Advice on increasing flow in a 75g rr

[AustinVines]

So I recently set up my first SW tank. It is a 75g rr with a sump. The return is a mag 9 and the headloss calc shows I get about 700+ GPH out of it. You can see in the picture how I have the tank layed out with the loc-line from the return aimed diagonally toward the right front corner of the tank. I have two MJ 1200's, the one on the top right is aimed along the back glass to the bottom left and the one of the left is hung from the overflow and aimed down toward to middle front of the tank.

When I tore the tank down 3 weeks ago to move it, it had a significant cyano outbreak which has not improved (really it has gotten worse - at the end of the day I see air bubbles on the sand, infected LR, etc, from the respiration of the cyano I suppose).

I went through the tank a 10 days ago with a turkey baster and blew the cyano off the rocks which had the effect of just spreading it better across the tank

The cyano on the sand is basically gone at lights on in the a.m. but after 12 hours under brand new 10k and super actinic VHOs (2 each at 110w/per lamp) it is terrible looking. I have a shallow sand bed since the tank came with a ecosystems MM filter (not a believer but I didn't want to change a working setup). I have nitrates in the 30-40's ppm and am doing small water changes every few days and trying to limit my feeding.

I know I will be upgrading the flow in the tank and am wondering what I can do to create a more random flow pattern through the tank. A tunze stream 6000 would create a lot of flow but isn't it laminar and therefore not as desirable as a more chaotic flow?

Do the powerheads that rotate 90 degrees work (and who makes them)?

Any other ideas for increasing the flow and getting rid of the red menace?

Thanks!

 

[s3aL]

Id get rid of those Maxi jets 1200's and pick up 2 seio 1100's. They have MUCH wider flow patterns and would do the job perfectly in your 75g. Tunze/vortech pumps are also a great option if you got the cash.

 

[Avi]

I agree with s3aL on the Seios and the Tunzes. However, a good way to continue using the MJs that you have now is to put Hydor flow deflectors on them. I have Seios going in my reef and also a pair of MJ1200s with the Hydors on them and I definitely like the way that they improve the flow quality of the MJs. You might want to add the MJs and also put a Seio 1100 in, too.

As for the cyano, it's a common thing in a tank in the early months after reef's set up. Consider putting a Diamond Goby into the tank...They do a good job of keeping your sand nice and white.

 

[coker98]

tunze are great pumps but are expensive. i have the seio 620s and they work great. if you want chaotic then point them at the glass and have the currents deflect each other.

 

[AustinVines]

Thanks for the advice. I am going to get serious with the gravel vac and take out as much cyano as possible during a 5g water change each day for a week or until it lessens.

The owner of a good LFS here suggested an easy upgrade would be a SQiWD? Basically a T at the return that sends variable levels of water 0-100% through two outflows. I may need a mag9 but it would let me get rid of the two ph's.

Thanks again

 

[Avi]

The reviews here in RC about Squids are very mixed. You might want to look into them a bit more before you commit to one instead of using powerheads.