Just bought a 365 gallon tank

You can try but I feel without a closed loop you are going to be hard pressed to get the flo every where it needs it. With a closed loop you will be able to use fewer pumps in your tank and get more flow to the places the pumps wont reach.

 

any pics of this monster?

 

just research closed loop systems.a lot of guys use this method in drag tanks. the pumps basically draw water from one side of the rant thru a hole/bulkhead plumbed to the pump witch returns the water to the opposite side of the tank.therefore making a "closed loop". a great advantage to this method is that there is no back flow if you lose power. with that being said you can have one "closed loop" drilled and plumbed lower in the tank to have flow towards the bottom. and another "closed loop" plumbed towards the top for flow in the upper half. then use your overflows to feed your sump with its own separate return pump. this could be a really nice system when finished. please keep us updated. and ask any questions you have

 

auto correct lol I meant frag tank

 

First, get over your fear of drilling, it is very simple with acrylic.

Here is how I would drill & plumb it.

Drill four holes on the back side, about 5 inches above the bottom of the tank. All four of these bulkheads would connect into one inlet pipe. Then drill 6-8 holes on the sides & back at various heights, preferably out of direct sight. On the inlets, make sure you use screens so solids wont get sucked into the pump. Also put valves & quick disconnects on both sides of the pump so you can shut off the water & remove pump if needed. On all the returns also have a valve on each line. That way you can always tweak it to keep the water flow changing. You will spend a few hundred on a pump, but in the long run it is much better then a bunch of power heads with short life's that can also shock you.

 

This is a closed loop system Justin! You use your pumps in a closed loop as one big power head to push the water around your tank. Notice in the picture the two pumps( Iwaki) they pump water out and back into the tank again over and over creating a loop of water flow.

Am I correct guys? Its how I understand it anyway.

 

Also, as the tank gets bigger so do the required components and the wallet gets thinner alot faster.

 

Yep I rember the days of the 538 gal tank . Don't miss it that's for sure . Or the work and elec . Bill that's for sure.

 

Water bill , electric bill , and time. It's a lot of money if you do it right. Plus salt. My tank was beautiful but my 220 will be there soon . A lot of people in this hobby should look at price of stuff it is not cheap at all nothing like fresh water and heck some of fresh water stuff can be big bucks to. Just like money pit said . O and I forgot moister in house wrecked all my pella windows I had to replace . Wife was here helping me lol. Hey I only live in belle Plaine I can talk to you about it more.

 

we supported the floor under the tank and installed it upstairs we really enjoy it being upstairs