Need advice and suggestions about streams

[pperez]

Hi,

I have been looking into the streams for some time. I have a 75gal tank with 3 inch sand. The tank is divided into two islands. One side is mostly sps and the other side has 3 lps and the rest sps. The bubble coral is at the bottom of the tank, the frogspawn is midway (movable), and the brain is hidden in the rockwork.

Here's my dilemma. I always like buying stuff that i can use if i upgrade. My goal is ultimately a 180gal, but that is not happening anytime soon. So i was thinking about spending the money upfront and getting the 6100 kit and have the pumps run at mostly 30%. I can always take one out if it's too much, but at least i don't have to buy one later. I also thought about the 6000, but they don't have a kit for it . I wanted to see if they sold a kit just like the 6100 where i would get 2 pumps and a multi-controller. Is there suck a kit?...

So is this a good plan that i am thinking up?..Will the pumps running at 30% be good enough for my 75gal until i can use them on a future tank.

I just don't want to waste my money now, so i am looking ahead. Here's a picture of the tank so you can get an idea of what it looks like. It will get more populated with sps. I had a power outage during the summer that killed my big sps colonies. I plan on putting them in the front corners. Thanks in advance.

 

[Twins Guy]

i would think you'd have a couple options...
first of all-the supposed kits were discontinued-its just a marketing thing/slowly updated websites and really they save you no money (pricing should reflect the stream pump plus the controller). as i understand it, in an effort to streamline production the controllers are now packaged independently of the pumps and the kits are only "assembled" by the customer.

the multicontroller will handle the 6000 pumps just as it will the 6100s. if you purchased two of the 6000 streams and the multicontroller you would have all the same parts as the "TS24" except smaller transformers which would throttle down the flow from the streams. the 6000s flow which carries 4 feet would be more practical for your 75 but from what i hear 1 6000 is often more than enough on a 75 especially with significant amounts of sand. flow from the 6100 which carries a full 6 feet at full power (100%) would probably be more desirable on the upgrade tank.

since the 6000s and 6100s are indentical except for the transformer supplying them some people have been swapping transformers to upgrade or downgrade their flow. the best solution might be this...
purchase 1 6000 stream pump and 1 multicontroller which may still need to be dialed down to keep your sand in place in the 75. you would then use the pulse mode to vary flow anywhere from 30-100% (depending on dial 1 and 2 settings made by user) on a fixed interval (1-7 seconds set by user). the photoelectric eye which comes with the multicontroller will sense darkness in the tank and switch the pump to "throttle" setting 2 which is usually lower for a calmer nigh flow pattern.

THEN when you upgrade to then 180...
trade your 6000 transformer up to the 6100 transformer. maybe pick up another 6100 pump and certainly retain the multicontroller. with the two 6100s now on the multicontroller you will have some other wave pattern options and more than likely all the flow your 180 would desire. this way nothing is going to waste/the closet and you get happy animals in both tanks.

i'm a self-admitted gadget guy stuck in small tanks for the time being but read up PLENTY on the larger stream pumps so...i think my advice is sound-that's my only disclaimer.
have fun-
tg

EDIT-nice tank! bummer about the power outage!-i'm assuming this is the "before" pic?

 

[rvitko]

Thanks Twins Guy!

pperez- that would be my answer but he explained it better and more eloquently then even I could.

 

[Twins Guy]

Glad I could help out Roger!
tg

(i've got the 7200/2 up and running (with single controller and photocell) on my 30 and love it! feel free to direct questions my way. eventually i'd like to put together a review on it.)

 

[pperez]

Hey Twins Guy,

Thank you so much for the suggestions. It really made me think.

How much does it cost to upgrade the transformer?...

Also, i understand that the 6000 at full speed gives 1850gal an hour. The 6100 pumps 3150 an hour. But at say 30%, the 6100 pumps 1000 gal an hour. That would in effect will have it pumping lower than the 6000. That's where i got the idea to go with the 6100 right from the beginning and just run it at a lower speed.

I guess it all depends on what the upgrade costs. If it's not too much, i guess you're right and i can get the 6000 on a multicontroller. Now if i run just one stream i suppose i would still need to run at least one powerhead to cover the dead spot around and below the stream, am i correct?..

Thanks.

 

[rvitko]

Transformer is about $70. I would not underestimate the effect you would lose by not being able to pulse the pump.

 

[pperez]

By pulsing i guess you mean going from 30-100%?...In that case i would have to glue my sand if i get the 6100. That's not a bad price on the transformer, i guess i can upgrade later.

So i think i am decided on one 6000 on a multi-controller. I have seen it sold with the single controller, but how much is it with the multi-controller?....I think i also need the bracket for the oceanic tanks.

So if i place this pump in the top right corner, is that the best location?..Where would you recommend i place it.

Rvitko, i will dip the sensor in the vinegar solution, hopefully that solves the problem. If not, i will let you know.

Thanks.

 

[Twins Guy]

By pulsing i guess you mean going from 30-100%?...In that case i would have to glue my sand if i get the 6100. That's not a bad price on the transformer, i guess i can upgrade later.

i think upgrading later is going to be your best bet. you may even find another stream user looking to downsize their transformer (for instance-let's say they bought two 6100s for their 75 ) who would be willing to trade transformers with you-so you might avoid some of that $70. the pulsing feature is really nice (like roger said-not to be underestimated) and will alternate flow between your two set points (anywhere between 30 and 100%-you can adjust to your tank's needs with 30% being the minimum and obviously 100% as the maximum). if you were to go with the 6100 you might only be able to pulse between 30 and 50% or even less say 30 and 40 in order to keep your sand in place and water in the tank. even if you have to turn down the 6000 a bit you can still pulse between 40 and 86% and that difference should put a lil boogie in your polyps. whereas they might just be plastered to the rock the whole time at 30-40% of the 6100-comprende?

So i think i am decided on one 6000 on a multi-controller. I have seen it sold with the single controller, but how much is it with the multi-controller?....I think i also need the bracket for the oceanic tanks.

the multicontroller runs about $110 more than the single controller but it would give you many more options if/when you upgrade to two pumps and would allow you to synchronize events between the two pumps. a single controller with the branch adaptor would allow you to pulse both pumps simultaneously but they would mirror one another in flow produced. the multicontroller would allow pump one to be at 30 while the other's at 80, then they would switch and pump one could be at 100% while 2 goes to 50% power. get my drift? holder extension 3000.244 will allow the pump to be mounted to the frame of your oceanic tank (assuming there aren't glass tops/canopies in the way).

So if i place this pump in the top right corner, is that the best location?..Where would you recommend i place it.

maybe better have roger answer dis one but you'll likely want it up pretty high on one side blowing the length of the tank. front or back or middle may depend on your coral placement and to a lesser extent aesthetics (do you want the stream right in front blocking your view?). as i understand it, at four feet the smaller stream's flow pattern spreads to about 2 feet! this might be best utilized if the pump is mounted in the middle of one of the sides.

Thanks.

you're welcome!
tg