DIY closed loop system
 

hey everyone i am gonna set up a closed loop on my 90 and am looking for some advice on how i should do it... as it is right now i have a bunch of half inch fitting that i'd like to use and am running a sedra 7000.
what i am looking to find out is if i need to have ball valves on this unit or if i can get away without it. any info would be great thanks a bunch everyone in advance.
terry

It would depend on how you were planning on taking the water from the tank and returning it. In my situation, i will be taking the water from the back of the tank and returning it through 2 bulkheads in the base. The ball valves will allow me to shut off the outlets at the base and remove the pump if anything goes wrong with it.

Simon..

You know whats better than closed loop? Tunze.
if anything leaks with CL youll _ _ _ _ _ _ !!!

ya i wish i could get a tunze just a lil out of the budget at the moment. im just building this from the stuff i got layin around

I strongly suggest that you incorporate a large number of true union ball valves into the closed-loop. The ability to isolate a problem outlet and clean parts is essential. If you have everything hard wired you'll leave yourself very little flexibility.

Plumbing is the biggest hidden cost of a closed-loop system.

noted tks fkshiu

Could you say why a Tunze is better than a closed loop.

Why would anything leak, comments like this typically come from people who are plumbing impaired or PVC challenged.

what's the difference between closed loop and tunze??

Tunze is a company that primarily manufactures powerheads and wave boxes for water movement in marine tanks. I think they also make skimmers and a few other things. Anyhow, a Tunze powerhead is placed in your tank for water movement and can be situated pretty much wherever you want to create the flow you need. No holes required in your tank to use them or any other powerhead such as a VorTech or Koralia.

A closed loop is essentially a plumbing network which draws water from one area of your tank through a bulkhead (requiring a hole or multiple holes through the glass) and delivering it via an external pump back into the tank for flow, either over the top or through more bulkheads through the glass in several other locations. It can be fairly simple or get quite complex, depending on your flow requirements. Generally once a closed loop is set up, there's little you can do without major rework if your requirements change. A closed loop is separate and independent of your overflow, sump and return pump if so equipped. A conventional powerhead is easily removed and relocated although more unsightly in the display. A closed loop can be virtually hidden if done properly, although multiple outlets are required to create adequate flow in all areas of the tank since the openings are typically small with concentrated flow. This is where a Tunze or VorTech powerhead have a bit of an advantage since the flow is more broad and they are easily repositioned if required.

Lots of debate re closed loops vs powerheads these days. Each has its advantage & disadvantage. In the end I think it boils down to personal preference, since adequate flow can be provided by either method if implemented properly.

tunze vs closed loop
 

Ok, so the whole tunze vs closed loop arguement is strictly on of flow. if you want to hide your refug. skimmer, filter, etc. then you need a closed loop section...