closed loop/ocean motion ideas please

[Chad W]

Hi All,
I'm hopeing to get going on a new 225gal. system soon and I'm thinking of haveing tank drilled for a CL. Tank dim. will be 72"x30"x24"T. First off I don't know much about designing a CL system. What I'm thinking is getting a ocean motion 4 way or 8 way. I will have half the holes on the bottom and the other half will go to Ocean Motion Revolutions that will hang in over the back wall of the tank.
I will have probably 2 sea swirls on the return lines (1/2"or 3/4") from the sump. The CL pump (maybe sequence baracuda?) I will run through a controller shutting down the CL at night.
So my ?'s are
1. How should I arrange the holes (drilled intake and outputs)?
2. What pumps (size)?
3. Should I get the 4 way or 8 way OM?
Thanks for any comments or suggestions,
Chad

[nbd13]

make sure if you shut you CL pump down at night you will still be able to have enough flow, espically if you have SPS.

if your return is your only other flow, i am not sure you will have enough flow for SPS.

now if you are only going with LPS and sofites, then you might be alright.

Nick

[Chad W]

Hey Nick,
I think I'll do about 5x's turnover on returns or there about. I'll be keeping mainly SPS w/ a couple LPS here and there.
Thanks,
Chad

[nbd13]

Well what other flow are you going to have besides the 1 closed loop? if thats your only flow (plus your return) then i am not sure i would shut it off.

to answer your other questions,

get a 4 way on a dart (that will be plenty about 1200 gph when you have 2 outlets open, ie 1 and 3) if you go to the oceanmotion page it say to get a version 3 drum because it will put less back pressure on your pump. that is KEY IMO.

i would go with 2 darts maybe 3.

for 1 closed loop i would drill holes in the bracing on the top (ONLY if its acrylic) drill on ein each corner. then get those 1" nozzels they have, they are very nice i have some. and you can point them anyway.

then get another close loop going along the bottom so you can get detrius suspended, inabling it to get to the sump and skimmer. this is of course assuming you will go BB.

the key is to keep detrius out from under the rock work. if its on the bottom, not under the LR you can sphion it out weekly with water changes.

now i would go with 2 or 3 darts if i where you. i think you could do 2 plus the return.

i would skip the revolutions, you dont really need them. just get those omni-flex (thats what they are called, haha) nozzles, and you are all set.

i would think you could even drill the back wall and use some spa-jet bulkheads. if you want pics, you can go to my thread on my new 275 gallon tank, or Old Yellers thread about his new tank. we both use them and LOVE them.

those are just some ideas to go by.

let me know what you think.

Nick

P.S. where are you putting your pumps? thats something to consider because the closer to the input bulkhead and output bulkhead, would be ideal. there might be some pics on my thread that show where i put my darts, (i have 4 of them, 3 closed loops and 1 return).

[Chad W]

Thanks Nick,
So I should probably go w/ 2-darts + return pump on 2 3/4" sea swirls. One dart will be on a OM and 1" loc line returns located in the corners? The other CL returns should be located near the bottom stirring up anything that settles? Should this be on a OM as well?
thanks again, I'm off to look at the recommended threads.
Later,
Chad

[nbd13]

well are you going BB or DSB?

you are correct the 1" omni-flexs should go in the corners and adjust to where you want the flow.

i need to know DSB or BB first then i can help with the other dart.

Nick

[Chad W]

I'll be going BB. As for where to locate pumps I think I will build a shelf on the back of the stand to set pumps on. Is it best to have intake for CL pump drilled through the bottom or back wall of the tank?
Thanks,
Chad

[nbd13]

it depends on how you want to hide the intakes.

i would personally use these, in the 2" forum since thats the intake size of the dart.

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/.../8566/cid/2098

they are big i am going to warn you, BUT i have not had 1 fish get sucked into them and that is key. my fish can swim right by them, even my clowns (tiny at about 1") swim by them without noticing them.

you need to figure out how you will do your rock work. because they are tough to hide. they are about 5.5" all the way around. i am having some reef ceramic rocks made to cover mine.

i have seen some people put them on the back wall and cover them that way. its really up to you and how you do it.

but if you are going BB then you NEED good flow through the lower portion of your tank. if you got the cash it might be nice to get another OM 4 way for the bottom closed loop.

the other thing is make SURE that the pumps are either at or below the level of the intake bulkhead.

what kind of rockwork are you thinking about?

these strainers are very nice and i recomend them because your fish wont get sucked to them, heck even my 2 cleaner shrimp dont have a problem.

just figure out how to hide them, because they are about 5.5" tall, 5.5" wide and long.

are you using starboard on the bottom of your tank?

Nick

[Chad W]

I'll go bare bottom and I am going to go w/ the reef ceramic rock. Just got a mini reef yesterday and I'm soaking it in RO/DI now. Not quite sure how I will do it but I thinking of a mini reef on one end and a back wall or outcropping or something on the other back corner. I have'nt seen a outcropping yet though so I'm not sure what they look like. Then I'll see what I have left to fill in. Maybe like yourself I could have some custom covers built that to cover the strainers. Pretty cool idea IMO.
No I don't think I will use starboard. Did you? Just wondering what you think?
Thanks,
Chad

[nbd13]

i am using starboard, got an off white color. i like it.

the covers i am getting are not really custom, but just large caves that should be here in early jan. hopefully. i am using 2 caves per stainer so i can cover it 360 degrees, then i will have nothing visible in the tank except those omni-flex 1" things.

Nick