Circulation Considerations

[Leafer]

Hi! I have a 55g aquarium with 2 new clownfish. You would classify what I have as FOWLR. I have two timers for my lights and was wondering if I should move a circulating pump to the timer. I think the ocean is calmer at night and it could be less stressful to the fish when attempting to sleep. What do you think?

Since I do not have a reef setup, what would you recommend in terms of circulation? The return from my wetdry filter is via a Rio â€"œ 600 through an alternating SCWD device. I’d estimate its effectively providing about 300 gph. I also have a Hydor Koralia powerhead providing and additional 400 gph. In addition to my clowns I have a shrimp, lots of crabs and snails. If I could eliminate the look of a big powerhead in the tank I’d love to. What do you suggest to keep conditions optimal and what do you think of the water movement I currently have?

If you don’t mind let me ask one more thing on a different subject. For my wetdry filter I have a tubular foam filter in the overflow/skimmer box and in the sump I have a rectangular foam block. Do you think its fine to clean these out with tap water? I ring them out very well before replacing them. Would you advise to use RO or saltwater?

Thanks!

 

[michaeldaly]

I really don't think it is necessary to put a circulation pump on a timer, it will also lower the amount of dissolved oxygen as you will have less surface water movement.

 

[marduc]

For a FOWLR setup that flow should be fine, the only foreseeable problem is dead/stagnant areas on your sand bed... try to direct as much of that flow as possible across that to avoid stagnant areas that will accumulate detritus, or eventually be cyanno factories.

Do not put the circ. pump on a timer as already stated.

For rinsing out the sponges RO is preferred, however I too am guilty of occasionally rinsing my sponge in tap water from time to time.. wring it out well, and leave overnight to drip dry if you do to minimize the water introduced to the tank, this is not nearly as bad as using tap for top offs and water changes due to the smaller amt. of water reintroduced to the tank; however you are still adding contaminants to some degree doing this.

 

[drummereef]

If it were me, I'd add another Koralia. I'd shoot for a minimum of 20x turnover in the tank. Leave the pumps on 24/7 and don't mess with low flow at night. We work in closed systems that react very different from the real thing. Try to get as much surface agitation as possible from the powerheads. I would rinse the foam blocks with the saltwater you take out of the tank at water changes. Tap will kill all the bacteria that is in them.