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Unread 03/06/2018, 08:31 PM   #1
mhsmith
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closed loop

My tank broke. I currently have all my live stock living in my sump, my 110 gallon quarantine tank and a 300 gallon water trough. I have to design another tank, and I need ideas on the closed loop. I think my tank cracked because of the returns in the back of the glass weakened the glass. I am considering only having the bottom drilled for the returns, but I am wondering where I should put the outflow if I want the back glass to remain intact. I am planning an external overflow. Any ideas, I am on a deadline because I have to order the tank. Dimensions are 96x36x42. Thanks for any input.


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Unread 03/06/2018, 09:34 PM   #2
lagatbezan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhsmith View Post
My tank broke. I currently have all my live stock living in my sump, my 110 gallon quarantine tank and a 300 gallon water trough. I have to design another tank, and I need ideas on the closed loop. I think my tank cracked because of the returns in the back of the glass weakened the glass. I am considering only having the bottom drilled for the returns, but I am wondering where I should put the outflow if I want the back glass to remain intact. I am planning an external overflow. Any ideas, I am on a deadline because I have to order the tank. Dimensions are 96x36x42. Thanks for any input.


On my 300 I have two 2" inlets and two 1.5" outlets drilled on the bottom of the tank going to a reeflo dart gold pump but my tank is acrylic and not glass. Not sure how well that would work for glass specially if it cracked on the back since there will be more pressure on the glass when the holes are cut on the bottom compared to the back.


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300g with velocity t4 for return and a Reflo dart on a closed loop, T5 lights & SRO3000 skimmer.

Current Tank Info: 300g
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Unread 03/06/2018, 11:56 PM   #3
ca1ore
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I wouldn't ever run a closed loop through the bottom of a tank. What do you do if the bulkheads start to leak? I always run them through the top of the back panel where pressure is least.


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Simon

Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs
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Unread 03/07/2018, 12:27 AM   #4
kylesmoney
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I wouldn't hesitate to drill the back again. It's how pretty much where every aftermarket closed loop and overflow drain from. You must have just had a fluke situation of some sort.


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Unread 03/07/2018, 12:37 AM   #5
mhsmith
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The bottom of the tank will be made of PVC. You can understand how nervous I am about the glass cracking. My previous tank had some of the returns in the bottom, and always it is a concern for the bottoms if they leak as well. Where the glass cracked it went from the center all the way spidering to the top and bottom, so the tank had to be completely drained emergently.


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Unread 03/07/2018, 12:40 AM   #6
mhsmith
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I wouldn't ever run a closed loop through the bottom of a tank. What do you do if the bulkheads start to leak? I always run them through the top of the back panel where pressure is least.


So how does that work if you have an external overflow?


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Unread 03/07/2018, 09:18 AM   #7
ca1ore
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So how does that work if you have an external overflow?
Not sure I completely understand the question? Most external overflows are plumbed through the back of the tank, not through the bottom ..... ? If you mean a standard corner overflow then, yes, they are plumbed through the bottom but not 'open' to the full volume of the tank. So if you have to service the bulkhead, you just drain down the overflow rather than the entire tank.


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Simon

Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs
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Unread 03/07/2018, 09:20 AM   #8
ca1ore
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Originally Posted by mhsmith View Post
The bottom of the tank will be made of PVC. You can understand how nervous I am about the glass cracking. My previous tank had some of the returns in the bottom, and always it is a concern for the bottoms if they leak as well. Where the glass cracked it went from the center all the way spidering to the top and bottom, so the tank had to be completely drained emergently.
No way to know, of course, but if the tank cracked from one of the holes, it may be that there was a small crack that happened when drilling that hole; and that crack ran over time. Have the tank maker do the holes for you.


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Simon

Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs
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Unread 03/07/2018, 11:39 AM   #9
mhsmith
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The tank maker did the holes. The tank was 3 1/2 years old. The warranty was for 3 years so they would not cover anything. They said they would work with me on the price of a new tank but I am not inclined to use the same company.

For the closed loop to work separately from the main pump, if you did not put a hole in the glass in back where would you put the main outflow to the closed loop. Previously it was plumbed into my external overflow, but I was not able to keep it going when I did routine water changes. Does anyone have any other ideas without putting a hole in the glass?


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Unread 03/08/2018, 08:21 AM   #10
AquaManvsSkimme
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ca1ore View Post
I wouldn't ever run a closed loop through the bottom of a tank. What do you do if the bulkheads start to leak? I always run them through the top of the back panel where pressure is least.
What if a support glass is used and glued were the holes are


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Unread 03/08/2018, 08:24 AM   #11
AquaManvsSkimme
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhsmith View Post
I wouldn't ever run a closed loop through the bottom of a tank. What do you do if the bulkheads start to leak? I always run them through the top of the back panel where pressure is least.


So how does that work if you have an external overflow?
Would it not just leak into sump


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Unread 03/08/2018, 04:03 PM   #12
ca1ore
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhsmith View Post
The tank maker did the holes. The tank was 3 1/2 years old. The warranty was for 3 years so they would not cover anything.
I think in your case it was just bad luck then. I've had back drilled tanks last 25 years before retiring them, and wouldn't hesitate to drill one again (just not the bottom )


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Simon

Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones!

Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs
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