Powerheads/Turnover Rate

[reeftanker04]

I have a general question about powerheads. Currently I have a 30 gallon tank with one powerhead and a Penguin 350. I don't know specifically the make/model offhand but it's not a very big powerhead and I know that I need more flow.

Here's my question. I've read that the tank should turnover 30 times per hour. I know the Penguin does a fair amount of turnover and the powerhead is doing what it can. Should I buy a big powerhead like a maxi1200, or am I better off getting a few smaller ones like the maxi400?

Where should they be positioned to accomplish the most effective flow? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

A few smaller ones would be ideal. Powerheads do the most good when pointed at directions that cause the flows to intersect, therefore creating random currents. Put 2-4 on a wavemaker and its even better! I would lose the penguin, or mod it into a refugium btw. Or just leave it empty to utilize the flow.

 

[papagimp]

Flowrate is all going to depend upon the corals you want to keep. I wouldn't go 30 x turnover on a softie or leather tank. Mushrooms aren't going to like that much either. LPS and SPS would though. And for SPS I would up it a smidge more. So, that said, what do you plan to keep with the tank?

As for the Penguin 350, they don't really put out alot of flow, they just help a bit with surface agitation wich gives the impression of alot of flow. I would ignore that completely and look just to your powerhead for flow. Find out what kind you have and what flow rate it's running at. I would think more along the lines of 2 maxijet 1200. They are not a big powerhead at all, they only run about 300gph (actually a smidge less than that). And a 30g with 20x turnover would only call for 600gph. Ignore those smaller maxijets, not enough flow for that tank, you would need several of them and that many powerheads would only add to the heat issue of the tank. Not alot, but it would impact some.

As for positioning them, again, depends on where you have your corals or want them, any dead spots in the tank, ect. ect. YOu'll just have to play with em until you get optimal flow for your livestock. Just be sure to have plenty of surface agitation going on.

 

[michaeldaly]

You could use a larger power head on a spray bar to spread the flow around a little.

 

[papagimp]

the experience I have with a spray bar shows they kinda reduce the overall flow. Sure you'll get the same flow coming out of one, but they disperse the flow enough that you'd probably have to go for a higher pump to get the desired effect.

I used them on a Discus tank, since they do not like alot of flow at all and prefer calmer waters. The spray bar allowed for me to have flow still in the tank, but not blasting anything in particular.

 

[reeftanker04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9581860#post9581860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
Flowrate is all going to depend upon the corals you want to keep. I wouldn't go 30 x turnover on a softie or leather tank. Mushrooms aren't going to like that much either. LPS and SPS would though. And for SPS I would up it a smidge more. So, that said, what do you plan to keep with the tank?

As for the Penguin 350, they don't really put out alot of flow, they just help a bit with surface agitation wich gives the impression of alot of flow. I would ignore that completely and look just to your powerhead for flow. Find out what kind you have and what flow rate it's running at. I would think more along the lines of 2 maxijet 1200. They are not a big powerhead at all, they only run about 300gph (actually a smidge less than that). And a 30g with 20x turnover would only call for 600gph. Ignore those smaller maxijets, not enough flow for that tank, you would need several of them and that many powerheads would only add to the heat issue of the tank. Not alot, but it would impact some.

As for positioning them, again, depends on where you have your corals or want them, any dead spots in the tank, ect. ect. YOu'll just have to play with em until you get optimal flow for your livestock. Just be sure to have plenty of surface agitation going on.

Ok well right now I have mostly zoas, some shrooms and a little candy cane. I'm not going to get into softies/leathers as the tank is a little small and my lighting isn't spectacular. I'm prob. going to stick with zoas and other hearty coral. Anyway I hear what you're saying regarding the Penguin, just take that out of the equation.

The only thing I'm worried about with the 1200's is that they'll create too much current. Is there such a thing as too much flow? now when you talk about surface agitation, how do you position powerheads to hit the surface without causing water to be sprayed out of the tank. Is it just a slight adjustment to make them flow upward?

 

[papagimp]

Yes you can have too much flow. Too much can rip the tissue right off a coral easily. And as I mentioned a 1200 is not a POWERFUL powerhead. I thnk it's like 290 or 260gph. That's nothing! You can aim one directly at the surface and you are not going to get a stream of water gushing out. People refcommend like 4 or 5 of the 1200 for a 55g tank, so a couple in that tank isn't going to be much. You can also look into the hydor rotators for the maxijet, will disperse the current in a 360 degree which helps stop the laminar flow they create. If you really think it's going to be too much, just get one and if you think you need the second, get it. Just don't aim it directly at any of the corals. Usually people are aiming them towards the front center glass panel and crossing paths with other currents (from another powerhead or so) to break it up more. The last 29g I had I used 2 maxijets and another cheapie powerhead. And that was mostly LPS corals.

