stream advice for 75g

[reefskpr]

i currently have a 75g oceanic (48"x18"x21") with one 3/4" seaswirl connected to my return (~600gph) and a few maxi-jets.

i was thinking of getting the stream 6060 to replace the maxi-jets. is there a way to place the 6060 to create good random or chaotic currents? or is a stream with a controller necessary? i'm planning on keeping mostly sps's.

i'm sure there is a reason they make non-controllable streams, but all i hear is that you need some sort of changing currents like a seaswirl or wavemaker. i'm curious as to the best way one would utilize a non-pulsing stream like 6060.

any advice or shared experience would be very much appreciated.

 

[rvitko]

6060 and 6080 create currents similar to those in the shallow algae pools as well as the deep forereef slope. These pumps are most suitable for use with certain soft corals, like dendronephthea, as well as dutch style reefs. They can be used with another chaos generator like a SeaSwirl or Turbelle Electronic. The Electronic Streams 6000 and 6100 are ideal for micro atolls and the outerreef slope- the areas where the majority of the SPS corals occur. In general in aquariums of this small size I think the Turbelle Electronic are most suitable, they feature a wide 1" output and a more reasonable flow. The Stream 6060 or 6000 is an option provided you don't have a fine sand bed. The flow jet is about 2ft wide and will stir up the sand.

 

[reefskpr]

thanks roger.

i had a feeling that would be your recommendation. and i am a little worried about my sand bed. it's somewhat shallow and i am taking it out little by little, but it could still be a problem. but i am willing to remove it if i have to.

as with the 7200/2 for example, would 1 be enough combined with my seaswirl. what i really liked about the stream is it's coverage, i.e. very little deadspots. am i right? i'm worried that with the turbelle pump, i wouldn't be able to provide good current to all corals.

i was wondering if those using the 6060 had a way to position it, so that they got both good coverage and chaotic action. or if it's okay to use the somewhat constant flow of the 6060 since it has wide coverage and does bounce off the aquarium walls.

 

[rvitko]

Well, I would ask some board members. I honestly get tired of the little snipes taken by some people on this board so I have gotten really reluctant to advise on these matters. Some users like bowfront and others report no trouble. Then I see others who really make no sense having trouble with the pump in a 120. I know for sure the 7400/2 or 7300/2 will work very well. You may have some low flow areas- I doubt dead areas. The Stream does give a very nice full movement to the tank.

 

[reefskpr]

don't worry, i don't snipe at anyone giving advice.

i'll just take it if i like it

and sorry for harping on the 6060 question. just that it costs half that of the 7300/2 or 7400/2.

so do you think one 7300/2 will be enough?

again, thanks for all your input.

 

[bowfront]

I'll tell you I really like these things. Here's a pic of my 72g with two 6060's. I alternate them with some time on together and then some time both off but am increasing the amount of time together. Also a couple of Seaswirls. Don't worry about too much flow worry about not enough IME. Great product and will compliment your 75g nicely if you need more flow. Here's a shot tonight with both running.

Actually that's a crummy shot here's another close up same scenerio.

I'll tell you what the fact that Roger is hanging in is stand up for Tunze. :thumbsup:

 

[rvitko]

I set up my exes tank with a 7300/2 and a single controller, Oceanic 75 with 60lbs of rock and an assortment of polyps and soft corals. It was a really nice tank. The only other flow was a 400gph pump in the ReefPack internal filter set. For SPS I might want two. I do agree with bowfront though a 6060 and a Seaswirl will be hard to beat for SPS.

 

[reefskpr]

nice tank bowfront!!!

and thanks for sharing.

so, looks like you have one near the front and one near the back flowing across the tank.

does any of your corals have any problems with them constantly on for an hour at a time? or do your seaswirls change the currents enough to create some randomness? btw, how much flow do you have from each ss?

i'm really leaning towards the 6060. good to see that someone out there is using it successfully, and roger agrees. i'll probably start with one and see how it goes combined with my ss.

thanks again guys!

 

[bowfront]

I started with one stream also and then added the other - good idea. If you want plenty of flow these things are the ticket. My streams are actually at about the same location on the sides even though it doesn't look like it in the picture. I have them pointing accross the tank but not exactly at each other. Like I said I alternate them on timers (5 hr cycles) most of the day. When I first ran them together I was having problems with corals falling down but now I have everything positioned so that it stays. All corals including the little leathers and Xenia adjusted to the flow in a short amount of time. Like a powerhead you don't want to point these directly at anything short range. The seaswirls run all the time and do break up the current of the streams a little so you get some random current. The two together is really nice.