Sweeping Closed Loop System

mck > reef > equipment > sweeping closed loop            

 

This closed loop system provides about a third of the flow in the tank. I had to pipe the suction and return lines up through the euro-bracing and down behind the refrigerator, because there's no clearance between the back of the tank and the side of the fridge. There are three outlets piped through the Oceans Motions valve - 2 half inch LocLine nozzles (on the sweeping system) and 2 outlets on the same vertical riser. I'm using 1" piping, reduced down for the nozzles in the tank.

 

The LocLine outlets are connected to the "sweeping" system.

To improve flow in the stationary nozzles, I inserted a short section of 1/2" pipe in one of the fittings (see the photos below).

 

The pump is an Eheim 1260, but the heart of this system is the Oceans Motion Squirt 2-way valve. After spending a few lazy months trying to build my own valve (read about it HERE), only to have it turn out to be too weak to rotate under pressure, I finally sucked it up and purchased a known-product. I have to say, this is working out great. It has been running since March '08 and as of this writing (late June) there are zero issues. The valve and pump are reliable.

 

Photos and one-line diagram to come soon.