Opinions on Powerhead Placement

[reefdude420]

I have a 120 Gal reef set-up with one central rock pile in the middle. My package with another Rio600 and 2 Koralia 3's just came today. Which will give me a much needed boost in water flow. This means I now have 6 Rio 600 and 2 koralia 3's also 2 sump return lines at the bottom of the tank feed via a SCWD. The return lines run all the way to the bottom of the tank so they control flow on the sand bed. I was wanting some opinions on the placement of the Rio 600s and the Koralias to maximize flow around the tank. Currently the only coral I have are a few mushrooms. Fish consist of a Naso Tang, Purple Tang, Kole Tang, Fu-Manchu Lion, 1inch Volitan(who will be moved once grown), Lunare Wrasse(who needs to be removed), Six-line Wrasse, Blue Damsel, 2 Yellow Tail Blue Damsels, 2 Firefish, 6 Green Chromises, and an Lawnmower Blenny.

 

[Saboral]

I'm assuming this is a 120 long. In my 90 long I like the Koralia's near the surface in the back corners of my tank, I have them pointing to the front center of the tank where the streams cross. I use these on a wavemaker that alternates them back and forth since one K3 is really enough to make my tank get a good rotation. I use the more conventional powerheads for point flow through high detris collecting areas or on the sand bed. The Koralias in my experience should be placed high in the tank because they tend to have a very strong pull from all directions and this will prevent them from not only sucking in sand, but also to avoid the accidental blending of anenomes or other soft inverts.

 

[reefdude420]

Actually its a 120 deep. Dimensions are 48x24x24.

 

[Saboral]

Either way I would still mount the Koralia's high and in that case even more so I would alternate them.

 

[ade]

I would agree with Saboral, place around 4" from the top and bounce the flow off the side of tank sit back and watch and if you don't like them move until you get the flow that you like with getting a sand storm.

 

[reefdude420]

Now that I have watched the flow created by the koralias in my tank, i have a few ideas. I was thinking of putting the Koralias in the top of the water column like both of you have suggested but I was thinking of doing them at opposite ends of the tank on opposite corners. Then have each pump spraying halfway down the tank in a circular pattern to create a swirling water flow. The mount the the 2 rio 600s next to each other spray parallel to the back wall towards the bottom corners to keep detritus off the floor. The return lines push enough water foward towards the front wall to keep detritus off the floor in front of the pile.

 

[ade]

All you have to do next is tap your heals and say "there no place like home...." three times.

 

[Saboral]

I like the idea and actually it is very similar to the setup in vetdog's tank. However with the swirling of the water you might run into sediment lifting problems because those Koralias can really get the water column spinning. This flow pattern is good for SPS, but your LPS and Softies might not be too enthused. Also this creates a strong current for your fish to swim in. I tend to agree with ade in that I would mount them on the back end of the sides of the tank and bounce the flow off the glass to disperse it. I found out recently there is such a thing as too much flow, especially for LPS and Fish.

 

[ade]

High flow with some LPS will rip the flesh clean off.

 

[reefdude420]

So, all the new pumps and eqiupment have come in and are now being put into use. I got a new return pump for my sump upgraded to a Rio3100 runnning through a SCWD, which I had the SCWD before but the previous one was broken. So this has no improved my flow along the sandbed. I took everyones advice and have placed the koralias in the back bouncing on the glass in the center of the tank.

 

[reefdude420]

I'm also thinking of putting one of the koralias onto the same timer as my dayside lights so there is half the flow at night.