Desperately seeking diagram of a closed loop system!

[gsumner2]

I'm a rookie and need some advice! I am in the process of ordering a 180 gal from glasscages (72x18x31) and need to know how I should position the holes to be cut in the tank bottom for the closed loop. Mine will be visible from 3 sides and I'll have the overflow on one (righthand)end. I'm using starphire on the 3 viewable sides.
I've been following Nata's 180 thread in the large tank forum. All I can say is AWESOME!
The thing is I don't have a diagram of a closed loop and need one. My current 55 gal sits 10 feet from my garage. My plan is to plumb everything under the crawl space to the garage so I can have all the equipment out there where there's much more room. I want my RO water/mix tank with a top off valve, sump,skimmer, denitrifier, etc. to be out there but not sure what is the best sequence or setup. I'm a newbie, started my 55 gal. reef in Oct and quickly realized I wanted to keep more fish and have more room. Can anyone help me out with a closed loop design, where everything should be in the loop and how it works? Also, has anyone bought the magnet handles from GC to help move your tank in place at home? How many people are required to lift it? Thank you so much for any help anyone can give me! I want to let glass cages know by tomorrow where to drill the bottom holes!

[dougchambers]

Ours isn't as large as your system, but here are some ideas;

http://135reef.chambersohana.com/sysdesign/130g1of2.jpg

http://135reef.chambersohana.com/sysdesign/130g2of2.jpg

In the bottom of the tank, the 1.5" bulkheads are for returns that split under the rock structures. The two 2" bulkheads tie together to feed the inlet of the closed loop.

Here is the closed loop system we put into it. The final product was a little different, but the drawing is pretty close.

http://135reef.chambersohana.com/sysdesign/closedloop.jpg

If Glass Cages can supply the bulkheads, you might consider ordering them with the tank. I've talked to a number of people that ran into problems where their bulkheads didnt' fit their custom tanks. We had out tank builder fit the bulkheads as the tank was being built to minimize errors.

Off-the-back overflow;
http://135reef.chambersohana.com/sysdesign/tankoverflow.jpg

Ready to ship;
http://135reef.chambersohana.com/sysdesign/tankfront.jpg

[gsumner2]

Many, many thanks, Doug, for taking the time to send me these diagrams and pics. With some other advice I've received today, I think (I hope) I'm finally beginning to understand the CL system.

When I get more experience I hope to pass on your kindness in helping out fellow reefers.

Your tank looks like its very well made. I'm sure hoping Glass Cages does the same.

[dougchambers]

Any time! There are always some inherent risks with putting drains in the bottom of a tank. Make sure your stand has good support up to the drain and use unions and or union ball valves so you can isolate everything for maintenance.

Good luck and post some pictures as the project proceeds.

-Doug

[gsumner2]

The tank & stand are finally ordered from glasscages.com and we will pick it all up in 3 weeks! Paul from Oceans Motions in Toronto was extremely helpful in designing the closed loop system with a 4way version 3.. Now there's much to do to get ready for the new setup - since the new tank will be sitting where the old one is now, it will be quite a tranfer. I think I need to round up all the 5 gal. buckets I can find. I'll post some pictures if I can figure out in 3 weeks how to do so!

Thanks Mark, Angelo, Naka and everyone who helped me make some decisions about the new tank.

[gsumner2]

Oops! Thanks to you too, Doug!

[cbui2]

here's mine, 4 front bottom and 4 rear back
2 CL total. sequence 5800gph on each OM 4way
bulkheads need to be drilled to the ones you're going with. i have hayward sch80 heavy duty, but spears are also nice too.
the idea was to flow detritus and waste from the bottom toward the overflow(s). if you have no waste going toward overflow(s) then it will be useless. hope this helps

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s259/cbui2/3-23e.jpg