Coming back to hobby question about flow

[jtroutt19]

Hey guys been away for a few years. I have set up a 40gal breeder currently with a 29gal sump. Got about 45lbs of LR in the tank. Total flow GPH is 3500 I am thinking this is to much. 1650 in one powerhead 1250 in another powerhead and 600-800 in my return pump from my sump. Will you guy provide some insight here would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you!

 

[RobZilla04]

Some folks put a little more emphasis on GPH w/ regard to flow than required. At the end of the day 3x-6x through the sump is plenty. As for the powerheads/wavemakers so long as there aren't dead spots nor substrate blowing around, the sweet spot is somewhere in between.

SPS like higher random flow while some LPS prefer moderate to low. It's all about aquascape and placement of coral into spots where they will thrive.

If you are able to achieve greater than 10x through the sump you've got one heck of an overflow volume & return. Just because the pump is rated for 600-800 doesn't mean you'll be achieving that.

 

[jtroutt19]

I will figure out tonight what my sump pump is actually doing. I do not have a valve to control the flow on my return line and my overflow is keeping up. I think I might put a valve on the line. No matter where I point the power heads there are spots that become bare. That being said I don't have any dead spots at least.....

 

[jtroutt19]

I've always had issues with rock placement. Never got it right in my old tank. Thoughts? I've only been running for 2 days

 

[RobZilla04]

Power head placement can be tricky. A lot of trial and error involved.

 

[mcgyvr]

3500/40 = 87.5x Most shoot for 30x as a start for a typical tank.. 75x+ for bare bottom/high flow SPS only tanks..

No way you can keep sand in place with 87.5x in a 40B unless your sand is rocks

 

[jtroutt19]

haha lol yeah I am having issues with keeping my sand in place. I will removed the 1650 and see if I cannot get the 1250 to work. If not I will go get a couple smaller gph heads and see how those work.

I got these powerheads for super cheap which is why I bought them. was planning on using them in a freshwater tank but that never came to be so they just sat until now.

 

[jtroutt19]

I think I found a way to make these circulation pumps work. I put them on a wave timer set for 5second intervals. Sand is not going everywhere now and it’s picking up junk on the sand bed that it wasn’t before

 

[jtroutt19]

My sump return is right at 350gph.

 

[RobZilla04]

I think I found a way to make these circulation pumps work. I put them on a wave timer set for 5second intervals. Sand is not going everywhere now and it's picking up junk on the sand bed that it wasn't before

My sump return is right at 350gph.

Well there ya go.