How many Power heads?

[supersaltlick]

I am setting up a 70g reef tank and want to ensure that I have enough flow. I currently have about 700gph coming from my return pump (10x tank volume) If I understand correctly, I need about 30-40x tank volume in total water circulation. I have been looking at the larger maxijet PH (295gph). to get close to the 30x turnover I would need at least 4 of these powerheads. Does this sound correct? are there other options for increasing flow?
Thanks

 

[serum153]

You shouldn't count your return pump or at least I don't. I would look into a couple depending on your cash:
1. Tunze (expensive, but I have never heard anyone complain after spending)
2. Hydor Koralia (3 #3's or 2 #4's)
3. Seio's (2 1100's or 3 820's)

 

[drummereef]

Depends on what corals you want to keep. I have 30x in my 40g mixed reef (softies, lps, sps, polyps). If you plan on doing mostly sps then go higher, in the 40x range. You can include your return pump, just subtract any headloss. For a 70g, I'd go with a Tunze style pump. More efficient and less power. A couple Nanostream 6045's would be sweet.

 

[supersaltlick]

I am very new at this and plan on a mixed reef but I may want to transition to a more sps dominated tank in the future. I have a DSB made of sugar sized oolitic aragonite. will this be stirred up too much if I go with the higher flow?

 

[rhino509]

with high flow the sand will naturally get stirred around in the water column.you just have to find a good median between flow pattern,and sand stirring.also,i have now purchased 3 of the maxi jet mods,and they are all bang for the buck.granted they dont have the adjustable flow,they really move water,and are fairly cheap.i have one in my 75 gallon,i have to have my return outlet(mag 9.5) and two other powerheads just to counter flow(1 mj1200 and 1 penguin 1140)