Can I get by without powerheads?

dcombs44

dcombs44

New member
I'm in the process of setting up my new tank. It's a 55 gallon reef. I have a return pumping 1500 gph and a semi-closed loop setup with a 700 gph pump. I would like to avoid using powerheads just to have a cleaner look, but I'm not sure if i'll get enough coverage with what I have. Please look at the pics below and give some opinions. Also, I was wondering what some of the powerheads of choice were.

If you click my red house, there are a few more pics there. Otherwise, maybe these will help.
The split return on the left is the 1500gph and the right is 700.
HPIM0393.jpg



HPIM0401.jpg


Thanks
 
I see no reason youd need a powerhead, just keep adjusting those outputs until you feel you have flow where you want it
 
I agree, keep adjusting the outputs and monitor your reef inhabitants until you know there is enough or too little. If there is too little flow i'd suggest a maxijet 900 or 1200. I used two 900's in my old 55 and when I recently upgraded to a 90 gal I put in a 1200 on the right and a 900 on the left... www.drsfostersmith.com
go there and type in maxijet...they're the best powerheads out there if you need them!
 
yeah...I've got some old maxijets from my old 29 gallon. My biggest problem is getting flow in the front left corner because the overflow is so awkward in the small tank. I'm taking this process very slowly so hopefully all my reef critters are thriving and my water is perfect when I start to introduce corals and fish. I have been playing with the flow direction a bit and the only way I can get the water to move in the front corner is by turning the return on the left around, but that is overkill and it takes away from the flow in other areas.
 
off topic question for you....what kind of paint or what material is that on the back of your tank. I've been wanting to paint the back of my tank and have been thinking of krylon but not so sure yet. This isn't meant to disrupt the thread, I'm just curious.
 
would you be completely opposed to putting a maxijet on the back wall at about mid-tank and then face it towards the left corner. I know thats a stupid suggestion since you're trying to avoid powerheads but it might take care of the problem.
 
Yeah...I've considered a couple of options. I could possible hide the powerhead behind the rocks and face it that direction. I just hate using the suction cups because they always fail and then my powerhead is floating all over the place. I really don't want to spring for one of those magnetic holders either.

The paint is just regular krylon. Just make sure you do it in numerous light coats. I used a whole can on my 55 just to avoid scratching etc.
 
Do you have the slider bars for the maxijets that hang tightly on the top edge of the tank? They work well but only allow you to hang the powerhead a few inches into the water.
 
I rigged some up from an old tank divider that I had, but I was considering placing some powerheads in the middle of the tank such as you suggested, and I wasn't sure about options for that.
 
I also think the main thing to know is what do you plan on keeping in the tank?
I run a 3ftx3ftx11in tank with a 500gph rio pump split in two-but I could use even less flow than that. If you keep a mixed reef then what you have should be good enough. JMHO and your setup looks very nice!
 
What size drain do you have on the display for the main pump that you are getting 1500gph through?
 
I will keep mostly lps and some sps in the future. The drain is a 1" bulkhead with an all-glass megaflow drain pipe, and thank you on the compliment on my setup.
 
I'm sure the closed loop and return pump will be really really close to enough. If the sps in the future come up with flow issues the closed loop pump can be upgraded easily.

When figuring out the turnover numbers though, after headloss your return pump would be down to just about 600 if it's able to return through a 1" drainpipe. The closed loop should be running pretty much at full rating because you really don't have any head pressure on them even with turns and bends. Some maybe but not enough to count against it.

You can also do a manifold type style closed loop return and with plenty of nozzles made you can forget about ever having a powerhead. If you make extra's and just cap them it gives a lot of room for adjustment when the corals grow larger and change the water flow patterns.
 
Yeah....I don't have a typical closed loop setup. It's basically a 700 gph pump in my overflow. I plumbed it up over the top and across the back to the opposite corner. So technically, it's not a true closed loop with an external pump, it's just not a true return pump either. Also, I don't understand why I would have so much head loss from my return because I only have it plumbed with about 4 feet of flex hose. All I know is the overflow keeps up fine with it.
 
I've heard it works well, but it's really big and bulky. That's just hearsay. I would use it, but that's the situation that I'm trying to avoid (having big bulky things in my tank) I'm wanting to stay with as clean a look as possible.
 
i agree, but i lacked flow like you in your locations so i am trying to widen the flow with what i have as opposed to adding more powerheads.
 
point well made. I will consider the maxi-mod. I'm still toying with what I have, and currently I think I may have a pretty good flow pattern. I guess I won't totally know until I get some corals in there to show me what's going on, but it looks like i'm getting good coverage so far. I would love to put some sort of wave box in, but it's really not feasible for my tank or the space that I have.
 
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