minimum turn over for tanks

[anthonys51]

what do you guys think the minimum turn over rate in a tank should be. just set up 4 tanks, dont think the turn over is enough. current pump is 3000 gph do you shut off vales to lower flow to basement tanks. but i feel turn over is 2 times at best in these tanks. is that enough. will ask the guy who installed, but want second third opinions.

 

[anthonys51]

i do have another pump that does 850 gph. think i might plumb the 2 80 gallon frags to that and use the 3000 for the 265 and 57 gallon tank

 

[mcgyvr]

In general....
A flow rate through the sump (return pump) of 3-10x display volume and a total flow rate in the whole system (return + powerheads) of 30-100x display volume is commonly recommended..
higher flow for higher flow needing corals (sps,etc..)
30-50x total is usually sufficient for a mixed reef/fish,etc...

Its really about trying to provided sufficient movement for the corals,etc.. and most importantly to keep detritus,etc.. from collecting in "stagnant" areas..

 

[SFish]

Are you talking about going to your sump? In any case never heard of someone running 2x on anything. The lowest I think I've heard for a sump is 5x.

 

[SFish]

In general....
A flow rate through the sump (return pump) of 3-10x display volume and a total flow rate in the whole system (return + powerheads) of 30-100x display volume is commonly recommended..
higher flow for higher flow needing corals (sps,etc..)
30-50x total is usually sufficient for a mixed reef/fish,etc...

Its really about trying to provided sufficient movement for the corals,etc.. and most importantly to keep detritus,etc.. from collecting in "stagnant" areas..

I like to turn over all the water myself DT+sump for my sump flow rate. Of course the flip side is people that like to run high flow through the sump.

 

[anthonys51]

yes strictly talking to the sump. will have 2 mp60 in main tank and mp40 in frag tanks so flow will be enough. i know 5 to 10x flow is what is advised. just wondering people with big systems has anyone done 2 times or 3 times flow. is 5 really the minimum

 

[mcgyvr]

I like to turn over all the water myself DT+sump for my sump flow rate. Of course the flip side is people that like to run high flow through the sump.

I like tacos :thumbsup:

The numbers are really..really generic recommendations.. There are always outliers and rebels too :lmao:

 

[anthonys51]

yes but will the turn over be enough i am actually going to measure the real turn over when i get home . just wondering if 2-3 times is enough to keep all tanks at same temp and keep all takes at same water chemistry

 

[mcgyvr]

yes but will the turn over be enough i am actually going to measure the real turn over when i get home . just wondering if 2-3 times is enough to keep all tanks at same temp and keep all takes at same water chemistry

For the most part any flow between the tanks will stabilize the system.. They just won't stabilize as fast as something with more flow..
How much "exactly" is needed is really a crapshoot..

You will find out..
I'm sure its probably fine..

 

[Potatohead]

Lots of guys do 2-3 times, the trend lately has been to do less. Ideally you would match the flow rate of your skimmer. You are right in that if it's slower you need to worry more about heating the dt correctly. Most people run more like 5x.

 

[SFish]

yes strictly talking to the sump. will have 2 mp60 in main tank and mp40 in frag tanks so flow will be enough. i know 5 to 10x flow is what is advised. just wondering people with big systems has anyone done 2 times or 3 times flow. is 5 really the minimum

The danger of running to slow in my mind is debris settling. Of course a cuc or filter sock can help or get you around this. I would also imagine at one point you are not efficiently filtering your water if you run to slow.

 

[pisanoal]

The danger of running to slow in my mind is debris settling.

I would think only if you didn't have enough total flow. Most people don't even count turnover rate as part of their in tank flow as its such a small part, and that has a lot more to do with detritus settling.

 

[SFish]

If you get waste down into the sump if the water is moving to slow wouldn't it settle in the sump then? If you have no filter socks that is.

 

[Potatohead]

If you get waste down into the sump if the water is moving to slow wouldn't it settle in the sump then? If you have no filter socks that is.

You can have lots of flow through the sump but it's not turbulent enough to prevent stuff settling in the sump. A lot of people run powerheads in the sump for that reason.

 

[SFish]

I see what you saying

 

[anthonys51]

yes i will have powerheads in the sump. plus sump is 6x3x3 so its a big sump with 2 chambers for marco algae plus i have a 57 gallon marco tank with a 6 inch deep sand bed. so i am not really worried about nutrients, more worried what all tank will be stable

but guess only time will tell that

 

[Ou8me2]

It's really hard to say and without something to test the flow. I mean it's just a guess at this point. I've seen people run 3-5 before. I shoot for 5 myself. You can always run a powerhead in the sump, probably wouldn't take much. I'd say go with it for a while and see how the tank does and adjust accordingly if needed. I also have a long brush that I go every 2-3 days and stir up anything in the sump. It's worked out well so far without adding a powerhead.

 

[anthonys51]

It's really hard to say and without something to test the flow. I mean it's just a guess at this point. I've seen people run 3-5 before. I shoot for 5 myself. You can always run a powerhead in the sump, probably wouldn't take much. I'd say go with it for a while and see how the tank does and adjust accordingly if needed. I also have a long brush that I go every 2-3 days and stir up anything in the sump. It's worked out well so far without adding a powerhead.

I was more worried about each tank being different temp and water chemistry since temp and dosing is done in sump but guess 3 times should be enough to cycle all 4 tanks


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[Ou8me2]

I was more worried about each tank being different temp and water chemistry since temp and dosing is done in sump but guess 3 times should be enough to cycle all 4 tanks


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Gotcha:beer: You could always test the temp and parameters in each tank as see if it is the same in each one. I know it sounds a bit redundant.

 

[anthonys51]

Gotcha:beer: You could always test the temp and parameters in each tank as see if it is the same in each one. I know it sounds a bit redundant.

Yes temp is the easy one if the temp is the same then water chemistry should be too right ?


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