Closed Loop or no ?

[Chiefmcfuz]

All well and good but the outlet is right behind the tank. Doesn't do the outlet any good.

 

[vanceny]

Another option if your really trying to save money and dont mind a little clutter is just to use a 5 gallon bucket next to the stand as the reservoir for your ATO. That way you wont have to redo your existing sump. I did this for awhile. I even had a cabinet that I put the bucket in next to the tank where I could put the rest of my fish supplies.

 

[Alexxn]

The larger hole top center would be your feed for a pump and the 2 smaller ones lower down would be your return. Get yourself an ehiem pump. The tank is set up for it, you might as well use the closed loop. Looks better than powerheads.
I would come out of each bulkhead with a 90* elbow followed by a valve which would be placed just below the top of the stand so you can access them while the tank is in operation. Gate valves are best, but ball valves are fine.
Union off the pump so you can take it off line to clean it.

What would you recommend for a return pump ?

 

[alistair]

Any pics and design info for the ATO system previously mentioned in this thread?

 

[loismustdie]

if heat is a concern, you can go with a low wattage Ehiem. I would lean towards higher flow models. 1262. Stay away from mags, they run hot.
There are a lot of other external pumps too. I like Blueline pumps. Quiet and pretty good on wattage. I love sequence, but those would be overkill on your tank, and your holes are too small. Your fish would be stuck to the glass.
Gen-X and Iwaki are too loud for my tastes.
Yeah, so my vote is:
#1 Ehiem 1262 ran externally
#2 Blueline 30 HD-X

 

[Alexxn]

if heat is a concern, you can go with a low wattage Ehiem. I would lean towards higher flow models. 1262. Stay away from mags, they run hot.
There are a lot of other external pumps too. I like Blueline pumps. Quiet and pretty good on wattage. I love sequence, but those would be overkill on your tank, and your holes are too small. Your fish would be stuck to the glass.
Gen-X and Iwaki are too loud for my tastes.
Yeah, so my vote is:
#1 Ehiem 1262 ran externally
#2 Blueline 30 HD-X

OK so I'll go with the Eheim 1262 for my closed loop but is there a recommendation for my return pump (for my sump) without being overkill that my overflow couldn't keep up.....another Eheim 1262 maybe ?

 

[loismustdie]

yes

 

[Craig]

eheim 1262 would have to be dialed down a bit for the return. perhaps a 1260 would be optimal?

 

[Alexxn]

eheim 1262 would have to be dialed down a bit for the return. perhaps a 1260 would be optimal?

How exactly does one "dial down" a pump ? Wouldn't it burn out ?

 

[Craig]

attach a ball valve to restrict the flow. the eheim pumps are rated for backpresure so it wont shorten the lifespan. could possibly cause microbubbles though

 

[loismustdie]

I'll agree and disagree with craig here:
I don't think 900 gph will be too much for your sump. I don't think you will have a micro bubble issue that cannot be fixed with a bubble tower. I already have one built if you want it.
Rather than restricting the flow with a ball valve (I would go gate valve if i were to do this) you can tee into the return and run your phosban reactors and carbon reactors and feed it directly back to the last chamber of the sump. Bumping down to a 1260 wouldn't hurt either.
I wouldn't just restrict the flow. It's wasted gph that can be used elsewhere.