

If you go with 2" intakes on the closed loops you should be fine with only one intake for each one. I would put the intakes on the back of the tank closer to the ends than the middle. Make sure they are down about 8" in the tank so they don't suck in any air.

I would split the output into 2 - 1.5" returns for each pump and have 2 go into the tank on each side or maybe one on each side and 2 on the back in the very far corner pointing toward the middle.

With this setup your velocities will be under 5 ft/sec on the intake and output and you should get plenty of chaotic waterflow with the interesecting streams coming from each back corner and the ends of the tank and the intakes will keep water flowing behind your rockwork.

FWIW, Nathan