Making waves

[Deleted member 143833]

Has anyone tested pumps on 1 side of the tank vs opposing pumps (one on each side)???

I currently run opposing (6305) but I've recently been reading a number of articles from some fluid dynamics company doing tests for tanks and aquariums that suggests collocation of pumps on 1 side is actually better; both in ability to create current and ability to keep detritus suspended in the water column.

I was curious if anyone has tried the various methods and found one over the other to be better?

 

[rvitko]

I don't see how that would be true in most cases. Unless the force was high so you had a full roll back of the current, all pumps on one side could not accomplish the job. It may work in short tanks or with higher pressure flow, but I think in most cases the results won't be satisfactory. I think the key is to alternate directions, but in a slower more natural interval and create some turbulence, but nothing excessive like the rapid switching I see many people use.

 

[rishma]

can you please reference these artilces? It sounds very interesting but I am with Roger, it does not seem very sensible and is contrary to my experience.

I used to run one 6100 that cycled between 30% & 100%. I now run two 6105s on opposite sides cycling on a slow interval between 40% and 85%.

With out a doubt, detritus stays better suspended with pumps on opposite sides. With a pump on one side, there were some areas where detritus could settle on the leeward side of a rock structure. With pumps on opposite ends I do not observe this problem even though the maximum flow is actually lower at any given time.

 

[Deleted member 143833]

I will need to locate the information; this person has been doing circuits at aquarium events and giving talks on his findings.

BTW: I also am a believer in the opposing pumps. I use a 2x wave resonance (which creates a smaller wave but yields nice random currents. I prefer this over the 'big wave' which I agree with Roger isn't best.