Flow for a 180 FOWLR

[Monkeyfish]

I'm setting up a 180g FOWLR with a 75g sump/refugium. Output from the sump with head loss will be about 600gph. I'm not sure which of the following 2 options would be best for additional flow:

A. 3 Tunze nano streams (~1900gph total) running continuously
B. 2 Algae Free MJ mods (~3200gph total) running on a wavemaker (1600gph at a time).

Opinions appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Flow Pumps

Flow Pumps

Streams run great - EXPENSIVE
I would check the Maxi Jet Mod thread & see how they do on wavemakers. If they are OK I would go with them for the savings.

 

[pecan2phat]

6' tank, your better off running two 6101's where they are adjustable to be (6000 or 6100) on a multi-controller.

 

[Editour2]

Eric,
you can check out the new Koralia 3's (950 gph), and 4's (1400gph), 12v however they only operate with Koralia's wavemaker, (over $300).
Frank

http://www.marineandreef.com/Hydor_Koralia_Powerheads_Aquarium_Power_Heads_Pumps_s/380.htm

 

[Editour2]

Eric,
continuation....or use the normal Koralia's continuously/without a wavemaker, (3's @ 850gph vs 4's @ 1200 gph). They are relatively cheap and come with the magnets.
Frank

 

[Monkeyfish]

Thanks all. I'm trying to compromise between quality, cost and space. The koralias are too intrusive IMO and their wavemaker is too costly. I have 3 tunze 6025; however, I'll be setting up another tank after this one's finished so am going to need to get more ph anyway! I'm considering going with the maxi-jet mods which supposedly work fine on a wavemaker. I'm concerned with having enough flow, but don't want to be blowing the fish all over the tank either.

 

[qy7400]

What about the Vortechs, should move plenty of water for a FO and you can always add; plus they come with the wave driver.

 

[pecan2phat]

Here's the thing about flow & FO tanks. Do you need tremendous flow as in a SPS dominated tank? No, but you also need to realize that with diminished flow, you tend to create voids. Detritus will build up much quicker and species such as tangs can be less aggressive in a high flow enviroment. Even with a weir (overflow surface skimming box), you might still notice scuzz appearance on the water surface in the corners.
6025's would probably not be felt after about 3'. To give an example, I call my 180g a fowlr tank also though I tend to keep some frogspawn and hammer corals. I have two 6000's pointed to the sides from about 2/3rds up/back pane on a multi-controller at a pulse rate. This keeps the back corners moving. The main water movement comes from two vortechs mounted on the side panes, I only keep this on at about 60% in a reefcrest mode.

 

[Monkeyfish]

Tunze and Vortech's would be great, but I don't have $900 to spend on powerheads and real controllers. Thus, my original 2 options

I agree about the 6025's. I originally planned on using 3: 2 mounted on either end of the back angled at the middle of the front glass and one on the back in the lower middle pointed up towards the front. The outputs from the sump would be pointed at the corners. I was just concerned that this may leave dead zones like you stated.

The MJ mods put out a lot of flow so I figured a cheap wavemaker to alternate them would be a good compromise and I'd still have a lot of flow.

Decisions decisions.

 

[Editour2]

another alternative

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1419460

 

[Long Island Andy]

Eric
Why not just increase the size of the main pump. Lose the powerheads. I used a Mag 2400 to return water on dual overflow in my 120 and it moved water, fish and sand.

Just an idea

 

[Monkeyfish]

Andy - I don't want that much flow going through the refugium.