Powerheads for SPS

[Jovreefer]

I'm slowly upgrading everything in my tank for my SPS I started about 6 months ago.

I upgraded my lights from PC to MH before getting my sps & I took some bad advice and got a 150 DE light instead of a 250 SE that I was looking at. It works...just have to keep things closer to the top & I'd like to spread them out lower... oh well... live and learn I should have ask RC instead of a friend.

SO that being said... its time to upgrade my powerheads too... this time I'll ask the experts instead of a friend

I have a 20H tank... it currently has a Maxijet 600 & a 400 on it. I still have some of my rarer zoa's on the bottom & a few acans. I also have SAND...and no I'm not gonna go BB.

My thought on the options I'm looking at.

Option #1 - A Seio 620- 620 GPH. ***Yikes...isnt that a LOT of movement for a 20g? Also...made by Rio...yuck!

Option #2 - Keep my Maxijet 600 in the front, put the 400 behind rockwork and add a POWERSWEEP 228 (270 GPH) Someone is selling a used one local for $13. *** Never herd of a powersweep...any good?

Option #3 - Keep the 600 & 400 behind rockwork & add a Maxijet 900 (230 GPH) with one of those rotating deflector wavemaker thingy's foster smith sells. ***Never seen the rotating thing...is it any good? Does it cut back the flow?

Option #4 - Same as #3 except use a Maxijet 1200 instead. Not sure if thats gonna be just to much with all those powerheads going.

Option #5 Maxijet 1200 alone in the front (with or without the rotating thing) and the 400 in the back.

Sugestions please. Anyone have any of these things...what are your thoughts on them?

 

[Wiskey]

Powersweeps are no good, I had one it never really worked.

The seio 620 is not a lot of flow for a 20G, the flow is really spread out and if you bounce it off a pane of glass it gives you good even movement. I know it is made by Rio, but it is cheap and they seem to work well provided you can get it to restart. I have 3 (1500, 620, 820) and I like them.

Whiskey

 

[bkelley02]

I agree with what Wiskey says with one caveat. If you use them on any type of wavemaker, the burn out quick. I've had the 620, 820 and 1100 and both the 620 and 1100 died within 3 months of using them on a wavemaker. 820 was still going but with diminished flow. Didn't notice much calcium build up. Definitely produce good flow though.

 

[Jovreefer]

so the sieo's have a start problem when power goes out? if water dispersment is spread out so much should I go with a 820 or will that be 2 much?

any thoughts on the little rotating thing for the maxi's?

remember I have sand...

 

[bkelley02]

Are you referring to the Hydor's? The thing that you put on the end of the Powerhead? I had them for a while but didn't care for them. They moved the flow around pretty well, but just in a small portion of the tank. Didn't seem to spread it very far. I had 2 MJ1200's in the tank at opposite ends with the Hydor's on and I had a big dead spot in the middle of the tank. I have a 72 bowfront. Both ends had good movement though. Just be careful how close you put them to the surface.

 

[Jovreefer]

Yes those are the things I'm refering to... If I have a small enough tank though ... 24 inches across... & a MJ 900 & a 600 with that on it...you think it would cover the whole tank or no?

That would be pretty much the same price as a sieo... I just really cringe at the thought of all of those "rio" horror stories. I guess thats why I'm so against them... But everyone seems to like them...

In your oppinion ...since you've had both... Which do you think would be better for my tank... the sieo stationary flow. Or the rotating thing on the Maxijets?

 

[bkelley02]

I think if you went with the Hydors you'd be ok but may want to upgrade the pumps to the 1200's if you find the flow isn't enough. While the Hydors do work pretty well for changing the flow direction, it does seem to reduce flow. At least that's been my experience with them. Just not too close to the surface! Makes a mess.

 

[bkelley02]

One more comment....

I've only been keeping SPS myself for a short period of time and I'm sure others with more experience then me will chime in, but it seems to be the theme that the more flow the better.

With that being said, I ended up upgrading my SEIO's to a Tunze stream kit and my SPS seemed to like the increased flow and pulsing flow. More polyp extension and growth.

 

[Jovreefer]

Might as well go big to start with I'll not try the 900 then & go straite to the 1200.

That is unless anyone else wants to chime in with their experience with sieos or the Maxijets?

I thank you both for your imput it has helped alot!

 

[Jovreefer]

I know sps need more flow... hince the upgrade

I do think a tunze would be way to much flow and way to big for such a little tank though... thats why I left it off my options.

 

[bkelley02]

Agreed about the Tunze, just trying to give the limited experience I've had with the SPS and reactions when flow was increased. 1800 gls an hour turnover might be a bit extreme, even though I'm sure there are people here with more then that on successful tanks.

 

[shadofax69]

I would try the maxijet modification where you cut the nozzle off and then put it on a wavemaker to get switching current.