Flow in a 20g

[dhayden]

I have a new 20g reef. Have a few sps, buttons, xenia, zoos. Under MH lighting. Right now I have the flow off 2 old 480 powerheads on an old red sea wavemaker. Prob. like 10 years old, but it works . Anyway I have been wondering if it is enough flow. I have them in the top to back corners facing the front center. Still get a dead spot in the back of the tank. I was debating a small sieo or tunze ( dont think I can afford) or they have one small enough. You think this is enough?

 

[Andrew]

Are you talking about a 20 gallon high or a 20 gallon long?

 

[dhayden]

High

 

[bertoni]

The usual rule of thumb for that tank would be 200-600 gph total flow, depending on the animals you want to keep. I don't know how much flow those powerheads provide, so I can't comment further.

 

[Andrew]

A seio 820 or 1100 would be good.

 

[dhayden]

Thanks for the help. You think adding it with the other two so I still have some alternative flows?

 

[Andrew]

You could but then you may be getting some strong flow and cause a sandstorm but you could always try it and see what you think.

 

[jjmg]

I think you may find that the sps would like to have 2 1100s and the xenia would like to have 2 820s. That is one of the problems with a mixed reef. The 820s are a bit smaller and may look better in the tank. I tend to to go to the high side though and would put in 2 1100s.

 

[Andrew]

Two 1100s would way too much flow. Just stick with one seio 820 and then use the pumps you have now also. You don't want to end up with way too much flow. You could always just use a seio 620 with the pumps you have now also.

 

[bertoni]

Even a Seio 820 is rated at about 800 gph. That's enormously more flow than soft corals would need, or even perhaps like, IME.