Help with flow

[chark]

Please help with flow: Aquarium is 60" long, 30" deep and 25" tall. Center overflow. I am getting a 1 inch wave with the wave box in placement shown in the diagram. Adding 2 6105's and 2 6055's using a 7096 controller. My thoughts were that the 6055's would be placed low and the 6105's high (above the rocks). What program would be suggested and should I use the 7096 to control the wavebox? Would you suggest different placements of the pumps? I have dead spots near the bottom at the back were detritus builds up. The Tunze will replace my korollia's that are in similar placement as the 6105's as suggested.

All suggestions appreciated.

 

[rvitko]

That sounds find just be sure you can get to the pumps for cleaning and maintenance. To connect all 5 to the 7096 you will need a 7094.340 branch adapter. You would use wavebox mode which occupies the last two ports so the other pumps have to use the first two and the branch adapter would split that into 4.

 

[chark]

Still not sure

Still not sure

What program do you suggest to run? Should both left pumps be on 1 and the right pumps on 2? Need help on where to start for setting using the controller.

 

[rvitko]

I would use interval with a 6 hr interval and do just that, left pumps on channel 1, right pumps on channel 2 and set the pulse from 30% to the highest speed your corals can handle at present and a 3 second pulse.

 

[chark]

Thanks Roger. I will try it tonight.

 

[chark]

What I would like to do with the pumps is have them go from 100% to 30% on the left and 30% to 100% on the right over one or two hours. That is to have the left and right running at the same time but just different flow rates. Is that possible with the 7096 controller and if it is how do you do that?

 

[rvitko]

Pulse mode would do approximately this, they would alternate from 30% to 100% and 100% to 30% but every few seconds the pumps would change speed from 30% to 100% not every few hours.

 

[rynon]

My tank is identically acauscaped. It's 135 gallons though. I seem to have problems with finding the right mix of flow, either I'm blowing sand all over and have dead spots on the sides of the tank or I'm pointing the pumps too front and center causing some upset corals. I also have a cyanobacteria problem with nearly perfect water parameters....checked by 3 sources. I have 2 6100's (controllable older model) that I have in the middle of the tank point outwards, my returns are pointed towards the middle but offer little flow. Based on the diagram provided by chark and knowing the two Tunze pumps are pointed outward from center is there anything different I should try? They are both about 6-8 inches below water line and are aimed more up than middle to prevent flying sand. They are set on interval 2 varying from min to max on each pump.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, I thought this fit in due to the aquascaping being identical.

Thanks.

 

[chark]

I don't know yet. I have not had a chance to try anything else. I did change the lower pumps to point toward the middle in the back. It has helped get rid of the dead spots. I have them about 4" from the sand pointing up at a 30 degree angle. Still not sure what program to run. I do not think I understand what each will do. Will try Roger's suggestions again. Will let you know what I finalize on.

No worries about the thread hijack. I enjoy the extra interactions and ideas.

 

[rvitko]

The cyano may not have any relation to flow problems. Low redox is the most likely culprit and without an ORP meter there is no way to determine this. This is common with a fine sand bed that has become anaerobic from compaction or has not fully matured. In general if I had a cyano problem on a tank this size, I would clean my powerheads and pumps to make sure everything is at the optimum function. Adjust my skimmer to skim wet and get maximum performance, keep my KH up around 12-14 dKH. Do a fairly large water change of 25% focusing on vacuuming up any uneaten detritus and making sure the SG is between 1.024 and 1.026. I would reduce my photo period by cutting out 2 hours midday, this interrupted light cycle really disturbs the algae. It wouldn't hurt to run no light at all for a day or two. Additionally I would look into adding a low dose of ozone or adding 1 tsp of 3% hydrogen peroxide per day for a few weeks. This will wipe out the slime algae. Your measurable parameters may be fine but basically there is too much decomposing organic matter in the tank and that is the cause of the problem, flow can help but it can be any one of a dozen problems that is the root cause, from a underperforming skimmer, new tank, too much food, too many fish, not enough flow, wrong spectrum of light, too much light, compacted sand with decaying organic matter, etc.