Powerheads: to be or not to be

k9BOLX · 08-21-2006, 09:06 PM

I am curious as to my need for powerheads. I have a 95G with a megaflow sump. I have an eheim pumping about 900 GPH. seems like plenty of flow, but its only coming out of the two nozzles. I woudl like to have more movement but do not want unsightly powerheads in the tank. Can I simply add some more flexible hose to my existing and maybe a Y spliter at the end of each? This would give me 4 nozzles with the same 900GPH flow rate. This way I could direct the water flow better. Also I currently have the water flowing roughly "around the tank" is it better to have it random?

appreciate all your advice uptil now. cheers

k9BOLX · 08-22-2006, 10:09 AM

this is how i have the returns setup right now.
thanks again guys i appreciate the advise

Monacle · 08-22-2006, 11:08 AM

Are you going to do FOWLR, or are you going to do a full blown reef? I guess the question is, "What do you want your flow for?" Most reef aquarist like huge amounts of flow to keep the detritus suspended in the water column so that it can removed by going down the overflows and by skimming. Another reason for high flow is that a lot of corals seem to love it. If you are going to do a fish only with live rock tank I would think you should have plenty of flow. What you want to look for is "dead spots" in the tank; or in other words an area in the tank that appears to get no water movement. Keep your eyes open for the areas on the sand bed where the detritus will settle, I believe you will want to remove this manually with a turkey baster or by siphoning. That's my 2cents, if I have made some major errors, please correct me on them. Thanks and gl to you.

GLTA

90_Berlin_joe · 08-22-2006, 11:13 AM

k9BOLX, I have a 90gal and with the same return and overflow box you have. Using the split like that it decreased the force of flow to the point of not being benefical. My suggestion is going with one straight pipe return and working on a Closed Loop System of some sort. You could even hide Power Head/Pumps in behind your rock and get some great flow out of it. I am working on a CLS where the pump will be in the tank behind the rock forcing water out of PVC that will come from the back pointing out from the rock. This will allow me to remove my PH and get the beauty back of the tank.

k9BOLX · 08-22-2006, 06:30 PM

Monacle, im planing on full reef. I have a;ready noticed a couple of spot on the sand. Hence my post. I just wanted to know if i had any other options than unsightly powerheads. If you sink a pump will it not suck sand?

apollo'sowner · 09-07-2006, 09:42 PM

I would work it out to get more flow, even if you have to add PH, though I know you really don't want too. In my 20gl nano I have 2x maxijet 1200's, 1 aquaclear power filter 70 and a maxijet 400 on the UV and a maxijet400 on the sump return and the corals seem to love it. The PH's are positioned so there is no direct flow on the corals. I haven't had any algae on the glass-anywhere, rock or sand.
In a 240 I am maintaining there are 2 Quiteones at 1500gph each in a closed loop and 2 maxijet 1200's attatched to the underside on the centerbrace and I really believe I'm going to have to add more as diatoms keep popping up here and there with RO/DI top-off, kalk and no phosphates. I am convinced it is because there isn't enough water movement.
As you can see in the 20cube the flow totalling 1600+/- is not too much when positioned right. I even have a few fish. the Maxijet 1200's are behind the rock, so maybe you could do the same.

k9BOLX · 09-25-2006, 07:49 AM

OK, so its looks like i have to add powerheads. I know this has been asked NUMEROUS times on 3reef. I have been looking through all of the post. However i have been unable to get an answer. Some say create a circular flow, some say not too, some say point powerheads towards each other, some say point them to the top of the tank.
Right now I have the eheim pumping from the sump with the splitter as above. I have added a rio-aqua (600gph) in the bottom left corner pointing slightly upwards at the back of the tank. I was going to add another in the same place at the front, forcing the water to flow back along the bottom front of the tank. Someone posted a good point, do you need to have a powerhead pointing towards the overflow?

90_Berlin_joe · 09-25-2006, 08:19 AM

Your best bet is to just make sure there are no dead area where detris can collect. Also it is good to have your flow crash into each other to stir it up for there will a different flow all the time instead of having a PH pointing in the same direction all the time. Adding a wave maker or timer to your PH will help with having a rotating flow in your tank which is also a good thing.

k9BOLX · 09-25-2006, 12:23 PM

right, thanks all