OK I need a suggestion.

K

kremit2007

New member
I obviously have a 46 gallon bowfront reef system in the making (shown below) and I need to increase the flow. I thought it was fine but I still have a dust storm in the tank since I switch to the new LS from CC. The tank looks crystal clear but the dust and garbage keeps getting kicked up and settles on all the LR. Im sure the eel didn't help that situation when he was around. I have two powerheads in there now on the left and right walls. I have them blowing into the middle of the tank and to the front. Can someone please help me relocate these two to become most effective and also maybe suggest if I need more? I was thinking two more large ones? Let me know please...

2211284348_328be880e8.jpg


Any help would be appreciated...
 
A koralia #3 pointed toward the back of the rockwork.You need to open the rockwork up as i see major future nitrate issues.You want open areas for flow to pass around. Do weekly 25% water changes and replace the filter media on your HOB filter. And it will clear up.
But your main concern is if you added all new LS and it was actually live then your tank may go through another cycle and this could also be another reason.
I would test daily and monitor the ammonia ,nitrate levels.
 
Yea, I will for sure and am testing daily. I know tank is going through another cycle because the SB is beginning to be shaded with brown algae. I just was curious how to direct the flow. As for the rockwork, there is a pretty open gap in the back and the fish can swim through there and such, you still think its too little of an opening?
 
Right, they aren't facing each other right now. I have them point I guess in the same general direction but one is blowing straight across while the other is blowing kind of past the curvature of the glass in the front. SO your suggesting I put them both blowing straight out, but with one 3/4 down and one 1/4 the way down?
 
At an angle best.But theres no one way. Just try and get a constant steady flow in all areas.Either by adding a powerhead or getting a larger one or repositioning them.
 
Haha thanks. Thats what I've been doing for days and its just frustrating me, thats why I asked on here what works for them. Ha, thanks for the help though...
 
OK, i just tried to increase better flow in my tank, but it seems like two just isn't enough. Do you think two more Aqua-clear HOB or suctions would be ok?
 
kremit2007.... I have the exact same tank 46 gal bow. What I did was put one powerhead in each of the back corners with them pointed general towards the front of the tank. From there I added a rotating head to each of the powerheads. It's slightly unsightly but it really helps control the dead spots. Any other questions or you want to run things by me just let me know. R
 
Yes rivank for sure. Your the kind of person Im looking for as not everyone has the bowfront systems and it seems to be a little different. Which kind of powerheads do you have? I checked out your pics but it was too small, do you have a link to bigger pics and maybe a picture of your full tank so I can see the PH placements? That would really help thanks...What are the rotating heads you speak of and are they universal for all PH?
 
Sorry about the poor pics! I just looked at them and I really need to update! I don't have a better pic right now sorry. I put my PH's at the back corners of the tank attached to the side glass. They are at the top of the tank. The rotating head is made by Hydor and comes with different attachments to fit almost any PH. If you look at the one pic in my gallery you will see on the left side one of the powerheads. It has the Hydor on it and it actually sits higher than that pic shows.
 
How does that deal with water flow at the bottom of the tank though? Im having problems with detritus covering my substrate and LR. Not fully covering but noticeable.
 
The rotating head constantly redirects the flow from a straight line. So as the head spins, it aims the water flow in the direction the head is facing. It rotates. There are gears inside with a prop that the water turns, there by turning the head. How many snails and crabs do you have? They do a good job with the detritus. All else fails, turkey baster will help keep the rocks clean!
 
OK I dont have a very good cleaning crew right now since the crash. So I only have 5 snails and 3 hermits and one emerald crab. I def. turkey baste three times a day because it gets into the open water, clouds the tank and then settles back on the rock...
 
Try doing a rock or two at a time and be sure to use the baster gently. Clean it off but don't cause a sandstorm in the process.
 
OK I will try that. Thanks. How big of a cleaning crew would you suggest? Based on my pic above, you can see I have a lot of LR. I was thinking 30 snails and 15 crabs. Im pretty sure the tank is recycling again anyway, I've done a lot to that thing in the last month.
 
Depends on the size of the critters. I have about 6 large Mexican Turbos, a couple of smaller turbos, one Emerald Crab (want two more), 6 Astria Snails (need about 6 more) and no where near enough hermits. Personally I would try to go with more hermits than snails. Like I said I don't have anywhere near enough in my tank and it shows.
 
Mexican turbos just knock things over.! or 2 is fine.If you have a SB then i would get a few Nass snails.In a 46 i thing 5 nass snails 2 turbos 6 hermits and 3 or 4 marg snails is plenty. You want a balance.
 
I agree with the balance part. With the amount of rock work in this particular tank though I would think to be a little heavy on the hermit crab side. They can just naturally get into things better than the snails.
 
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