Fed up w/ being Fed up - Help, Roger!

[JeepTJ]

So, here's the deal. I've never been happy w/ the flow in my system, and I went from Maxi-Jets to Seios to now, a Stream 6000. So I do like the stream, and it's very reliable, but I'm still disappointed with the flow in my system. Also, it's friggin' huge. I mean, it works great but boy it takes up a lot of space, and even with the magnet mount I use, the angles of attack that I'm able to get out of it are pretty limiting.

It's a run-of-the-mill Oceanic 75g reef-ready tank, so it's got an overflow near the far-left corner. I've got the one 6000 w/ a single controller pulsing between max and min speed. The return pump is an Eheim 1262, and it's split like shown in the attached picture (easier than describing it all). The arrows show the current flow orientation.

My biggest annoyances are 1) I have dead spots - throughout the rockwork, actually 2) I don't think i'm keeping jump in the water column to be filtered out - I think it's finding nice landing areas and feeding algae (this is tied to #1 I bet) and 3) the stream is a huge honking thing hanging in the tank. I am really hesitant about adding another a multicontroller just from the sheer size. I really hate having to use it attached to the side of the tank - I'd prefer the back, but the angle of attack problem means I couldn't aim it much beyond right at the front of the tank.

So Roger - Help me out, man! With the new nano streams, etc... what's the best course of action here? I don't have enough allowance at the top of the tank for the waves from a wavebox, otherwise I bet that'd be the holy grail... And I'm fed up being annoyed by my flow, so willing to dive in, even if it means going with 4 6045's or something.

Thanks in advance for relieving my pain!

 

[jacmyoung]

My approach would be to upgrade the transformer to a 6100, that will give you up to 3,170gph, then get a 6200 front cover which has a larger opening for wider flow. Probably the easiest way to start. Reaim the return to eliminate the small dead spot, and the 6100 wide flow should take care of the large spot.

I am sure Roger will have some better ideas.

 

[rvitko]

James's idea is sound except that may be too much flow for some corals nearer the pump. Plan B would be to get a single 6045 to add to what you have. Place it in the front corner and aim it diagonally across your two dead spots.

 

[JeepTJ]

Roger and jacmyoung - thanks for the ideas/suggestions!

Roger,

If I did want to upgrade the 6000 to a 6100 for a bit more force, I could control it to not go full stream, right? I was looking at a couple online stores, but am not seeing the parts mentioned to upgrade the 600, any suggestions?

If I performed those upgrades, and placed the stream in the middle of right side, pointing across the length of the tank in a pulsing fashion, should this be sufficient to avoid detritus buildup, or for that would it be best to also place some sort of pump (a 6045, for instance) on the left side of the tank somewhere?

Thanks!

 

[mattboy]

If you don't mind spending some money, I'd buy a couple of 6045s and put them close to your dead spots. Try that, if you want more, buy more! Or just bite the bullet, get another 6000 and the y-cord and run them both off your single controller.

I've got 2 6045s in my 50 gallon corner tank and the flow is excellent. But the bigger streams have wider openings, which means more water movement with less velocity exiting the pump, which is kind of the whole idea of the streams.

 

[john f]

I know it's not a Tunze solution, but why not mount the Stream on a Seaswirl?
Dead spots would be gone.


John

 

[rvitko]

The rotator or a 6045 is probably the most cost effective option- both are about $100. To upgrade the pump with a bigger transformer and bigger outlet will run about $130. The parts to upgrade are the transformer 7210.602 and the outlet housing 6200.13