Flow Masters needed!

hulley

hulley

New member
I need some help. I have a 180g BB that I'm going to re-aquascape soon and add 2 vortechs in the next week or so. I already have 2 tunze 6060s. I want to arrange to liverocks in such a manner to make the most of the flow.
Instead of rock first, powerhead second. I want to go
Powerhead first, rock second!
What would be an ideal rock formation with 4 powerheads in a standard 180g tank (perfecto w/corner overflows 72x24x24)? The Tunzes will be replaced with Vortechs so no aiming. Where should I place the powerheads? 2 low, 2 high? all 4 on the back wall? Build one island? I dont have SPS, only LPS.
Here is my tank now.
random006.jpg

BTW how can I tell if I have the latest and greatest Vortechs? and where should I purchase them from? I will buy them from a RC sponsor, I just want to be sure I get the latest model.
Thanks
Hulley
 
Nothin? OK, much of this is that I realize I have too much LR, 252lbs, its tightly packed and thats a dumb move on my behalf. I'm removing alot of LR and am going to a very open aquascaping layout. With that in mind, where would be the best place to put 4 Vortechs?
 
If it were me, and I was planning on getting the future upgraded drivers with built in controllers, I'd go two on each end. Maybe one pair higher than the other. Down far enough to stop any vortexes from forming. I hope you plan on selling the Tunzes. You won't need them with 4 Vortechs in the tank. :)
 
Hulley: I would form your rocks in the middle, giving tons of space both in front and behind them, then place your vortechs on the ends, about 1/3 down.

Basically, setup your tank like a peninsula tank so that flow can easily travel the entire length of the tank picking up detritus as it goes a long and delivering it to the overflows.
 
I have a 180 with 2 vortecs. I have them both as close to the top as I can get without them sucking in any air. They are both on the side of the tank, 1 is 3 inches from the front pane and the other is on the opposite side about 4 inches from the rear pane. They do a good job of moving my sandbed about 18-24 inches in from the side. If I were barebottom and wanted extreme flow I would leave these two where they are and add two to the back pane at the top and right under the AGA braces.

HTH
Shawn
 
I would buy two pumps for now and place one on each side of the tank. When the controller comes out soon you may want to pick up another one or two pumps for some more creative flow options.

-Tim
 
Since you will be using the 6060's as well, I would put the Vortech's on the back pane 2' apart and each 2' from sides. Then put the 6060's on the sides.
With your black back it will seem as if you only have the 6060's.
 
If the rocks formation will stay as it is in the picture I would put 1 pump on one end next to the front and other pump on the other end next to the back about 5-8 inches under the water line. That will give you nice and round stream ( TUNZE ) and if possible replace them to 2 vortech - This location will give you the GYRE which is so important for corals
In order to get maximum flow I would put the 2 vortech on the back glass next to each other in the middle which will cause a very nice stream coming from the bottom toward the front glass and surrounding the rocks from all sides
Since the vortech are easy to play with you can alter if you're not satisfied. You can check the efficiency of the stream by small air stone following the small bubbles

Ron Harel
www.israel-al.com
www.reefoflife.com
 
Thanks for all the replies! I'm wanting to remove much of the rock thats in the tank now, probably at least half. I dont want any rock touching the front/sides/back glass.
KK- are you saying to have the 2 vortechs on each end? Dont you have 3 on your back glass? Could you explain a little more? I'm really diggin your tank and want to make sure I understand. Your tank is actually giving me much inspiration!
E-A-G-L-E-S I was kinda thinking what you said, two vortechs on the back kinda low with the 6060s (replaced with vortechs later) on the side 1/3 from the top.
I cant wait to be able to put all of this on a controller!
 
I can't comment on a 180, but what I seem to have noticed was if the tank had one third to no more than on half a tank full of rock wise you could increase flow without turning up the pump to full blast.
 
Well. I orderd one Vortech today from Marinedepot.com, should be here on wedsday. I'm gonna start Aquascaping in just a little bit, I've had new salt water mixing since yesterday to make up for lack of rock volume and whats left over will be a partial water change. So far I'm thinking the two tunze will be on the back wall half way down, 2' in from the sides and the Vortech will go on one end 2/3 down running 100% (probably) in the middle. When I get the othe Vortech it will go on the other end 1/3 down in the middle, of course everything is subject to change! I'll post pics soon.
 
Well after a couple of hours and some really upset tangs, here is the the current layout. Much more open eh?
random022-1.jpg

This is what I found after removing one of the rocks, Can any one say "Dead spot?"
random016.jpg

I'm pretty sure with the new layout and Vortech I got coming I wont be having this problem anymore! I can already see an increase in flow with just removing all the rocks!
 
Hulley: sorry, forgot I posted here :)

That pile of sand/detritus is pretty interesting. Kind of goes to show you that despite your previous rock layout, which would be considered "open" by many on this board, you still had dead spots.

The new layout, to me, is much improved. I can just see it grown in with beautiful corals in a year and being jaw dropping. And, having two straight-aways to swim through, your tangs will love it too. Imagine how it is now, one tang can be on each side swimming all the way through and not bump into each other, and the 3rd can just swim above the rest with great room, as well.


As for pump placement, here is an issue ive encountered with my 3 pumps on my back glass, and why im gonna try, once again, repositioning them. Because of how the flow bounces off the glass, and smacks the rock, detritus is actually getting forced INTO the rock. It will actually get packed into the rock, and not be given an opportunity to fall out before it can begin to rot. I didnt initially consider this, but believe it or not, I found a patch of cyano growing on one of the rocks getting BLASTED by flow. I thought, "this cant be right... this area is just getting pounded by flow, and yet here is some cyano (phosphate lover)".

I spoke to Bomber about it, described the area, and he told me the above about flow jamming detritus into the rocks. So, what we're more interested in is getting flow around and under the rocks, but not directly INTO (man..as if it wasnt hard before!). I actually had the opportunity to see his tank in person, and that's how his was setup. To channel flow along side and below his rock. Not directly into it.

What happens next makes sense, however. The bacteria inside of the rock will begin to consume whatever is inside of the rock, or whatever is in the water column. Then, because of the bacteria buildup and pressure it has created, detritus will actually be forced out of the rock, and thanks to gravity, fall straight down to get picked up by our flow and sent to the skimmer. This is why it's important to lift your rock off the bottom, or use pointy parts of the rock to act as the bottom (which, based on your photo, I think you've done an incredible job of). If you offer flow a long side of the rock, when the detritus and general bacteria biomass are pushed out, the flow can grab it and not force it back down into the rock.
 
Ron: I use an eheim 1262 in my sump. I have 3 vortechs in the display. 9600gph is the total max turnover in my tank.
 
King-Kong, thanks for the reply and the compliment! Your tank and knowledge is what really inspired me to take action and I already see improvements! I cant wait until I get my Vortech on wedsday and then a 2nd in another week or so! It should be fun! I guess I'll place the Vortech 2/3 from the top on one end and leav the other power head on the opposite end for now. Sound good?
 
Just keep messing with the placement... who knows if the ends will work best, or what height precisely. I just know that the way I had it is having some draw backs (which is a shame, cause it made great flow patterns for the corals, fish, and made it so the pumps were kind of hidden from view).
 
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