Circulation with MaxiJets

[bleedingthought]

I have 3 Maxijets 1200's and I was looking for some suggestions on how/where I should place them in my tank to create good flow. And my single return line is also something to think about. No corals yet but doing this because I'm getting ready to start soon. My tank size is 48"x17"x19"high. DSB and the rockwork goes like an arch basically from side to side through the middle and reaches 3/4 of the way up. No wavemaking device yet...

Also, are the "Hydor FLO Rotating Water Deflector" worth considering?

Thanks for the input!

 

[SnowManSnow]

Yes

I have 2 Hydor FLO thingies on 2 MJ1200's and while it does decrease GPH a little it does help spread out the flow in the tank. I really like mine, and would definitly give them a thumbs up.

B

 

[bleedingthought]

Thanks! What about the positioning of the powerheads? Seems like I'm getting too much linear flow in one direction or/and positioning them even remotely down is moving sand over and making dunes!

 

[Anonymous]

By creating the wave effect, does it "slosh" the top water level?

 

[Anonymous]

By creating the wave effect, does it "slosh" the top water level?

Depends on how you aim them of course, but yeah, if you let the Hydor arc to where its going to push water up the the surface, a MJ1200 is strong enough that it will give a noticeable upwelling of water, even from the bottom of most standard height and tall tanks.

Even getting deflected slightly from the Hydor, MJ's have a very direct, forceful velocity to the flow they put out. - I'd be careful not to have anything too close to that kind of blasting.

 

[Anonymous]

Intersect the flows and this will create a chaotic flow.

 

[Anonymous]

It looks like this thing might make too much of a tsunami out of my tank. Does anyone know of an oscillating powerhead device I could put on my powerhead?

 

[bleedingthought]

I do get the "sloshing" effect if my output is point up (or even slightly up). It has to be towards a wall (and right now, it's the back wall) and slightly up. In other words, the flow is coming from left side, in the middle, going towards the back glass in a upward motion and hitting the surface. It's ok... Could be better, I'm sure, and that's what I'm trying to figure out.

And Dan, (if it's cool to call you by your first name ) I do have two of the powerheads "crashing" their flows into each other. Seems to be working ok too. Just wanted to know how I could "lead" the flow into those areas around the rockwork, over the sand, to help with the detritus. Not that I have too much, just need enough. Also, I'm trying to think about the future corals and their need for the lower flow of water, you know?

Either way, I can't seem to come up with a terrific plan, yet... More ideas/suggestions?

And thanks everyone! :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Dan is cool. Thanks :wink: .

I have my stream going from right to left with the left return directed right at it. The modified maxijet 1200 is pointed at the left front glass and somewhat at the tunze stream. In the rear I have a maxijet 1200 aimed from left to right at a Penguin(300gph) that is pointed from right to left. They all kind of intersect and create a random flow that gets pretty much all over. You can see the eddies created on top of the water.

 

[bleedingthought]

I'll try to intersect all of mine and see how that works then!

And what's the modification on the maxijet and what does it do?

 

[bleedingthought]

Oh, and does anyone have their circulation change during night time? I've heard about different timers and flow at night but not sure if it really changes much. Thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

Try to bounce the MJ's off the glass. It adds to the randomness. The only rotating power heads I have heard of crap out over time. Not woth the extra money from what I hear.

I would not bother with changing the circulation over night. I never have and it does not seem to be a big deal.

 

[bleedingthought]

The biggest problem I seem to enounter when playing with the flow is my tank's center brace. It's about 1/2" above my water surface and when agitation get too rough at the top, it starts hitting it and it causes the brace to be visible through the front of the tank. :? I have to always keep cleaning the top of my overflow or else the same problem occurs... :?:

 

[Anonymous]

I'll try to get a picture of the modification.

 

[Anonymous]

My concern with getting this thing (I'm looking for more circulation for my reef tank) is that I don't want it to slosh over the top, and I don't want to see the water level at all from the front of the tank. Right now, it's hidden from view with the fake plastic wood trim...I kinda like that.

 

[Anonymous]

Here's the maxijet mod link:

http://melevsreef.com/archives/2005_10_01_archive.html

 

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know of an oscillating powerhead device I could put on my powerhead?

If you're willing to DIY.....
Google: "seio rat" (hint: leave the quotes in search and yeah, its on that other board..)
That might not give you quite enough info though...
Google: "stockman reef" (check out the oscillation link.)

The same principle(s) can be applied to rotating any powerhead.

 

[SnowManSnow]

they do a good job of creating a managable turb. I have a 37g reef with 2 of them on mj1200s and there's no problem. as long as the powerhead is a few inches under the surface youre not going to slosh out of the tank or anything.

b

 

[bleedingthought]

Yeah, I'm definitely considering getting at least a couple of hydors for my tank. They seem pretty good about spreading the flow, even if it cuts it down some.

Dan, does that mod help the water flow that much? Seems like it would just be a bigger hole to let the water out through.

And Grateful, those might be too much DIY for me. At least at the moment. But thanks!

 

[Anonymous]

The flow is increased. The guy that hosted those pics said it was two to three times stronger. IMO it added maybe 150 more gph(guesstimate of course).