650G circulation

[Buk_A_neer]

Planning on using 2 X OM 4 ways ( 2 closed loops ... each closed loop to have a Panworld PW-200PS / 4 Penductors / OM 4 way )

Here is my situation

My glass is ordered for my new tank 96W X 48D X 32 3/4H ( should arrive next week as it has arrived at the shop and is being cut on monday )

3/4 glass with starphire front ... double eurobraced at the top ( around inside perimeter 4 1/4" wide X 3/4" ... plus a 5" eurobrace on top of that )

along with a 5" eurobrace around the interior perimiter of the base

Now I have had a 330G reeftank before but this is double the depth ( front to back ) and so creates a different challenge flow wise ... so was considering using 2 OM 4 ways along with 2 Panworld ( blueline ... same diff ) PW-200PS rated at 39 ft head pressure or 1750 gph

using the flow/pressure chart at KTHsales

http://www.kthsales.com/website/Misc...ow%20rates.pdf

It looks like with having 2 Penductors running at any given time ( ie OM 4 way version 3 ) I should be able to produce 11,700 GPH out of each pair of Penductors on each side of my tank alternating flow 2 at a time or 4 Penductors on each OM 4 way

Theoretically the 2 panworlds with 2 OM 4 ways and 8 Penductors ( 2 closed loops ) should produce 23,400 gph alternating from 8 penductors ( 4 at a time )

the return pump I already own and use on my current FOWLR 270G is a Iwaki70RLT which with a 6' head should produce about 7800 GPH ( through 2 Penductors ) for a total of 31,200 gph or 48 times turnover rate

Feel free to punch holes in my theory or offer suggestions

PS ... also any suggestions as to Penductor location ( including height relative to water surface height ) is appreciated

[Buk_A_neer]

No comments on Penductor location or even overall flow pattern regarding OM 4 ways ? ... come on people ... even if you agree or disagree let me know what your thoughts are on on circulation for such a big tank

[jacob30]

Penducters on OM are not reccomended because they can cause them to jam (run search over at oceansmotions board). On the CL I would go with barracudas or hammerheads and for the returns use iwaki for a few penducters.

[Buk_A_neer]

I saw they had a mixed review on them ... seemed to work on some cylinder designs but they had to dremel the holes larger or something like that ?

[Elite]

you think the penducter will help increase that much flow??

[minethief]

After reading about 3 of these large tank forums end to end, it looks like the Tunze or EcoTech would move more water without any of the problems of a closed loop. Just put them in and turn them on. No plumbing to leak, and they say they use a lot less electricity. Not an expert myself, just the opinons read on other large tank threads.

Thr Tunze has been around for awhile, the EcoTech is a newer product.

See the EcoTech at: http://www.ecotechmarine.com/products/vortech.htm

[Buk_A_neer]

Having already had a big tank ( 330G ) and knowing the importance of lots of circulation it would cost a small fortune to do what I need with powerheads

to get 31000 gph I would need 10 Tunzee 6100's plus 2 controllers ( maybe 3 ) for a total of about $3800.00 ... power consumption for pumps only would be 45W X 10 = 450W

by contrast I need 6 more penductors ( already own 4 ) , bulkheads/plumbling, 2 panworld pumps and the 2 OM 4 ways or about $1500 ... power consumption for the 2 Panworlds would be 290W X 2 = 580W

So my monthly power costs would be less with the Tunzee's but my up front costs with the Closed loop/Penductors would be less than the Tunzee's ( $2300 less )

I have never had a bulkhead leak on me so that is not a issue ( I use sched 40 only ) ... I dont want the inside of the tank cluttered with bulky powerheads and cords so the cleanest ( and cheapest ) route is with the closed loops as I see it

Glass was backordered but should be here this week ... will see if my plan works I guess ... Thanks for the suggestion though but I had already considered that option