Should Michael run a closed loop on his 210 gallon?

[Darkxerox]

Referring back to @MichaelB 's thread: Should Michael run a closed loop on his 210 gallon?

Note he has two returns drilled in the top left/right, two center holes for drains. There are also 4x overflow holes drilled from when the tank had internal overflow boxes on the back of the bottom panel (similar sizing to return holes). Given the tank has literal holes in the bottom, they're either going to need to be sealed or turned into something else.

Some newer reefers of course would have no idea what they are. Here's a good overview from the late Jake Adams: https://reefbuilders.com/2019/12/16/building-a-massive-closed-loop-for-the-400-gallon-hardline-reef/

Pros: you can hide almost all your pumps from inside the tank and conceal the nozzles/intakes within rockwork. Possibly more energy efficient due to fewer total pumps/powerheads.

Cons: higher cost, complexity, requires an @Srt4eric level reefer/plumber to set up.

 

[MichaelB]

If the vote is in favor of closed looped I expect to see Thomas show up with his journey man tool box in hand, after he conviences Eric to come supervise and sign off on his work.

 

[tribbitt]

Would be next level cool. But I’m wondering about practicality, cost, and complexity

Given Eric, maybe? But I think wavemakers can do a good enough job if that’s an issue

 

[Kensington Reefer]

NOT in a tank WITH anemones!
Corals and sessile inverts only

 

[MichaelB]

Would be next level cool. But I’m wondering about practicality, cost, and complexity

Given Eric, maybe? But I think wavemakers can do a good enough job if that’s an issue

Lol seriously just trying to plumb this tank the regular way is over my head. I have a idea of how it should work of course. Yet I'm more confident that it will have multiple leaks than me actually plumbing it correctly. As far as attempting close looped I kinda get the concept from watching the video and a few others but I can't get beyond 40 possible leak points lol.

 

[HankDean V]

I think clothes loops are bad ass
But I don’t get why they’re always plumbed through the bottom,
Mine is plumbed through the sides,

 

[Darkxerox]

Lol seriously just trying to plumb this tank the regular way is over my head. I have a idea of how it should work of course. Yet I'm more confident that it will have multiple leaks than me actually plumbing it correctly. As far as attempting close looped I kinda get the concept from watching the video and a few others but I can't get beyond 40 possible leak points lol.

You're going to have just as many leak points going up the back with traditional plumbing, not to mention the 4 plugs you'll need on the bottom of the tank since it already has holes in it.

Agree with Erin, no nems in here, but hardly a sacrifice when you can have a cord/cable/pump free display. Especially when you have a nem cube already. They're just walking coral murderers anyways!

 

[gmdcdvm]

I am not that good at this hobby. So I subscribe to the KISS method. Pretty sure I would screw this up! But interested to seen the journal progress if it happens.

 

[MichaelB]

You're going to have just as many leak points going up the back with traditional plumbing, not to mention the 4 plugs you'll need on the bottom of the tank since it already has holes in it.

Agree with Erin, no nems in here, but hardly a sacrifice when you can have a cord/cable/pump free display. Especially when you have a nem cube already. They're just walking coral murderers anyways!

The only nem i would have ever considered for this tank was a mag. I do love having the nem only tank with my favorite clowns. I would probably choose to keep that tank over all the others. Though I won't deny the future desire for something slightly larger for the nems to spread out more like 40-50 gallon cube. No Nems in the 210 is pretty much a given in anycase for me with the exception mentioned above.

 

[MichaelB]

I think clothes loops are bad ass
But I don’t get why they’re always plumbed through the bottom,
Mine is plumbed through the sides,

Thomas is saying mostly because I have 4 holes already on the bottom of the tank that would have to be plugged up no matter what option I go with.

The internal overflows were removed, and the back was drilled to make way for a modular marine external overflow box with a slim profile were box inside the tank. More room for fish to swim.

