Bare Bottom Members -Tunze 6020/6040 upside-down will keep your bottom clean

[mitchb]

These pumps are still relatively new and I haven't seen any posts regarding a this particular use/set-up for them. I recently set up a 50 gallon bare bottom tank and I am running a 6020 flipped over with the deflector down. It is in the back corner of a 30" wide tank about 4" off the bottom. With the deflector down the flow fans out pretty nicely with I'd say a 60% fan pattern flowing across the bottom of the tank, and does a great job pushing out detritus. I have it set on a timer for just 15 minutes a day.

I haven't experimented but I imagine as you lower the pump toward the bottom it will result in a wider flow pattern since the current will spread more after hitting the tank bottom. The deflector is also adjustable side to side allowing you to point more current along the back for example if that is where your detritus accumulates.

Using the more powerful 6040 controllable pump, I think you could clear a large portion of big tank. Or any tank with more bottom obsticals( rocks). My tank has just a 30 x 20 footprint with a pretty clear "under-reef" so the $42 6020 did the trick for me. I also use a 6040 turned sideways without the deflector for current along the upper back wall of my tank and a 6095 pointed diagonally back to front. So Let me qualify that I have a lot of other flow too.

And these pumps are small and hidden easily to boot. Another great pump by Tunze

 

[smatter]

I love my 6040. Roger says not to run the 6040 upside down as it does not have a grill to hold in the prop.

 

[mitchb]

6020 is working fine for me up side down, but I only run it 15 minutes a day. I'll have to watch for issues. You can get a grill for those; I bought one for my 6040 since I wanted to run it wide flow without the deflector, but of course the deflector then doesn't fit.

 

[smatter]

I run mine without the deflector or grill, just not upside down. Nice to know the grill fits the 6040 in case I do want to invert.

 

[rvitko]

Sorry for missing this thread, I have been having issues with email notifications from RC, they tend to come a few days later.

I had speculated it would be an issue due to the lack of a guard, the factory assured me though that it will work from a mechanical stand point, the only concern was that a 6020 that is new may have trouble starting and it would be a good idea to run it upright or sideways for at least 2 weeks to break it in.

 

[smatter]

Good to know. Thanks Roger.

 

[CafeReef]

Just to slightly sidetrack the topic here. What's everyones feelings of a 6020 or a 6040 at lowest settings in a 7 gallon pico? To much?

 

[rvitko]

The 6020 won't work, it is too strong and not adjustable, a 6040 could work but would be on the strong end, I think a smaller impeller pump might be better suited or a hang on the back filter.

 

[CafeReef]

The 6020 won't work, it is too strong and not adjustable, a 6040 could work but would be on the strong end, I think a smaller impeller pump might be better suited or a hang on the back filter.

Thanks, I am using a HOB Mignon 150 right now, flow seems to be pretty good but wont know better until I have something to really "sway" in the tank. I just liked the 6020/40 due to it's compact size in such a small cube.

Thanks for the heads up on power, didnt want to spend the $$ and then be screwed.

 

[smatter]

I've got a 6040 in an 8.6g tank and it works great. I use it without the deflector, or sometimes with a modded deflector that isn't at such a sharp angle so it hits right in the center of the surface of the water from the lower right corner of the tank. It does a great job at mitigating the surface film. I can get great waves with ot without the deflector. No problems here even at 100%.