Closed Loop Circulation

Guy W

Guy W

AC Members
Apr 8, 2002
623
2
18
46
Naples, FL
Ok I've been researching Closed Loop Circulation systems and I'm a bit confused.

I understand that you drill the back of a tank and water drains out of the tank, straight to a pump, and the pump pushes the water back up into the tank threw a manifold of outlets if desired.

What I don't seem to understand is, how do you make sure the pump is primed/filled with water?

Am I correct in assuming that all you have to do is have the pump a little lower than your drain hole and it will fill up with water and start pumping?

Thanks, Guy

p.s. Is it possible to do a closed loop without drilling the back of your tank?
 
If the hole is on the back wall and lower than your tank's water level (and the pump is lower than the hole), then there will always be water in the line going from the hole to the pump: So, your pump will always be primed.


If you don't want to drill the back of the tank, you could use a "U" shaped pipe to sit over the top of the tank (sort of like a hang-on skimmer/prefilter for a w/d). BUT, you have to make certain that the air is removed and water is filled inside the pipe to the pump. And, when you do water changes and the water line goes below the opening of the "U" inside the tank, you'll lose siphon and you'll have to reprime. (But, that's not too big of a deal.)

I have a sort of closed loop with a "U" pvc pipe drawing water from the tank and sending it to the pump. But, I have multiple lines feeding the pump: 3 total and the other 2 are always primed.
SO: I don't prime the U pipe after a water change. For the first couple of seconds, the pump draws in air until that line is primed. BUT: the pump is not running dry during that time since it's getting water from the other 2 sources.

So, I wouldn't recommend this to you if your set-up will be just one source of water to the pump.

Also, bear in mind that most pumps are designed to have minimal pressure on the intake (no restrictions). So, don't have too far of a line going from the hole you drill to the pump. You can have a lot of line (depending on your model) going from the pump back to the tank. The better pumps handle back pressure very well.

HTH.
Richard.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom