Flow Question

Hi Guys,

I have a question and was hoping to get some opinions. I currently have a mag drive 7 as my return pump and is diverted to two outflow tubes. One is pointed across the top right below the surface and the other is pointed more downward behind the rocks. I also have two koralia 1's. The left is placed about halfway down the glass and is pointed a little down. The right is higher and is pointed across the top in the other direction. I also have a koralia nano right in the top middle on the back pointed straight at the front. I think that this is enough flow (please correct me if I am wrong) but I still have a few dead spots. The first is in the left lower corner near the overflow section and the second is the right corner. Is there a better way to position the power heads I currently have or do I need more? Thanks in advance. Sorry about the quick and dirty picture, but I had to take it with the phone.

Regards,
Ivy

 

I don't now what your situation is, but koralia 1s don't produce much flow at all, I believe it is supposed to be 400gph, but it is very soft flow. I would try to replace 1 or 2 with a korlia 2 or 3.

 

You should have decent flow, but I am a fan of "more the better, and its never enough". Are you sure you have a dead spot or is it really a slow spot?

Your tank seems very open - I suspect its a low flow and not dead area.

Do you have a siphon break on that return that you have pointed down really low?

 

You can pretty easily go up past 2000gph total in a 55 gallon tank if you want to keep SPS, I think upgrading powerheads is a good idea as well rather than adding more.
3 powerheads should be fine for dispersing the flow along with your 2 returns so if you feel like you're getting deadspots I would just upgrade one or two, adding more power to one or two powerheads will push their currents farther in the tank so maybe you won't need as many cluttering things up.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. I am really not planning on keeping and corals at this point, but you know how that goes . You may be right in that it is just a slow spot. I do see a little movement, but things take a while to get over there. It is easy to see when I dose things. Would replacing the 2 koralia 1's with 2's and replacing the nano with a 1 be good enough? I had the 2 returns pointing in a similar direction and the fish didn't seem to like that at all. I am afraid of going to the 3's because they are rated to 850 gph. I do have a siphon break on the two returns. They are screwed into a piece of PVC pipe in the overflow area that has a hole for the siphon break. It came as a kit. Thanks again!!!

Ivy