On my first floor I have a glass 150 gallon DT tank with built in twin overflows, and (2) 3/4" Loc-Line water return pipes on each end of the tank for a total of 4 returns.
I added plumbing from my return pump manifold to create a closed loop system against the back wall of the tank in between the twin overflows. It's 1" PVC shaped like a wide "U" and has 1/4" drilled holes in it to create a spray bar that directs the water straight down across the back of the tank....and is installed about 3 inches under the water line. This closed loop system is maintenance free and offers some additional water movement along the back, but not enough.
I can't add any more flow using my return pump manifold since my twin overflows are rated at 600GPH each....1200 GPH total without risking over flow flooding.
My tank is 10+ years old, and had a 6 inch deep crushed coral bed that I recently siphoned out over many months of water changes due to extremely high nitrate levels....old tank syndrome.
I may add 1" to 2" of live sand substrate down the road because my wife likes the look. But for now trying out a bare bottom tank.
I am noticing a lot of detris on the bottom of my tank. I was hoping to add some type of power head(s) to increase the flow in my DT and agitate the detris in hopes it will go down the overflows, and be filtered out of my tank via the sump in the basement.
I want to locate the powerhead(s) on the back of my tank between the twin overflows. Moving water from back to front instead of side to side like most people seem to do. I don't like the look of powerheads/gyres mounted on the sides of tanks. The back of my tank is painted black to match the black overflows so that should help hide the powerhead/gyre and wiring. Plus I have a lot of live rock going across the entire length of tank that will further hide the powerhead/gyre. I also plan on redirecting the 2 Loc-Line returns on each end of the tank to concentrate the flow toward the 2 corners of the tank since adding the powerhead will take care of the middle. I don't plan on eliminating the closed loop system although I can shut it off with ball valves if necessary.
Any power head pump(s) I install will require me to stand on 3 foot step ladder to reach across the top of the tank and down behind it because my tank is built into a wall with bookshelves on either side and cupboards above and below. I only have a few inches clearance behind the tank. The only access behind the tank is reaching across the top, and several 1 1/2 " access holes drilled underneath the tank for wires and the closed loop plumbing.
I am considering adding one gyre, (or) 1 to 2 powerhead(s). I would appreciate pros and cons and which manufacturer you recommend and have had experience with so i can make a better decision on which to buy. As I don't know how difficult it will be to install, and uninstall these pumps for maintenance due to the limited access I have. I"m a fat *uck and don't want to break the glass on my tank leaning over it to gain access to these pumps every month or two....LOL I guess I can ask my son or wife to help me when it's time to do any maintenance necessary.
I'm leaning toward adding one maxspect gyre the smaller model which I think is the 230, or perhaps 2 vortex's the smaller models which I think are the 10's.
Thank you!
I added plumbing from my return pump manifold to create a closed loop system against the back wall of the tank in between the twin overflows. It's 1" PVC shaped like a wide "U" and has 1/4" drilled holes in it to create a spray bar that directs the water straight down across the back of the tank....and is installed about 3 inches under the water line. This closed loop system is maintenance free and offers some additional water movement along the back, but not enough.
I can't add any more flow using my return pump manifold since my twin overflows are rated at 600GPH each....1200 GPH total without risking over flow flooding.
My tank is 10+ years old, and had a 6 inch deep crushed coral bed that I recently siphoned out over many months of water changes due to extremely high nitrate levels....old tank syndrome.
I may add 1" to 2" of live sand substrate down the road because my wife likes the look. But for now trying out a bare bottom tank.
I am noticing a lot of detris on the bottom of my tank. I was hoping to add some type of power head(s) to increase the flow in my DT and agitate the detris in hopes it will go down the overflows, and be filtered out of my tank via the sump in the basement.
I want to locate the powerhead(s) on the back of my tank between the twin overflows. Moving water from back to front instead of side to side like most people seem to do. I don't like the look of powerheads/gyres mounted on the sides of tanks. The back of my tank is painted black to match the black overflows so that should help hide the powerhead/gyre and wiring. Plus I have a lot of live rock going across the entire length of tank that will further hide the powerhead/gyre. I also plan on redirecting the 2 Loc-Line returns on each end of the tank to concentrate the flow toward the 2 corners of the tank since adding the powerhead will take care of the middle. I don't plan on eliminating the closed loop system although I can shut it off with ball valves if necessary.
Any power head pump(s) I install will require me to stand on 3 foot step ladder to reach across the top of the tank and down behind it because my tank is built into a wall with bookshelves on either side and cupboards above and below. I only have a few inches clearance behind the tank. The only access behind the tank is reaching across the top, and several 1 1/2 " access holes drilled underneath the tank for wires and the closed loop plumbing.
I am considering adding one gyre, (or) 1 to 2 powerhead(s). I would appreciate pros and cons and which manufacturer you recommend and have had experience with so i can make a better decision on which to buy. As I don't know how difficult it will be to install, and uninstall these pumps for maintenance due to the limited access I have. I"m a fat *uck and don't want to break the glass on my tank leaning over it to gain access to these pumps every month or two....LOL I guess I can ask my son or wife to help me when it's time to do any maintenance necessary.
I'm leaning toward adding one maxspect gyre the smaller model which I think is the 230, or perhaps 2 vortex's the smaller models which I think are the 10's.
Thank you!
