Closed loop intake

[ajm-vfr]

Hi All

I am planning an over the top closed loop with a Sequence Dart pump. My tank is a 125 gallon tank.

Does anybody have an idea what I need for that pump as a intake strainer?

I am going to run a 1.5 inch intake line to the pump, and a 1.5 inch output line that will split into 2 1 inch lines to run around both halfs of the tank. I will have the output set up like a manifold with probably a total of 8 outputs with 3/4 inch flex lines. on each.

The starting flow of the dart is 3600gph. With it being a close loop understand that I will not have any head pressure loss of flow, but I will have pipe friction loss. That is ok.

My concern is how do I do an over the top intake for the close loop with out worrying about sucking a fish or something else in my tank though the intake strainer, and tuning it into purade fishfood. If I do one 1.5 inch strainer, I would think the suction would be to much. I was thinking about running the intake into a 4way and putting 3 strainers on the end, but that will be kind of big.

Thanks

[coralnut99]

Tagging along out of curiosity. The intake issues witha closed loop have kept me away from them. Wondering if others have had "pureed tangs".

[flyyyguy]

spa drain covers....low profile and can handle 4800 gph each, threads into a 1 1/2" FPT bulkhead

either google it or ask your local spa place to order them for you.

[ajm-vfr]

I thought about those, but I did not drill the holes in the tank for a close look, so I was just going to do an over the top, and I wanted to stay low profile.

I did some searching on the web, and did not find anything that looked like you described, can you give me any better direction?

Are you talking about something like this? http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/8566/cid/2098
Thanks

[flyyyguy]

No, spa intake covers are super low profile.....as low profile of anything i know of but they are designed to go into a 1 1/2" bulkhead. I didnt know we were talking a over the top.

Im not sure of anything for your application then. That one in the link would work or you could simply use a large plug and a reducing fitting to fit it over the endo of your pipe and drill a bunch of holes in it. It would accomplish the exact same thing as that unit you provided a link to. Just make sure to make one of the fittings threaded so you coould remove it down the road to clean it if need be.

[Liquid Hobby]

It's like this, just in better focus:
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/105499IMG_5668-med.JPG

And it's low profile as flyyguy says: http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/105499IMG_5670-med.JPG

I'm not sure how you would use this via an over the top CL... maybe you should just drill a LOT of small holes or make slices in a pipe like Melev did on his over the back CL:

Melev's over the top CL (http://www.melevsreef.com/closedloop.html)

[8BALL_99]

I've got 2 1" Drains for my Closed loop with a Dart pump.. I just use standerd 1" Strainers. I've never had a problem.. You might want to change your single 1.5" Drain to two 1" Drains.. I've never had anyproblems with fish getting stuck to my strainers. That would also give you better flow.. I dont think its a good idea to Restrict the Inlet side of the pump. If its retricted to much it can cause the pump to cavitate causing all kinds of problems.

[Fiziksgeek]

I would recommend 2-1.5" intakes. You can combine them into a single 2" pipe going into the Dart. This will really eliminate any restriction going into the pump. I also prefer 2 intakes as a safetly feature. Its something gets caugth up on one, the other is still open!

[flyyyguy]

i always use 2-1.5's aswell. ; )

[kgross]

My closed loop intake is a full 2 inch pipe that goes up and over the top of the tank down into the bottom. In my tank it actually goes throught he overflow into the tank. The strainer part of the intake is the same 2 inch pipe filled with 1/4 inch holes. I drilled hundreds of holes so the intake will not suck fish up into it.

If it works here is a very bad picture of the intake. The tank is new and has a lot of diatoms on everything
http://www.jensalt.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=2561&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

and her is the over the top loop.
http://www.jensalt.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=2556

You will notice that there are 2 closed loop intakes one for each closed loop on the tank, there is a sequence 4200 going into an OM 4 way valve, and a dolphin 3600 that goes straight into the tank via a couple of outlets.

Kim gross

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8243943#post8243943 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 8BALL_99
I've got 2 1" Drains for my Closed loop with a Dart pump.. I just use standerd 1" Strainers. I've never had a problem.. You might want to change your single 1.5" Drain to two 1" Drains.. I've never had anyproblems with fish getting stuck to my strainers. That would also give you better flow.. I dont think its a good idea to Restrict the Inlet side of the pump. If its retricted to much it can cause the pump to cavitate causing all kinds of problems.

Actually, a single 1.5" pipe flows about 12% more than two 1" pipes.

[Cove Beach]

Here is the Intake i made for my closed loop . Its 1" PVC necked down to 3/4" draining into 1" ID vinyl flex hose to my pump.http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/112177CL-input-med.jpg

[flyyyguy]

I dont think you are running a 3600 gph pump off of it though are you??

[johndoetheguy]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/135685DSC00066.jpg

This is what I am using as an inlet for a closed loop. It stands 7 1/2 inches tall and 3 inches wide. I have one on each side of the over flow box

[Cove Beach]

Nope its only set up in a 75 gal tank, and am guessing with head loss i may be pushing 900 GPH. Main pump is around 1200GPH. I build fuel pumps for aircraft for a living and we build a pump that runs 400 Gallons Per Minute. It will suck a shop rag through 1/8" holes in the blink of an eye!!

[speedsport]

Liquid Hobby what is that? Where can I get one?

Thanks

[heyfredyourhat]

COVE BEACH....If the power was cut, would nt that thing drain your tank?? Can you drill a hole up top to break the siphon..or am i confused??

[cerreta]

I use this, it works great. They also make a MPT version of this 6" strainer
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=FT8632

[Liquid Hobby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8249121#post8249121 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by speedsport
Liquid Hobby what is that? Where can I get one?

Thanks

I go it from my LFS. He's tring to source them in multiple sizes. I got his last one...

He's on here sometimes as liquidfunk.

[Liquid Hobby]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8249277#post8249277 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by heyfredyourhat
COVE BEACH....If the power was cut, would nt that thing drain your tank?? Can you drill a hole up top to break the siphon..or am i confused??

It's closed loop, where would it drain to?

[Baxter]

Perforated Rigid Tubing from Aquatic Eco Systems works great and is easy to clean.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/8559/cid/2079

[godiver]

I have an extra 1.5 in bulkhead on the bottom center of my tank can I make this my intakefor a closed loop? Would I just screw in a pipe with a cap on top and holes all over it? How high would it have to be?

[cerreta]

High enough not to suck in sand. Mine is 5 inches above the sugar size sandbed and works well.

[godiver]

Could I just run it 5-8 inchs up with no holes and just have a tee on it? Just to clarify the hole is on underside bottom of tank not on bottom of one of the sides .....