Steam pump for 180 gal tank?

[aquajames]

Hi, Roger,

I know you get this kind of question all the time, but what model of Stream pump do you recommend for 180 gallon tank (72x24x24, return rate from sump at 900 gallon, stocked with mostly sps and some lps and softies).

Do you think two 6100 with multi controller may be too much flow? Would a single 6100 with single controller provide decent surge effect in my tank?

Since this is high price item, I would like to get a good advice before I place an order.

Thank you.

James

 

[rvitko]

How about this, start with one and no controller, you can turn down the flow as needed without the controller. If you want to add another and get the multicontroller feel free to do so, otherwise just get a single controller. In a 180 one could be enough but many people want to add a second one and use tide mode so one is on and then sometime later they switch. Either controller lets you pulse the pump, have night mode and food timer.

 

[aquajames]

With 6100 blowing into sps, how far away the pump may be situated from sps without doing any damage to it?

James

 

[Bojan]

I tested Tunze 6100 in my 130g. aquarium.

According to my test I suggest to direct Tunze 6100 pump output in place between corals and not directy in SPS.

If 6100 blowing directy into sps with pulse mode between 30% and 100 % power,
Montipora have to be at least 60 cm away
Acropora have to be at least 40 cm away

 

[rvitko]

I would say with the more robust broad branched acros (thicker branches are an adaptation for higher flow) 6" or 15cm is OK. You can also just place them a little above. In our initial tests we had acros like Stubers in form maybe 6" away with no problems once acclimated- the key is they have to adapt to it from the lower flow in captivity.

 

[Bojan]

I agree, it is possible to put SPS very close to output of Tunze stream pumps. In my reef I have SPS all around pump.
One Acropora is only 5 cm away from output of Tunze 6000 (with 16 V transformer), but if I put this Acropora directly in front of pump output, distance have to be at least 30 cm or 40 cm for Tunze stream (with 20 V transformer).

Acropora prefer very strong water flow, so I believe, that it is possible to put this SPS only 15 cm in front of pump output, but it have to be very well fixed. If I put my large Acropora so close to pump output, water flow blow away Acropora together with small stone on which Acropora is fixed.