How many Powerheads?

[kinkyads]

I have a 75 gallon I am setting up as a reef. I have one small power head Should I use a 2nd one as well? How do you know when there is enough current?

 

[mcgyvr]

Start with like 30x display tank size in gph...
Multiple powerheads can be better as you can target dead zones if needed but a single pump can be used in many situations

 

[ichthyogeek]

This depends on the gallons per hour total throughout the tank. There should be enough powerheads to minimize deadspots, but this also depends a lot on what type of reef inverts you want. Acros and other stony corals that need a lot of flow would want powerful powerheads, but mushroom anemones would be more happy with less flow and therefore less powerful powerheads. The gph in various areas of your tank also vary due to physics, so it also has to do with how you situate two or more powerheads.

For a reef tank, I think the goal is to have 5-10 times of tank turnover per hour, so you'd be aiming for 375-750gph overall.

When I set up my 55, I think I was trying to follow a "gyre" pattern, so that there was constant water movement throughout the tank. It relied on most of the rock being in the center of the tank, and two different circulation pumps pumping water at the front right side to the front left side, and then from the back left side to the back right side, thus attempting to create a gyre within the tank. I think it's working pretty well for me.

Not sure about when to know there's enough current. I think it's a matter of getting enough turnover in your tank, and then placing sessile invertebrates appropriately depending on their flow requirements.

 

[Fourstars]

Yes, flow flow flow! Some consider the number one contributor to coral growth.

 

[mcgyvr]

For a reef tank, I think the goal is to have 5-10 times of tank turnover per hour, so you'd be aiming for 375-750gph overall.
.

5-10x is flowrate through sump..
30-100x is total flow rate
30x being basic standard..
50x being medium
75-100x for high flow sps tanks

 

[Dmorty217]

5-10x is flowrate through sump..
30-100x is total flow rate
30x being basic standard..
50x being medium
75-100x for high flow sps tanks

+1

 

[laverda]

5-10x is flowrate through sump..
30-100x is total flow rate
30x being basic standard..
50x being medium
75-100x for high flow sps tanks

I agree!

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

I agree!

Agreed as well.

I have (2) 1300gph powerheads on my 150g plus 950gph return flow, and only half of the tank has good water flow.

Depends alot on how you set them up as well. You can either have the powerheads creating a constant current in the tank, or you can have them "fighting" eachother by having flow in multiple directions causing more turbulent flow. This is generally considered the preferred method, but will take more powerheads and more gph total flow.

 

[Kevin Guthrie]

Another ditto. I have two Seio 1500s and an MJ 1200 in circulation mode totaling 4300 gph in a 90 with lps and sps. I doubt that more flow would hurt anything except my electric bill.

Watch out that your gyre's center dead spot is not where the coral are.