Pansy-Paws

Presenting a Chow Chow's perspective

Aquarium Setup and Livestock - Closed Loop System Design

With the design of our 500 gallon system, we wanted to ensure that there was sufficient water flow for the fish and other marine creatures in the tank, and to keep detritus in suspension long enough to allow it to get filtered out.

To that end, two Tunze powerheads (total rating close to 4800 gph), a closed loop system providing perhaps 2000 gph, and return pumps for 1200 gph were utilized. This provides around 8000 gph, or 20 water turnovers in the display tank per hour.

This web page describes the closed loop system, and the design elements behind the scenes. The links at the right describe other aspects of our marine aquarium.

I hope this gives you some ideas for your own system ... cheers

A closed loop was designed to provide flow from the far end of the tank, as well as under each of the 3 rock bommies. Much of the plumbing is under the sand, with the major exception of the spray wands. In areas where the pvc plumbing can be seen, clear pvc (from Savko) was utilized to minimize the visual distraction that white or grey pipes would have caused.

The closed loop is powered by an AmpMaster 3000 pump, fed from two 1½" drains from one end of the tank. The pump returns the water through an Oceans Motions 4-way drive, supplying 1" piping back into the same end of the tank on a 1&2, 2&3, 3&4, 4&1 rotating sequence each minute.

Photos of the design elements and finished construction are shown below.

Photos

Closed loop piping  Closed loop piping closeup  End view of closed loop plumbing  Left end of closed loop plumbing  Oceans Motions 4-way

Here is the tank showing the under sand closed loop plumbing This close-up of the left side shows the output into the planned cave structure An end shot showing the long lines to feed the end outlets Note the vertical risers with holes to produce a diffuse flow An Oceans Motions 4-way drive distributes the water flow

Ocean Motions 4-way with tubing  Closed loop outlet valves  Ampmaster 3000 Pump  Pump and Oceans Motions 4-way in place

Here is the plumbing attached to the Oceans Motion 4-way The plumbing through the end wall was planned to allow valve access The AmpMaster 3000 supplies to substantial flow The Oceans Motions 4-way and the AmpMaster 3000 installed

Aquarium Pages