Suggestions for Flow Help

[JeepTJ]

Roger,

I have a 75g Oceanic RR Tank. I haven't been happy with flow yet, and it's been running for about 5 months.

I have an eheim 1262 return pump, that's probably pushing between 650 and 700 gph into the tank.

I started with two MaxiJet 900s, one at the top of each back corner. Never happy, so "upgraded" to a Seio m620 and m820 in each top back corner. Happier, but still not really happy.

Have tried splitting the return by a loc-line "y" into two nozzles, and am currently running a single 3" wide flat nozzle.

I've decided to pony up to Tunze in hopes of finally being happy with the flow, eliminate the dead spots, and be able to make use of pulsing/wave motion to help keep bits of the tank clean that seem to be accumulating debris.

So I've got a stream 6000 coming tomorrow with a 7091 controller and the magnet mount.

I'd LOVE any sort of suggestions on placement, direction of flow, settings for the controller, etc. as well as how to setup and point the return line. It's reef with SPS and LPS and a shallow 1/2" bed of sugar sized sand for aesthetics.

Thanks in advance for your advice/help!

 

[rvitko]

I would place the Stream in the opposite corner from the return. I would just use a single return because the flow is too difffuse to do anything with the Y. Run the Stream at 30% to 100% pulse at 3 second intervals. Aim it to the opposite front corner having the return biisect the flow.

 

[JeepTJ]

I would place the Stream in the opposite corner from the return. I would just use a single return because the flow is too difffuse to do anything with the Y. Run the Stream at 30% to 100% pulse at 3 second intervals. Aim it to the opposite front corner having the return biisect the flow.

Roger,

Thanks so much for your response and advice!

A couple quick clarification questions:

When you say to have the Stream in the corner - should the magnet/Stream be mounted on the back glass or on the side?

About how far under the surface should I keep the Stream in this situation?

On the return, how deep should that be under the surface?

Thanks!!

 

[rvitko]

Surface agitation is one of flows most critical aspect so I would put the Stream about 4" below the surface and the return about 1" below the surface. I think the side glass is where it will have to be mounted to get the degree of swivel necessary to hit the opposite corner.

 

[gearhead]

i have the same tank & i'm thinking about getting the same set-up. the difference is that i have a mag 9.5 running a SCWD for my return. the SCWD empties into the corners of the tank & they are aimed at a 45 degree towards the front. would i be better off getting rid of the SCWD? i've been also thinking about upgrading the mag 9.5.

btw, this is slowly becoming a SPS w/ a few softies & zoos.

 

[rvitko]

I would probably leave the return alone. Eliminating the SQWD is your call. I don't think it will make a huge difference either way.

 

[JeepTJ]

Surface agitation is one of flows most critical aspect so I would put the Stream about 4" below the surface and the return about 1" below the surface. I think the side glass is where it will have to be mounted to get the degree of swivel necessary to hit the opposite corner.

Roger,

Here's an update. Got the parts in, and have had it setup exactly as you suggested for a day now. Boy, that thing is a lot bigger than I imagined, and the fish are just now getting used to the flow (my little fish were having some issues at first, like how to get out of the corner! haha)

Anyhow, the flow is pretty strong, but the pulsing action doesn't seem to be generating the effect I was hoping for. The flow throughout the tank is pretty much a constant circle, with it heading left to right on the top (away from the stream) and right to left (back to the stream) at the bottom of the tank.

Can you think of other possible configurations that may help to create a more agitated flow, rather than the constant one-direction movement?

Thanks so much!!

 

[rvitko]

You might try working with the pulse interval. You could also aim it a little more to the center. I think it is not so static as it appears and should do fine. The only way to get a real back and forth motion is with a second pump and alternating them but I don't think it is necessary.

 

[JeepTJ]

You might try working with the pulse interval. You could also aim it a little more to the center. I think it is not so static as it appears and should do fine. The only way to get a real back and forth motion is with a second pump and alternating them but I don't think it is necessary.

Roger,

Thanks for the advice - I'll try tweaking the pulse timing a bit tonight and see what I can find.

One quick question for you - As I am tweaking the aiming of the stream... It's currently in the top area of the tank, of course, which is SPS corals - acros, porites, montiporas, etc. Is there a certain distance the output of the stream should be from any of these types of corals, or is it not a concern as far as damage to these SPSes?

Thanks!

 

[rvitko]

It is a concern at first but the corals will get used to higher flow. In general acroporas are at the higher end of the flow spectrum, montipora lower so place acros closer.

 

[JeepTJ]

It is a concern at first but the corals will get used to higher flow. In general acroporas are at the higher end of the flow spectrum, montipora lower so place acros closer.

Gotcha!

But... how close could an acro be? 2", 1", 5"? The reason for my asking is the pump being quite large, my pre-existing rock and coral layout could place some SPS items within a couple inches of the output if I try some different angles.

I know I keep saying, but thanks so much for being here to give us this great advice!!