?? for FLOW experts

[uhuru]

I'm setting up a non-photosynthetic tank with the flow as illustrated below:

The rocks in the center will be taller and will go all the way to the top of the tank. In essence I will be creating a gyre type flow in the tank. The pumps are non-controllable thus the flow will constantly be in 1 direction.

Is it possible to add a wave to this flow pattern to help keep detritus in suspension and help deliver food to the corals? If so, can this be done with a vortech mp20? How is this different than say a tunze wavebox, and would a wavebox be better suited for something like this?

Thanks!

 

[TheH]

I think it might be difficult to add a wave to a gyre flow. Consider, that the wave can only go in one direction.

What I would do is replace the tunzes with tunze waveboxes in the same position and have them alternate on and off. This will give you a wave in one direction then followed by a wave in the other.

 

[Hookup]

I would offer that you should move the Yellow pump towards the bottom of the tank to get that level of the water flowing.

I would not add a wave to the system. Your goals with flow are at least two fold... for simplification we'll just stick with 2.
1) keep things suspended
2) direct things at the overflow

Your setup will do both, but with non-varied flow like bugs on your windscreen, things will get locked into your rockwork and all over the place. The simplest solution is to take a 3rd powerhead and each week, or tow, when doing your water chagnes, blast your rocks to get the "bugs off the windows"...

There are many right ways, IMO... but you've got a simple enough design that is easily augmented with a low-maintenance solution (low ish anyhow) and should work without issue.

Laminar flow is excellent for long-term as well.... It's a good design.

 

[uhuru]

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Hookup you described perfectly my concerns with constant laminar flow and what I am trying to do.