just enough or too much flow?

[Guygettnby]

im stuck yet again. i have been looking at the evolution power heads and trying to decide wich size would be best for my 72g bowfront. i have not seen any of the new koralias in action, but i know the older one were very gentle dispersed flow.

so in a 72g bowfront tank with a mag 9.5 dual return would 2 evolution 1400 be too much?

they would be on a wave maker, 1 pump at each end of the tank.

 

[HurricaneSystem]

Yea that is a little too much in my opinion. Drop down a size in your power heads.

 

[Playa-1]

It depends on the livestock that you're planning on keeping. I don't think it's too much but it's very possible that it won't be enough.

 

[mikid]

flow?

flow?

if I had set up a 72g tank for?.....

lps-15-30% turn over rate would work-1500-2200 per hour
sps-30-60% turn over rate would work-2100-4200 per hour
fish is always what ever you feel to keep your waste suspended in the water column for clean water.....

my 120g has 2-mag8 running 3250galper hour each with 1200-1400 from my return....so somewhere around 7300-7600g per hour turn over rate,sps love it.......the flow you can supply the better health of your corals.....

 

[sirreal63]

I would say not enough flow, think bigger, the currents that happen in nature are a whole lot more than you can replicate in your tank. In my 110 I am running almost 7000 gph and it isn't enough, and the tank is only 40x40x17 and is a mixed reef. Flow is the transport mechanism for corals, it brings in food and takes away the waste from the corals. Give it more flow and remember that your device is not a wave maker. it only alternates the power from one side to the other and will not create a wave and effectively cuts your flow in half as only one side at a time is on with a long duration.

 

[Guygettnby]

sorry, guess i should have put more info then what i did. this will be a mixed reef with sps, lps, some softies (mainly zoas), clams and possibly a few nems.

i am afraid to have too much flow and have sand storms in my tank. but i also dont want to not have enough flow and have dead spots every where. its going to be hard to get it perfect because i am trying to keep so many things together.

i would hate to buy the new setup and it not be enough or be way too much were i couldnt use it. but i also dont want to really have anymore then 2 power heads in my tank if i can help it.

thanks for all the help. im trying to order these today if i can decide quick enough.

 

[sirreal63]

You will need more flow if you are going with just two. Having a controllable pair is the best way to go, Tunze or Vortech works better because you can vary the flow correctly. A pair of 6095's would be good and last a lot better than the Koralia's. It is an investment not a disposable powerhead. I went through a lot of disposable powerheads until I finally learned that lesson.

 

[S13<3]

i feel u could never have too much flow as long as it doesnt directly blast the corals, i have 2 koralia 750's and a hob pushing 200gph on a 20l and still want more flow lol, like others commented, its real hard to replicate the flow and tides in nature, which are much more powerfull than most can imagine

 

[Guygettnby]

i would love to be able to buy a few vortechs or tunzes but that is just not in the cards right now. i have always had great luck with the koralias in the past and never had 1 die on me. so thats the reason i am looking into them right now.

 

[Dave Thebrewguy]

You should be ok with the 1400s, I wouldn't think you would have too much flow. The 1050s may also be enough but that would be the minimum IMHO. FWIW, I'm running 2 JBJ Oceanstream 1600s on a wavemaker in a 90 and am considering adding a third, smaller pump.

 

[Playa-1]

After seeing your plans, I'm in the not enough flow camp. I've got almost double the flow of what you're considering and it's not enough. That's with two controllable Tunze's 6055's and two continuous Flow Koralia 4's and the Eheim 1262 return. I'm thinking about replacing the Koralia's with the Tunze 6105's when I get a little extra money . I will probably have to dial them back a bit but that will give me more flexability. It will also be compatible with a future tank upgrade that's on my extended list of things to do.

You will probably want to revisit the idea of getting this done with two powerheads.

 

[Guygettnby]

After seeing your plans, I'm in the not enough flow camp. I've got almost double the flow of what you're considering and it's not enough. That's with two controllable Tunze's 6055's and two continuous Flow Koralia 4's and the Eheim 1262 return. I'm thinking about replacing the Koralia's with the Tunze 6105's when I get a little extra money . I will probably have to dial them back a bit but that will give me more flexability. It will also be compatible with a future tank upgrade that's on my extended list of things to do.

You will probably want to revisit the idea of getting this done with two powerheads.

my main concern was if i buy 2 1400's and they were too much i couldnt return them or use them. if they end up not being enough, i could always bend my rule abit and add 2 more down the line.

i would love to get a couple of vortechs but my wife would kill me at this point in time and i cant wait very long as i dont have any flow in the tank besides the return right now.

 

[sirreal63]

2-1400's will not be too much, it is too little, but if you have to go that route for now, do it and save up for something better. I would skip the "wave" thing, it is not really going to help much and will wear out your pumps as they were never intended to be cycled on and off.

 

[Playa-1]

You can always start out with your two controllable powerheads and add to them as needed.

 

[Guygettnby]

2-1400's will not be too much, it is too little, but if you have to go that route for now, do it and save up for something better. I would skip the "wave" thing, it is not really going to help much and will wear out your pumps as they were never intended to be cycled on and off.

i was under the impression that the new evolution pumps were designed to be used with a controller?? thats what i have been reading all over the place?

 

[MeTaLMaN1375]

If your going with just 2 powerheads I would say that its almost not enough but if you going with 4 I would drop it down a bit Im a fan of 4 powerheads personally.

 

[sirreal63]

Search, there have been plenty of recent threads where have complained about noise and having to replace shrouds.

 

[power boat jim]

i was under the impression that the new evolution pumps were designed to be used with a controller?? thats what i have been reading all over the place?

Well, thats what they claim. They are decent enought power heads but dont use them in an on off mode. Mine were on a 2min timer and lasted about 18 months before they started running in reverse every time they cycled on.