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Innovative Marine Aquariums

closed loop w/ heater chamber (pico size)


dhoffroad

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ok so this is what I did, to solve a prob of getting flow and a heater into a pico tank, even though this is for a pico it would work for larger systems also. the pump being used is a MJ 400 (106 gph) smallest they (MJ) make. the plumbing going in and out of the tank are made out of 1/2" CPVC. the heater chamber is made out of 2" PVC with threaded caps ( and female fittings ) I drilled and taped two 1/2 " NPT ports input ( higher ) and output (lower) used hose barb fittings , hose (3/4" in, and 1/2" out ), and hose clamps to connect the MJ to the system. to install the heater into the 2" PVC chamber I drilled a hole just larg enough for the cord of the heater to go though into the top cap ( I cut off the cord end and re spliced the wires once routed thru the hole in the top cap) I tightened the bott cap totaly tight and the top cap left loose till ready to run so I could fill the chamber with water so it would prime the pump. oh yea almost forgot I also put a ball valve after the MJ so I could turn down the flow so meet my needs, and I also made a "safty" container out of plexy that the whole system sits in just in case the MJ develops a leak. well hope this helps someone I had'nt seen anyone do this before and thought is was a good idea to share. ENJOY

7782pico_tape.JPG

 

7782pico_plumbing.JPG

 

7782close_view.JPG

 

7782heater_holder.JPG

 

7782heater.JPG

 

7782safty.JPG

 

7782got_flow.JPG

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all the plumbing will be hidden behind a false wall in the stand so no need to paint, not much room to put rock in the chamber (heater takes up most room) besides the heater needs to spin with the top cap when putting the cap on with rock in there that would be a PITA

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a little something I did'nt mention if you are going to do this and have it set up like I did make sure the top port (inlet) is below the water line of the tank and the chamber is just above the water line of the tank that way you can fill the tank and fill the chamber (the water level will equalize between the two), then put the top cap on the chamber and it will start right up.

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would there be any problem with the heater chamber emptying in a power outage and then not filling back up when poer comes back on causing the heater to explode or worse?

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the way the heater chamber is set up there will ALWAYS be water in it .with the input and output of the heater chamber like they are the water level will just equalize. and the heater will still be totaly submerged.

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  • 6 months later...
  • 4 weeks later...

This is absolutley the coolest mod I've seen for any tank yet...

 

What do you think of running multiple chambers? One for a heater, one as a rubble container, one a skimmer, and another one could be protien skimmer or chemical holder (chemi-pure, carbon, etc).

 

The posibilities are endless...

 

Hehehehe the best part of the hobby is the tinkering, and you are the master!

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  • 1 year later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Defo possible, I'm going to be :)

Heres mine so far:

post-19598-1164316599_thumb.jpg

Still need to add the pump, it should be here within the next week, I'll post pics of the finished thing then, it will have LR rubble, fuge and a heater :)

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  • 7 months later...
Defo possible, I'm going to be :)

Heres mine so far:

post-19598-1164316599_thumb.jpg

Still need to add the pump, it should be here within the next week, I'll post pics of the finished thing then, it will have LR rubble, fuge and a heater :)

 

 

I look forward to seeing that, this could get very big very fast with so many possible advantages to a closed loop like this. What are the possible cons to doing this type of system?

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I had it finished and working, the only problem I had with mine was noise, a way to completely empty the chambers of air is necessary.

It worked well, I took the tank down some time ago now though.

 

:

Pico Reef Filtration system overview

 

· Water overflows into the overflow box

· Water is pulled to the pump

· Water is pushed though a gate valve

· Water flows though the heater chamber

· Water flows though the live rock chamber

· Water flows though the refugium chamber

· Water is returned to the tank.

 

This ordering of chambers ensures that no debris falls back into the pump the refugium is not right next to the heater as it will already be warmed via a light.

The pump will always have more water flowing to it that flowing from it.

The water level will only reduce inside the overflow, if need be there is room to add an auto top off device inside the overflow.

 

The tank it was used on:

tankndesk-2.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

i am interested in doing this as well for my 10g, but i was wondering how the powerhead does outside of water. does it overheat and do you think that it is decreasing its lifespan?

 

props on the great idea though! :D:D

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