Let's Talk About Water Movement in an SPS Tank.

[MiddletonMark]

Well, with the output split ... you're going to be putting a lot more pressure on the `tank' outputs than the skimmer. IMO, I'd run `all eductor' or `no eductor' off any single pump - as the pressure used by the eductor-jet might mess with the flow distribution.

Just my take on it - they're wonderful devices, but do have that pressure-loss factor going on.

If you ditch that 6080 ... LMK

 

[LittleBlueGT]

Exactly, all eductors or none.

 

[bubareefer]

Mark as soon as I get my 6100 it is yours. I have desided that the squence is coming off and pressure pumps are going on. As far as the enductors go I have heard nothing but positive about them except that they add pressure to the pump. So two will be going on. I ordered the penductors from my reef crations. I hope the are the same thing. Thanks for the advice I am always open to more if anyone has any cheaper Ideas.

 

[Black71gp]

if you get rid of your hammerhead... let me know
jarrod

 

[superswimmer]

How do Velocity pumps stack up?

 

[bubareefer]

Velocity pumps like any pump has its flaws and perks. I personally do not like them. They have a tendance to heat up tanks about 5-10 degrees. My customers who have had them liked the fact that they are very quiet. Having said that one customer has gone through three of them in 8 months. I don't know what caused it and I know it is nothing that he is doing or the plumbing because I set up the pump and service his tank. I would go with a blueline or an Iwaki. Less heat more relable.

 

[RGibson]

bubareefer have you used eheim universal pump 1262 if so how long did it last?

 

[superswimmer]

Thanks,

Has anyone tried the supreme mag drives? I was looking at them, i like the one that has 3600g/hr. I was thinking i could make a closed loop with loc-line with it. The manufacturer does not recommend them for in-line use, but i think it could be done with little problems

 

[bubareefer]

I have not ever use an eheim pump. I love the canister filters that they make. I have not herd any problems on them or recalls. But speaking of recalls if you know anyone with a all-glass 95 gallon wave frount they have been recalled because the frount glass is defective.
As for mag drive pumps the larger ones 1800-3600 they are loud and produce alot of heat. The 3600 I have had alot of returns on because of bad impellers. If you do deside to use one be sure to use 2"pvc and have as little head hight as possible. The pumps lose water flow really easy and don't last as long if you put to much pressure. with the amout of you are going spend on the closed loop why not get a TS07 tunze stream kit or a srio.

 

[RedEyeReef]

Agreed, I've been changing my Mags over to Eheims and love them.

 

[spyro]

I just added a Tunze Wavebox to my 4 existing Tunze 6100s and things are really rocking now! The wavebox causes every coral polyp in my tank to sway back and forth and really moves my Heteractis Magnifica's tentacles.

The added plus is all this equipment takes very little electricity and as such can be run off of a battery or UPS during power outages.

I used to have closed loops and would never even think of powerheads...until I saw the Tunze Streams and Wavebox in action.

 

[baruchbl]

I understand that water movement is an important factor in the reef aquaria. My question is: if it is important how much strong is the water flow from the sump( how much strong is the return pump) , back to the aquarium,
or the curent in the aquarium with powr head in enough?

 

[bubareefer]

I think that water flow from you sump is depends on what you are running. Example if you are running an ETSS skimmer your flow through the skimmer should match the flow coming out of your return pump.
There are so many ways of doing filtration and you can get all the opions you want and talk about water flow all you want but it is going to very from tank to tank. The only true bad system is the system is the one you are unhappy with.
I think that most of the water flow should come from powerheads. which allows more time for you skimmer, reactor, ect.. to have an impact on your water quality. I would say I do about 6 to 7 time tank turn over per hour. I am going to drop that to 5 or 6 and put a refugium in.
For sps when you talk about a sps tank and water flow it depends on what you are doing. Are you using a focused powerhead like a maxi-jet or something more spred out like a tunze stream or wave box?
3000 gph of maxi jets is going to be to much for the corals in frount of the powerheads but take that 3000 gph from a stream and your sps will love it.
When you talk about water flow I think we should talk more about what you are using and how you are using it and not saying "I have a turn over rate of 55 times in my tank." That really does no one any good. Saying "I have 2-6000 streams controlled on a 7095 muticontroller on the interval 2 setting, a 6080 and a spray bar." says alot more. Those who understand the what all that stuff will understand that my water flow in my tank is strong but it doesn't put to much psi on the polpys on my sps. This allows nice extention on the polpys which means they get more food, cal, ect... which leads to better growth IMO.
Hope that was what you were looking for, but remeber this is just IMO.

 

[baruchbl]

I understand the importents of water flow. But i dont know if the amount of water that go down to the sump and than return to the aquarium is importent like the flow that come from powerhead that are in the aquarium?
please ignor from the skimmer.

As i understand there is a big meaning to the amount of the water
that return to the aquarium from the sump.

 

[birdman204]

That flow mainly depends on your filtration/plumbing / filtration system needs in the sump. The overflow is to drive the heavy protien laden water to this equipment. Too much/little flow, and the equipment does not work properly. These flow requirements are somewhat system specific.

By equipment, this can be anything from skimmer, to sandbeds, to UV filters to aptasia scrubbers, to xenia filters.. to you get the idea. Just find the proper flow rates for them to work well.

 

[bubareefer]

baruchbl I think everybody would be willing to help you but we need some details. What equipment are you using for filters, skimmer, ect...? What are your goals for the tank all sps, sps and lps, sps and softies? What size tank do you have or are you looking at? Like I said there is no one way to do things in this hobby.

birdman204 very well said. What do you think of the Blueline/pan world pumps. Do you have heat issues with them?

 

[birdman204]

Buba

I run 4 of them
1 x 200PX
2 x 150PX
1x100PX on a 300G Display system.

Some are for skimmers , yes that's plural.
others are for water flow...
The tank temp goes with the room temp. If the room gets hot the tank gets hot. If the room is cool, the tank is cool. The tank is at work so the room AC actually makes the heaters work during daylight hours. The chiller is reserved for Sundays when the building AC turns off.
The lighting is 3 x 400W and 2 x 250W MH. With the canopy fans on, the above still applies.
When I compare them to my home system, I was running 2 mag drives and a sedra, and the chiller would come on a spring NIGHT!Basically, my answer is none noticable whatsoever in my situation.
HTH.


Oh and RE: your above post.. my 300 has 4 x 6200's in it. They are overpowered to handle the reef as it grows in, they are set at 30 and 50% I also put the overkill in simply for a burst every now and then to clean house. Going thru a 24 squarefoot tank with a turkey baster is like vaccuming your living room with a dustbuster... You won't find me doing it, hence the flip of a dial house keeping service
How hard are your Tunzes set, The detritus could just be a result of Poor flow dynamics with your rocks? Is the tank too mature to rearrange a few?

 

[chainsaw5vent]

:eek1: i had never even given a thought to that part of the problem. location of water current AFTER your sps tank grows out and becomes mature.:strange:

 

[chainsaw5vent]

:eek1: wow! i had never even considered the location of water movement AFTER your sps tank grows out and matures.:thumbsup:

 

[bubareefer]

It is a good idea. My problem with the sediment on top of the water is fixed. I think I like the idea of using a pressure rated pump for a return. It seems to circulate better. As for bird mans question, my streams are set at 30% to 100%. I think I need another 2 6100's through or a wave box.