Just read that thread on Maxijet Mods, wow! But before I start doing this....I was just wondering how people determine how much flow they need? I only have 2 MJ 1200's right now and wont be getting my LR to set up my 75 AGA for a couple months.....but I dont want to mod my MJ's into producing too much flow....any insight?
Flow rates for Reef Tanks
- Thread starter kookerson
- Start date
sir_dudeguy
Active member
so the 2 MJ powerheads are the only thing you've got in your 75? If so, thats already WAY under what you should be at for a reef, so no worries about it adding too much 
Most people will suggest starting with 20 times turnover rate per hour in a reef tank. I personally will always start w/about 25 from now on because i've found that the higher i go, the better.
So what you do is take your tank size...(75) and multiply it by 20 (for 20 times turnover) and you get 1500 gallons per hour. That means you should have 1500 gallons per hour being pushed out of ALL your pumps in the main display, including your return pump but remember to count for head loss, and dont count the skimmer or any other pumps in the sump (that arent pumping back to the tank).
Personally, i'd shoot for around 2200 gph total in the tank, but thats just me. If i were to do sps, i'd be going with like 35 times turnover, but for now all i've got is softies and a few lps and one sps that is in good strong flow area.
Also pump selection can be important as well IMO. I dont like using stuff like maxijets and aquaclear powerheads because they put out a really narrow and violent jet of water...not easy flowing and wide like would be better. I recommend adding a couple seio 820's to your tank if all you have now is those MJ's. Even if you mod them that is.
hth
Most people will suggest starting with 20 times turnover rate per hour in a reef tank. I personally will always start w/about 25 from now on because i've found that the higher i go, the better.
So what you do is take your tank size...(75) and multiply it by 20 (for 20 times turnover) and you get 1500 gallons per hour. That means you should have 1500 gallons per hour being pushed out of ALL your pumps in the main display, including your return pump but remember to count for head loss, and dont count the skimmer or any other pumps in the sump (that arent pumping back to the tank).
Personally, i'd shoot for around 2200 gph total in the tank, but thats just me. If i were to do sps, i'd be going with like 35 times turnover, but for now all i've got is softies and a few lps and one sps that is in good strong flow area.
Also pump selection can be important as well IMO. I dont like using stuff like maxijets and aquaclear powerheads because they put out a really narrow and violent jet of water...not easy flowing and wide like would be better. I recommend adding a couple seio 820's to your tank if all you have now is those MJ's. Even if you mod them that is.
hth
papagimp
COMAS Rocks!
I needed more flow in my 55g and adding a modded MJ1200 was a tad too much for me, had to remove it and use another lower powerhead for the time being. The work fabulous but put out alot of flow. Determining how much flow you need though is not only by the size of tank, but more importantly, what kind of corals do you plan to keep? My tank is mostly LPS and softies/shrooms/zoo's, but also a few SPS, so I needed high flow for them, but not too much to rip apart my LPS. Iv'e got a 1500gph Seio and it's less flow than my "low flow" modded mj1200, wich supposedly does about 1500gph, more in my case obviously. And my return pump is probably about 500gph to the display. So, roughly 2000gph in a 55g, with mixed coral specimens and enough aquascaping and rockwork to break that current up and spread it around enough.
sir_dudeguy
Active member
I would not go for all 2000gph from one powerhead alone. Its best to have multiple sources of flow.
Seio's FEEL like they're putting out less flow than other powerheads (like regular MJ's) because they have a really wide opening and the flow is dispersed more. Unlike other powerheads which have a really concentrated flow...putting out few GPH but they make if feel like they're putting out more than like a seio does.
Seio's FEEL like they're putting out less flow than other powerheads (like regular MJ's) because they have a really wide opening and the flow is dispersed more. Unlike other powerheads which have a really concentrated flow...putting out few GPH but they make if feel like they're putting out more than like a seio does.
papagimp
COMAS Rocks!
The output on the seio and the modded maxi are almost identical sizes. They "feel" like they are putting out about the same, but the seio does disperse a bit more from the pump unlike the maxi. The mods do produce less of a laminar flow, but not like the seio's or tunzes, but still better than a normal maxi does.
And I agree, don't go all 2000 out of one pump or powerhead. Like I said, I have the seio and the return pump (with two outlets in the tank) So it's like having 1 big powerhead and two smaller ones.
And I agree, don't go all 2000 out of one pump or powerhead. Like I said, I have the seio and the return pump (with two outlets in the tank) So it's like having 1 big powerhead and two smaller ones.
Alright....so let me pose one other question. It seems to me that the problem with the MJs is that the flow output isnt wide enough....has anyone had success modding their MJs so that the output is wider........I understand what you mean when you say 2000 GPH is too much coming out of one PH.......especially when it seems like the MJs could probably cut glass with how narrow the output is! : )
Fraggle Rock2
New member
People have cut off the front nozzle on MJ's to widen the flow stream.
It's in this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=326587&highlight=maxijet+mod
It's in this thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=326587&highlight=maxijet+mod
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