Bought Jakes Reef Builders 400G Closed Loop System

lubeck · Dec 29, 2025

TrottingReef said:
Getting ready to move into our new facility in last half of January start of February. Then will start the process of filling the tank. Decided to cap the 4 existing closed-loop holes down the center line with PVC plugs since its PVC bottom and then drill 4 2" holes in the 4 corners and add a Hydrotube 63 in an "H" configuration to replace the 2 Vectra pumps to power the closed loop. Corner holes will allow better flow control with the Hydrotube. I will post updates including pictures in Jan-Feb.

Very curious to see the hydrotube in action. Considering a few of these for my dream build.

TrottingReef · Dec 30, 2025

I have been going back and forth with a pair of HT 42 or 1 HT63. I hear the pumps are extremely high quality but been thinking about it and I don't like not having a spare standby pump at $3k per pump I just can't afford that. But I could afford 2 HT42s 1 per pair of holes. Then if 1 pump goes down it only brings internal circulation by half. So the second pump can keep going if one fails. That 13Kgph would be nice on a single HT63 but I have no idea how long it would take to get replacement pump since they are built to order pumps. Can't sit around waiting weeks for a replacement. So now I am leaning to 2 HT42s with only 2.9Kgph.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 30, 2025

I'm excited to see this system up and running. Following along!

Robmbush · Dec 30, 2025

Following. I'm in the planning stages of a 420g reef savvy peninsula and intending to do closed loop. Will be interested to see the results in flow with the existing bottom drill locations. Ideally im trying to avoid a canopy so would be routing back flow through the bottom or overflow end. Plan is to have a coast to coast overflow setup on one end with separate chambers for closed loop return. Its not yet clear how Felix will execute that but I believe it's been done on some of his larger builds.