Help me with a CL

Zoalover34 · May 2, 2009

Im getting a free 55g either tonight or tomorrow.. I wanna use my current tank (29g) as a sump.. Im going to get a hole saw and cut some holes in the tank.. My question is to you guys.. Where shoul I place them for return's and drain lines? How many holes? What kind of return pump will I need? I just have a softie tank mainly but want to dabble in a few pieces of SPS.. If anyone has a diagram that would be awsome! Also want to drill a hole and have a shutoff valve to use as a water change drain! Will I need to get acrillic(sp) to place around my drains? Sorry for all the questions but I really wanna do this right!!

Psychographic · May 2, 2009

Before you make any plans, be sure you can drill your 55, most of them are made with tempered glass on all sides and the bottom.

Zoalover34 · May 2, 2009

never heard of a tank having all tempered glass.. Norm its just the bottom i thought

killingseed2000 · May 2, 2009

mostly just the bottom that has tempered glass , i have drilled a bunch of tanks up to this point. from a 10g to a 150g. its not hard at all. i have drill tanks using a hose for running water with the hose set on a low out put and using just a spry bottle. havent used a dam for drilling but can be used as well.

have you looked at glass-holes.com, yet i have installed thier drain box and looks great and can save some time.

planing where to put holes is a pluse for sure.

this was my final layour for the holes i drilled in my 125. 4 returns split down to 2 by my 4 way and a 2" feed for my close loop. 2x 1.5" drains for my for my main drain. i images show the 2 returns but i did not drill those going to run them over. wasnt enough room on the sides of my glass-holes drain bow.

i have the holes for my close loop setup to start the water in a circular motion from left to right and the returns are setup to help support this motion. the design and layout from given to me by a tech at ocean motions. who was a great person to talk with.

these hole size maybe a little over size for a 55 but is a good example to work with. really depands on what you looking to to do. how the tank is going to be setup , viewing side , stand.

Zoalover34 · May 2, 2009

Yea never thought of that.. It will be on a stand viewable from 3 sides.. I haven't checked out that website but im going to.. Thanks for the ideas.. I was thinking about 2 drain (1").. and maybe like 3 or 4 returns? What size return pump should I get? How many pumps will I need 1 or 2?

killingseed2000 · May 2, 2009

you need one pump for your return system and one for your close loop. the bigger the pump the more you can do with the close loops part. hard to say what size holes and stuff still you know what size pump you might want. for the return with a quite one 3000 or similar specs would be good for you return having a 1" drain , 1x 3/4 return.

those close could be a dart or less. the more the returns on the CL a bigger pump is needed. i wouldnt know your budget so i would only be guessing on the CL. give me some ideas i can work with and i can get a little more detailed.

a dart a lone split to 2x 1" returns would be around 1800 GPH out of each outlet. unelss you took it down to 3 or 4 x 3/4 then it would be reduce a lot more pero out let. keep in mind a MODed mj puts out from 1500 GPH to what , 2500 GPH. as you looking to make a deferce flow and still had pumps or run just the CL.

Zoalover34 · May 2, 2009

As far as budget id like to go as cheap as possible lol.. I know good things arn't cheap, but like you said maybe I can get a few modded MJ's.. I was thinking for the CL maybe using a mag 12 or something? Those are fairly cheap and can be found used all over the place.. This is all new to me so maybe im worng? That's why im asking lol!

killingseed2000 · May 2, 2009

i would go, with 1" drain , 3/4 return for return system. i would just run it over the top. less holes to cut and its return would need to be hight up if drilled to stop water syphon.

with a mag12 CL, i would do 2x 3/4 holes to feed it and help reduce suction from one point and 2x 3/4 spilt off from a 1" pipe for spare for the in and out. might even look at Flow Accelerator for the CL returns.

all drilled from back the CL feeds lower right/left corners the returns upper left/right corners. main fuge drain top middle its return over the top of tank or drill that one to.
o.

Zoalover34 · May 3, 2009

If I do 2x 1" drain lines should my returns be 1" also? and the holes for the cl be 1"? Sorry if this is a stupid question!

killingseed2000 · May 3, 2009

do the same for return and feed for close loop. run 1" off the pump to a 1" - "t". two of the 1" ends from the "t" will need to be converted to 3/4 and run each to the feed or return.

Zoalover34 · May 3, 2009

Heres a crappy drawing I did with paint to help me lol..

The black holes are drains, the blue are the cl.. Guess I forgot to make return holes, maybe just do over the top? And the red is for water changes.. I plan on making the drains 1" bulkheads like I said.. I plan on using a mag 9-12 for the CL.. What size fittings will I need for that? How do I get 4 (if i can) returns off 1 pump.. As far as the return pump ill prob go with a modded maxi-jet.. Does this sound correct?

killingseed2000 · May 3, 2009

killingseed2000 · May 3, 2009

there wont really much left coming out for more then 2 returns from the close loop. you can do it but you will need to supplyment with other options as well or get a ocean motion 4 ways Sqirt and you can use 4 returns on the CL and only 2 are running at any one time at full power. even then i would probly put all 4 returns still in the corners and the feed more in the middle.'

Zoalover34 · May 3, 2009

So there's only going to be 2 spots on the top with water comming out? plus the return from the drains? Maybe since I have the overflows comming to the top of the tank I should make the top holes feed the pump and the bottom 2 going back into the tank? Guess im not getting it lol.. What about a Squid or w/e they are called.. They are supposed to break up flow or something right?

killingseed2000 · May 3, 2009

the ocean motion unit has a drum in it that rotats and opens and closes ports while is goes around.

Zoalover34 · May 3, 2009

Yea ive seen em before but they are way outta my price range lol.. Does the scwd do the same thing for alot cheaper tho right?

killingseed2000 · May 3, 2009

the is alone around 165, the one i have is around 389. ya, the price get up there. i way i show it you will get the maxium flow results from a mag12. i have seen it the other way and it works great, the way i show it. you could send the CL returns out to 4 outlet, with lot more head lose you might only get a triggle out of the 4. if lucky around 250 GPH. might as well install 4 unmoded MJ hidden though out the rock work for the same return maybe cheeper.

i have heard up's and down's with the scwd units. i believe its only rated at 600 GPH , mag 12 would be too much for that units and you still only get 2 return ports for the CL. you can go the way but would have to rethink the pump. mag 7 maybe.

Zoalover34 · May 4, 2009

You think I should go with 3/4 holes instead of 1" ?

killingseed2000 · May 4, 2009

3/4 is what i was talking about. a single 1" feed for the CL would have some good suction and you dont want it to suc down just anything. that is the reason i recommanded the feed for the CL to be two 3/4 holes join to some 1" pipe then in to the pump. this will reduce the amount a suction per hole. you can also do just a 1" feed. for the feed you could go as far to help more suction and supply the pump with all it needs is cut the feeds as two 1". the 2 returns for the CL should still remain 3/4.

anycase you can cover the suction holes with strainer.
http://www.aquacave.com/intake-strainers-slip-930.html