Too much flow? Can't keep my sand down.

[Jeff000]

I have a Tunze 6055 and a 6045 in my 90 gallon display.

Rocks look like this

Right now I have the 6055 up near the overflow on the back facing to the top middle of the left side, kind of parallel to the surface about 3.5" down.

And I have the 6045 on the top left closer to the front aimed to the top center of my rocks.

The 6045 on its own is fine, but the 6055 just blows my sand around no matter where I put it.

I have, and will have more, paly's and zoa's. I also have a frogspawn and an xenia, probably will have some more softies too.

Is this just too much flow? Am I aiming them wrong? Am I trying too hard to keep flow directly off the palys and zoas?

 

[Jeff000]

Anyone?

 

[sedor]

Its likely the type of sand you have. Too small of a grain is always going to have issues with blowing all over the tank. Personally I use Caribsea Seafloor Special Grade sand and its the best I ever used. Its a larger grain so it doesn't blow around the tank. When your ready to upgrade sand make sure you pay attention to the grain size and get one that is larger.

 

[Dave VG]

Its likely the type of sand you have. Too small of a grain is always going to have issues with blowing all over the tank. Personally I use Caribsea Seafloor Special Grade sand and its the best I ever used. Its a larger grain so it doesn't blow around the tank. When your ready to upgrade sand make sure you pay attention to the grain size and get one that is larger.

X 2 I agree 100% and I will be using this in my 40B

 

[Jeff000]

Its likely the type of sand you have. Too small of a grain is always going to have issues with blowing all over the tank. Personally I use Caribsea Seafloor Special Grade sand and its the best I ever used. Its a larger grain so it doesn't blow around the tank. When your ready to upgrade sand make sure you pay attention to the grain size and get one that is larger.

The caribsea special is the sand I have.
Its like playground sand consistancy I would say. The sugar fine looks the best but I figured I would never keep it on the ground. The next size larger was too much like gravel for me to even think about using.

 

[Brndn0515]

I have a mix of 1/2 sugar and 1/2 seaflor grade. Its the best of both worlds it gives the finer look yet it doesnt cause a sand storm with the powerheads.

 

[mitsuklypse84]

special grade seafloor def stays in place in the presence of my 2 mp40w's...with sugar sand, not so much-dunes all over the place...

 

[ChuckG]

It will stick better after some bacteria have had chance to grow on it.. that said with 2 vortech mp40s in a 48" wide tank I cant keep bare spots from forming and the is with the same sand which is resistant to blowing around.

 

[geaux xman]

I have the same problem in my 17g with a MP10. I have ~25lbs of the CarabSea small grain fiji pink in there.

I just got 40lbs of the Special Grade Seafloor. Could I replace 10lbs of the fiji pink with the larger grain Seafloor Specail Grade, would that help?

I've read that the smaller grain will eventually find itself back up top.

Or maybe I should try 50/50 of each type of sand.

 

[Jeff000]

It will stick better after some bacteria have had chance to grow on it.. that said with 2 vortech mp40s in a 48" wide tank I cant keep bare spots from forming and the is with the same sand which is resistant to blowing around.

MP40s are similar to the 6055?

Might have to deflect the flow a bit maybe, or find a high flow coral to point it at.

 

[ChuckG]

MP40s are similar to the 6055?

Might have to deflect the flow a bit maybe, or find a high flow coral to point it at.

Googled the 6055 and it came up with 1,189 gallons per hour vs the mp40 when at the highest setting flows 3,200 per hour, so no. I think you'll find the sand sticks better once the tank settles in and you'll be OK. Looking at your picture you might try raising the powerheads an inch or two and this might help in the short term.

 

[Jeff000]

Googled the 6055 and it came up with 1,189 gallons per hour vs the mp40 when at the highest setting flows 3,200 per hour, so no. I think you'll find the sand sticks better once the tank settles in and you'll be OK. Looking at your picture you might try raising the powerheads an inch or two and this might help in the short term.

both powerheads are as high as they can be without sucking water right now. I need a new picture.

I could aim the big one towards the surface more, just makes some micro bubbles. Sand doesn't get a chance to firm up, just makes huge drifts that I rake back every couple days.

 

[Jeff000]

Should I have flow directly on the rocks? or just indirect?