Reducing Turbulence

[Twistofer]

I've just set-up a 75 gal "semi" reef aquarium. I say "Semi" because I do have a Humu Trigger & Snowflake eel in the tank as well as a BTA. My 90 gal cracked on the bottom, so I had to do this set-up in an emergency.

Getting to the point...I had a Mag 12 return pump from my refugium/sump. It provided great return, but was way too turbulent for my BTA. I stepped-down to a Mag-9 (single return @ 1" U-Tube with wide flat nozzle), but even though the turbulence decreased it's still there.
What's the best way to keep the return volume (~850 gal/hr) with decrease turbulence?

 

[Cymonous]

Point the nozzle in another direction, add a split outlet nozzle to reduce the flow in one direction.

 

[Twistofer]

Pointing the nozzle didn't work. I need to have a kinder, gentler flow, but the same return volume to maintain my overflow

 

[Pitter98]

Just put a 1" Tee at the end of the line - it will divide the flow in 2 directions and reduce the straight line output.

 

[Twistofer]

Just put a 1" Tee at the end of the line - it will divide the flow in 2 directions and reduce the straight line output.

Would I still use nozzles, or just let it flow out of the 1" ends?

 

[TheOddCouple]

Have you tried just taking the nozzle off?

 

[Twistofer]

Have you tried just taking the nozzle off?

Makes it worse

 

[Tom39]

Just put a 1" Tee at the end of the line - it will divide the flow in 2 directions and reduce the straight line output.

+1 :thumbsup: I had the same issue and split the line. I added 3" flare nozzles to the ends and pointed them 90 degrees away from each other. Made things much calmer.

 

[SaltwaterSensei]

yes splitting the return between several out puts will reduce the velocity with still providing similar gph. but remember it will slightly increase your head pressure so your return gph rate could be alittle less.