 

[finalphaze987]

While I love the clean look of closed loops, it would take an immense amount of power to equal the amount of flow you can attain with low wattage powerheads we have available to us today.

If there were DC options that could match the flow you'd get from a hammerhead I'd say go for it...but given current options, he'd be pushing 300+ watts of power with an unprogramable pump that he'd be able to match with a pair of gyres.

The plumbing is not that bad, it just requires very careful and precise planning. Maintenance on a closed loop is quite easy as well, but if you can't get ALL of the flow you'll need for the tank and will have to drop in a few powerheads anyway, might as well deal with the cords in exchange for the programability and save yourself from the whine of an external pump.

If you do go through with it, get an ocean motion 4 way. Not sure if those are still available, but I loved those things.

 

[HankDean V]

Well, if the holes are there,
Waiting to be filled!
Clothes loops are bad ass, you can push so much water and make it look so clean,

 

[Patio]

This is a fun problem to have.

The wattage efficiency is a good point. Heat comes with it. But bad ass is also the perfect descriptor. I’m voting tomorrow morning after a cup of coffee. Gonna think about this more Lol

 

[MichaelB]

While I love the clean look of closed loops, it would take an immense amount of power to equal the amount of flow you can attain with low wattage powerheads we have available to us today.

If there were DC options that could match the flow you'd get from a hammerhead I'd say go for it...but given current options, he'd be pushing 300+ watts of power with an unprogramable pump that he'd be able to match with a pair of gyres.

The plumbing is not that bad, it just requires very careful and precise planning. Maintenance on a closed loop is quite easy as well, but if you can't get ALL of the flow you'll need for the tank and will have to drop in a few powerheads anyway, might as well deal with the cords in exchange for the programability and save yourself from the whine of an external pump.

If you do go through with it, get an ocean motion 4 way. Not sure if those are still available, but I loved those things.

Any idea what kinda pumps would be needed to pull this off if I went with closed loop. Lol I should probably know the potential cost before I lean one way or another. Currently if I have to do it myself not happening. If I have expert help would depend on total costs verse benefits.

 

[Turkeysammich]

Any idea what kinda pumps would be needed to pull this off if I went with closed loop. Lol I should probably know the potential cost before I lean one way or another. Currently if I have to do it myself not happening. If I have expert help would depend on total costs verse benefits.

That’s a loaded question. If you’re a risk taker then jebao. If you’re not then vectra L2. If you got deep pockets then abyzz 200-400. If you’re old school then a dolphin or hammerhead or something similar ( they are energy hogs tho )

 

[finalphaze987]

Any idea what kinda pumps would be needed to pull this off if I went with closed loop. Lol I should probably know the potential cost before I lean one way or another. Currently if I have to do it myself not happening. If I have expert help would depend on total costs verse benefits.

I had one set up on a reef flo dart. At the time the flow was great, but ideally for a tank your size I'd spring for the hammerhead. I don't recall what the flow rate was..somewhere in the ball park of 5-6K. There's larger pumps, but the larger you go the more heat, noise, and electricity If yhe holes are already drilled, most of the hard part of a closed loop is done honestly.

Pros:
-There's NOTHING cleaner than a well plumbed CL imo.
-cuts down on cords all the way around
-no wetsides to swap or multiple impellers to maintain
-you can get flow in hard to reach areas
-when used with a drum, you can move the whole body of water in intervals depending on how it's plumbed.
-simple operation. Plug it in and it's on.....thats it

Cons:
-heat
-requires alot of power. If its your sole source of flow and there's a blackout, you're screwed. There's no back up battery that'll power a pump that big for a substantial amount of time.
-the plumbing still requires maintenance
-risk of sucking in inhabitants through the inlets
-pumps can be noisy
-requires lots of space for plumbing and the pump.
-lacks controlable features. Very simplistic.

Not sure if @xcaret still had his ocean motion in PIF, but if so those things were built like tanks.