How much movement with powerhead!?

[BaaMNYC]

Another thread about a topic i never really was too sure about.

How much water movement is enough for a tank? Is it purely a X amount of turnover per gallon? like 30x (gallon tank)? If so how much is enough and how much is too much? This of course with proper placement of the powerheads in your tank for surface agitation and facing each other on opposite ends in a tank.

I have 3 750 GPH koralias & 1 1050 GPH total is 3300 GPH of movement in a 110 Gallon tank = 30x turnover. I was told that wasn't enough that i need 50 to 60x?

(been trying to figure out why my zoanthids are closed up and not opening and came across this topic)

 

[BaaMNYC]

Regardless if its right or wrong. How much flow are you pushing in your tank? lets hear it guys and gals.

 

[Arati]

40x is my # but its really about the randomness of the flow pattern and how well it removes poo. but i aim for 40X

10x to the sump + 30x circulation

 

[BaaMNYC]

That's about where I am

 

[BaaMNYC]

Anyone else?

 

[sunny]

The GPH is one thing and the amount of water you can get to the skimmer is another.
What I mean is that you cannot ignore how much GPH you get from your drains. This will constitute how much water you feed your skimmer in an hour.

The GPH that you get from the power heads is more for the flow in the tank. The more important thing is flow pattern from the power heads. Random flow is much better than static/sequential flow for SPS.

Yes, many people believe 30x to 40x GPH is a good number to go with. However, I think you need to have the drains to handle 20x of the water volume and the power heads can compensate for the remaining 20x.

Sunny

 

[BaaMNYC]

Sunny , 20x for overflow and return pump sounds tremendous. That's 2200 gallons flowing thru the sump each hour? Is that before or after head loss?

 

[iliriano]

Don't know much but I have a mag 9.5. Out put is about 5ft high and one koralia 1050, is this good or can i go bigger. Planning on lps and lot of softies.

 

[fishman1069]

Like stated a couple of times, its all about randomly chaotic flow. Would that said, it also depends on what type of corals you keep. I've seen some sps dominant tanks that have 80x turnover just from the powerheads! I never add my return into that equation. The return and drains should be around 10-15x so your skimmer and other equipment have time to do their jobs. The flow I'm the tank should be anywhere from 30-80x depending on the animals and rockwork. If you have enough flow to keep your corals happy and detrius suspended you should be fine

 

[sunny]

Sunny , 20x for overflow and return pump sounds tremendous. That's 2200 gallons flowing thru the sump each hour? Is that before or after head loss?

It will depend how many drains and what size. It will also depend on the water volume. My water volume is around 600G. I have 3 , 1.5 inch drains going from the first floor to the basement.

For water movement in the tank, I have 4 Koralia magnum 8's.

Sunny

 

[BaaMNYC]

It will depend how many drains and what size. It will also depend on the water volume. My water volume is around 600G. I have 3 , 1.5 inch drains going from the first floor to the basement.

For water movement in the tank, I have 4 Koralia magnum 8's.

Sunny

but that would mean your running 12,000 GPH thru you sump. thats a hell of return pump. id love to check out your tank. 600G wow nice.

 

[BaaMNYC]

Don't know much but I have a mag 9.5. Out put is about 5ft high and one koralia 1050, is this good or can i go bigger. Planning on lps and lot of softies.

how big is your tank?

 

[BaaMNYC]

The surface looks slimy or has a film on the opposite side of my overflow box. Anyone know why??

 

[NL146]

You could try directing one of your pumps towards the surface

 

[BaaMNYC]

I just got a koralia magnum 7 and now I think I have too much flow for the softies. I have it mid level on the right glass blowing about 45 degree angle onto the front glass. But everything seems like its getting massive flow bouncing back off the left glass back towards the right.

The surface agitation is great. Just hope it's not too much.