Sea Swirl placement

[fnj]

I haven't seen this question asked so I figure I'd ask. Has anyone positioned their Sea Swirls on the ends of there tank pointing each other instead of on the back of the tank? The reason I ask is that with the SS's on the back when they point directly towards the front glass water splashes over the top of the tank and the sand gets kicked up something fierce. I now have a huge trench in the sand across most of the front of the tank. Is there any reason I shouldn't mount the SS on the ends? I attached a URL with a picture to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. Basically choose option 1 or option 2. BTW, This is on a 125g tank (72"x18"x22").
http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/frank_matthes/vwp2?.tok=bcb6lWOBYlgDe9qN&.dir=/Reef+Tank&.dnm=Sea+Swirl+Placement.jpg&.src=ph

 

[fnj]

Emmitt, I haven't built my canopy yet, so I will probably try it out just to see. Have you removed the nozzle on yours. Does it just pull out?

canadawest, I don't want to decrease the flow at all. I went to great lengths to have enough flow so that I will not need any powerheads in the tank and I think I've accomplished this running 2 Iwaki MD-55RLT's full out. I would hate to turn down the pumps if I don't have to.

Thanks,
Frank

 

[EEreefer]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by canadawest:
<STRONG>You could also use a ball valve inline from the water pump to reduce the flow a bit to the SS, thus reducing the turbulence in your tank.</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think this somewhat defeats the purpose of getting as much circulation in the tank as possible. If you have a center brace, I've placed mine facing from center to opposite side walls with the Y adapter. This adapter gives more tank coverage and since the number of outlets is doubled the output flow from each is reduced, possibly to the point you won't get the sand disturbance. JME.

 

[DK]

I like the idea of putting them on the sides. THe only problem is that it blocks your view from that position. Do you have a pump for each SS? I have one pump feeding 2 SS's and the flow isn't that bad.

 

[fnj]

DK, My tank is viewable on all 4 sides so where ever I put them it will block some thing. I do have a separate pump feeding each Sea Swirl, an Iwaki MD-55RLT for each one.

EEreefer, If the side mounts don't work out I will try using the Y adapters that sounds like a good alternative.

Thanks.

 

[lawndoctor]

I am mounting two 3/4" Sea Swirls on opposite ends of my new 75. They will be mounted along the sides of the tank and will point toward the center of the tank, i.e., at each other. They will be mounted on flat acrylic brackets which will sit in the recess of the tank frame. I thought of mounting them on the back of the tank frame or with with Sea Swirl's corner mounting bracket, but then much of the tank would not get the full circulation the Sea Swirls can put out.

 

[DK]

I have a 55 coming up one floor from the basement feeding both Sea Swirls. With the current you have, I could see the rocks falling over! Seriously, perhaps splitting the flow for each pump would solve the problem.

Good Luck

 

[Emmitt]

fnj, I have both the 1/2" and 1" and the nozzles just unscrew.

 

[srbayless]

Howdy,

I don't think putting them on the end would help. If you keep the same GPH going through them, you will have the same problem at both the front and back of the tank.

The distance from the spout to the front and back is less when you mount the sea swirls on the sides, than it is when they are mounted on the back. This means that the water will have more force when it hits the front and back than it did when the sea swirls were just hitting the front.

You'll probably end up with trenches at both the front and back of the tank.

You will have to decrease the flow in one way or another. If putting valves to reduce it is not acceptable, then the Y-fitting that EEreefer mentioned would be the only other alternative I could also think without re-plumbing.

If you were willing to, you could split the output from each pump. One hose from each pump going to the seaswirls, and the other 2 going to stationary nozzles inside the tank. This would give you the same flow, but would limit the "damage" caused by the sea swirls.

Good luck,

Scott.

 

[Emmitt]

I think it would help somewhat with the sand disturbance, but not completely. The SS's will still pause at the front (and back) though not head on as in option 1.

I thought briefly about putting mine on the ends of the tank, but already had my canoppy built and it is the standard type that rests on the front and sides of the tank. I would say that's fairly typical of most reefers and would explain why you haven't seen your question before.

I don't see anything wrong with the idea, in fact I think it would work great if your setup allows it. Before you change it, you may want to try removing the nozzle from the SS's and see how that goes. It will reduce the velocity of the water and slightly increase flow (due to less resistance).
Hth,

 

[canadawest]

You could also use a ball valve inline from the water pump to reduce the flow a bit to the SS, thus reducing the turbulence in your tank.

Just my $0.02 suggestion

 

[fnj]

I think I'm going to do both, split the returns and move the SS's to the ends of the tank. The 55's really move a lot of water. I'm very pleased about that. I actually have waves moving across the top of the tank, right up to the rim

npaden, I've seen your setup before and I must say, VERY NICE!

I too had SS make them with opposite facing input elbows on each one so that I have no elbows in my plumbing at all. I used flexible PVC from the pumps to the SS's so it's pretty much a straight run, the only elbows are the one's going into the SS and the one's coming out.

Thanks everyone for your input, I'll keep you posted.
Frank

 

[npaden]

That is how I placed my Sea Swirls. I even had them make them with the elbow facing that way to avoid an additional 90 degree elbow.

See my tank plumbing pics at: http://padens.homestead.com/tankplumbing.html
FWIW, Nathan