powerhead recommendations

[monotreme_man]

i am setting up a 200gal (7ftx2ftx2ft) tank, with somewhat mixed corals.
(the tank is basically rectangular but with with bevels taken out of the front two corners.)
i had thought to use three 6045s, roughly configured to generate a gyre.
the specs would indicate this is plenty of flow, but i am disconcerted to
see people recommending more than this for tanks half the size!

is this just an inadequate setup? what would you recommend?

 

[Jar*Head]

I would recommend 2 tunze 6105 for mix reef and 6205 for sps dominate tank....

 

[shawnz28]

I would agree with Steve. Though if you were looking for non-controllable look at the 6065 or the 6085 instead of the 6045

 

[monotreme_man]

thats a lot of flow

thats a lot of flow

two 6105's is nearly 7000 gph; that is a bunch of flow.

is there an advantage to having 3 powerheads rather than 2?
the total flow seems similar, and i would think it would be easier
to establish and maintain a gyre with 3 (of course, 4 would be better).
budget is somewhat of an issue; and the 6045's do provide teh best gph/$
of the 6045, 6065, 6085.

 

[shawnz28]

Keep in mind while it is alot of flow it is a different much more gentle flow than the average powerhead is. A 6045 does not move water a great distance where the 6065 and 6085s will push more water and move it further. I don't know if you have a local fish club but if so there is a good chance someone in your area would run some Tunzes you might be able to check out in person.

I will also say IMO the difference between a 6045 and a 6065 feels stronger than it does "on paper". And with a less than 30.00 difference in price from the 6045 and 6065 I think you will regret not going that route if not the 6085s or one of each.

BTW, if you look at terms of water moved for the dollar, the 6045 actually comes out the most expensive, albeit all are about the same.

 

[monotreme_man]

thanks, shawn. that kind of insight was what i had hoped to get.

as for the cost effectiveness, although my numbers differ
a little, i agree that they are much of a muchness:

6045 $90 1189 13.2 gph/$
6065 $134 1717 12.8 gph/$
6085 $177 2113 11.9 gph/$

(prices at marinedepot as an example)

you mentioned a $30 difference between 6045 and 6065;
was that at somewhere particular?

 

[shawnz28]

The difference in the numbers we were coming up with is the 6045 price is a special price not reg price, I was comparing from each models standard price.