Also, fwiw, if you can keep zoo's alive in that tank, you can keep leathers and softies alive. Sure they're high light requirments on some of the leathers/softies, but for the most part they are not a "high light" requiring group of corals. Not like the SPS or anything. The zoo's in my tank are actually the closest thing to my lighting, located above my sps and all. They kinda take a "the more the merrier" approach to lighting, as many of the leathers do. Don't require it, but will gladly take it.

As for the surface agitation, just aim the powerhead slight upwards, I would position it opposite of the HOB filter you have now, so you get surface movement over the whole tank. Just remember, if the powerhead is moving water at all, the rest of the water has to move as well to make room, so you can point that maxijet straight down and it'll ripple the surface too. Just play around with location and angles until you are happy. The rocks can be used to break up current as well, don't be afraid to experiment.

 

[michaeldaly]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9581959#post9581959 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
the experience I have with a spray bar shows they kinda reduce the overall flow. Sure you'll get the same flow coming out of one, but they disperse the flow enough that you'd probably have to go for a higher pump to get the desired effect.

I used them on a Discus tank, since they do not like alot of flow at all and prefer calmer waters. The spray bar allowed for me to have flow still in the tank, but not blasting anything in particular.

Yes, you do have too use more powerful pumps, I run one down the back length of my tank to blow water up and over the rocks.

 

[gburton]

What kind of flow should I be using in a 75 FOWLR with some shrooms and the like? I have one small, not sure right off the top of my head on GPH and am getting ready to add snails and crabs. I've been waiting to ask this question but can't help it now. Thanks

 

[reeftanker04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9582223#post9582223 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp
Yes you can have too much flow. Too much can rip the tissue right off a coral easily. And as I mentioned a 1200 is not a POWERFUL powerhead. I thnk it's like 290 or 260gph. That's nothing! You can aim one directly at the surface and you are not going to get a stream of water gushing out. People refcommend like 4 or 5 of the 1200 for a 55g tank, so a couple in that tank isn't going to be much. You can also look into the hydor rotators for the maxijet, will disperse the current in a 360 degree which helps stop the laminar flow they create. If you really think it's going to be too much, just get one and if you think you need the second, get it. Just don't aim it directly at any of the corals. Usually people are aiming them towards the front center glass panel and crossing paths with other currents (from another powerhead or so) to break it up more. The last 29g I had I used 2 maxijets and another cheapie powerhead. And that was mostly LPS corals.

Also, fwiw, if you can keep zoo's alive in that tank, you can keep leathers and softies alive. Sure they're high light requirments on some of the leathers/softies, but for the most part they are not a "high light" requiring group of corals. Not like the SPS or anything. The zoo's in my tank are actually the closest thing to my lighting, located above my sps and all. They kinda take a "the more the merrier" approach to lighting, as many of the leathers do. Don't require it, but will gladly take it.

As for the surface agitation, just aim the powerhead slight upwards, I would position it opposite of the HOB filter you have now, so you get surface movement over the whole tank. Just remember, if the powerhead is moving water at all, the rest of the water has to move as well to make room, so you can point that maxijet straight down and it'll ripple the surface too. Just play around with location and angles until you are happy. The rocks can be used to break up current as well, don't be afraid to experiment.

Thanks for all the info man, I appreciate it!!!!

 

[reeftanker04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9581860#post9581860 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by papagimp


Find out what kind you have and what flow rate it's running at. I would think more along the lines of 2 maxijet 1200. They are not a big powerhead at all, they only run about 300gph (actually a smidge less than that). And a 30g with 20x turnover would only call for 600gph. Ignore those smaller maxijets, not enough flow for that tank, you would need several of them and that many powerheads would only add to the heat issue of the tank. Not alot, but it would impact some.

OK it's a PowerSweep 124 that puts out around 160 GPH. So with the addition of Maxi 1200's, I should be good to go I think.

 

[Zestay]

i have one of those power sweeps. they are garbage. repalce them all with MJs in your tank ( if you have the standard 30 ) is 36 inchs long. if put 2 1200s and 2 900s. my tank is identical to yours. just about 6 inchs large from front to back. you may be intersted in 4 900s. but id get at least 2 1200s. theres some ebay vendors with awesome deals.

and if you have 2 1200s and 2 900s.. later when you get a new tank ( you will and you know it ) you can mod them into 1500 gph + pumps =)


anyways im already late for work..

 

[UnderCoverDork]

nano stream...tunze is the way to go

 

[reeftanker04]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9589202#post9589202 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Zestay
i have one of those power sweeps. they are garbage. repalce them all with MJs in your tank ( if you have the standard 30 ) is 36 inchs long. if put 2 1200s and 2 900s. my tank is identical to yours. just about 6 inchs large from front to back. you may be intersted in 4 900s. but id get at least 2 1200s. theres some ebay vendors with awesome deals.

and if you have 2 1200s and 2 900s.. later when you get a new tank ( you will and you know it ) you can mod them into 1500 gph + pumps =)


anyways im already late for work..

LOL. Yeah the powersweep isn't the best out there to say the least. I'm gonna run with 2 maxi 1200's and see how that works. Thanks for the info.