i want to find a way to get some additional flow in the tank and i am hearing alot about closed loop systems but i dont know exactly what it is. i see that people sometimes have a wavebox or a scwd and i want to know how some folks have their CL setup and if you have a scwd does it work for you? people have been saying that over 100gal tank and it wouldnt work very well so is that true? if so what is the alternative?
Aren't almost all aquariums closed loop systems?
Almost all aquariums continually use the same water. They aren't like rivers which are definitely not a closed loop.
Closed loop refers to a circle of course, the circle being water going from the tank to your filter or even just staying where it is, being dumped right back into the tank. New water is rarely continually entering your system, and water that exits via your plumbing normally goes right back into your tank.
closed loop refers to a system that pulls water out of the tank and pumps it right back in, versus, pulling water from a sump/fuge and putting that into your tank.
closed loops are great, they can be some work to setup right but once done you will be happy you put the work into it
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The scwd (or squid) is a devise that has gears inside of it where the pressure of the water turns the gears opening the outlets at different time. i be leave the squid is rated for no more than 1300gph. I have one but i haven't used it on my tank yet. I have bend tested it and it is pretty cool if i do say so Here is a link to Melevsreef on how he did his closed loop Melevsreef.com - Closed Loop
One of the benefits that wave style devices bring is that the coral is never in one position. A lot of people say (and i agree) that a happy coral is one that is not in the same position or aimed in the same direction.
In my opinion if i had a tank over 100-gallons i would probably go with a wave box devise of some sort.. They are worth the money in my opinion. Actually i think tunze makes a 2-power head and controller combo. Not sure the GPH rating and how much but i have always heard good things about tunze
yea i looked at the tunze but they are so dang expensive but it says it can be used on tanks up to 317gal whatever that means. 500 dollars for what is essentially the same as a scwd for 40 bux
Yea but if i can remember right you are spose to cycle your tank 10x a day The squid is up to 1300gph. is your tank 100gal or a 120gal? I would say its worth a shot. I say go for it
its 125gal right now but i will be upgrading the volume in january so lets say total volume will be 175gal so 1750gph wont cut it. unless i have overlooked something
I to was going to use the squid to ad non-random current to the tank. But after doing some research, I will be doing a full tank closed loop. I will have pvc tubing go all the way around the top parimeter of my tank and have tees ever 5inches or so. the ones I don't use I will plug, the ones I do use will have flex lines attached to it. This will all be pumped by an 2000 GPH external pump. I feel that this will bennefit me as my reef matures, I can alternate the current to adapt with coral growth.
Closed loop is not a new idea. Many tanks 20-30 years ago used that principle. There were no powerheads or fish safe submersible pumps readily available at the time. It fell out of favor during the wet/dry era.
I just had a flash of my dad telling me how he used to have to walk 50 miles barefoot to school everyday in the snow.
:-)
It is not possible to walk 50 miles to school and back through snow. But with determination, exemptional strength and stamina, state of the art snowshoes, and mean-ass parents, 47.5 miles may be achieved.
What I meant by a "full Closed Loop" was the return from the pump actually splits off of a tee and makes a rectangle around the top parimeter of the tank with random tees for output. This was you can alter the flow with ease any time you want. Anthony Calfo mentions this way often.
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Here is a link to Melevsreef on how he did his closed loop
USA 
