Too much waterflow??

[yankeeslover]

46 gallon bowfront... mixed fish and soft corals. I am currently running a new maxi jet 1200 with the propeller in circulation mode which according specs is 1300 gph, I run this in the back of the tank bouncing off the rear live rock. I have noticed that i get some detrius on the bottom the tank towards the front. So today i purchased another maxijet, this time the 600 and tried to run this one in circulation mode which states 750 gph. I put this in the opposite corner as the 1200. it almost seems like way to much water flow with this much GPH.. the Maxijet also has the option to remove the propeller and put in the impeller instead which drops it down to 160 gph.. SO i did this.. now it still doesnt seem like enough in the front(1300 gph in the rear, 160 gph in the front) if i switch it back to propeller mode and have 1300 plus 750 would that be way to much circulation for my tank? im not sure the fish can swim with all this circulation.. almost like a small whirlpool...thanks for the advice...

 

[yankeeslover]

actually, I kind of like it with the 1300 gph in the rear and the 750 gph in the front.. I took the maxi jet 600 and pointed it right against the front glass.. Now i have alot of water movement on the water surface.. I had almost none before..Does this look like it will be way too much movement in my tank.. looks like 2050 GPH in movement.. unless im figuring wrong..thanks..

 

[ajcanale]

I have 12000+ average GPH (most have varying flow rate working cooperatively) in a 150, sometimes I feel like I could use a little more. If you do a simple comparison this is over 5x your flow, yet my tank is only 3.25x (rounded) the size. Now this is an oversimplified comparison, and an oversimplified answer would be no, it's not too much waterflow.

But, the better question here is "Do I have too much water flow for my livestock?"
In terms of fish, this shouldn't be an issue unless you are keeping seahorses, which I assume you aren't. In terms or coral, only certain LPS and Softies will be irritated by this much flow, and it really depends on how "direct" the flow is. With only 2 pumps (+1 a return, maybe?) there are surely low turbulent zones in which the above mentioned would be happy with.

 

[ajcanale]

After seeing pic. I think you are okay with flow. Keep an eye on (what looks like) xenia on the right, if it stays inflated then you should be okay. Also, do research and consideration towards a sump and protein skimmer. With one fish it isn't a necessity though.

This reminds me a lot of my first SW tank. 46g bowfront, similar aquascape, HOB marineland filter (initially), a heater, and two Koralia pumps.

Those days were fun :fun4:

 

[ericarenee]

I do not think its too much . But that one pump aimed at the rock directly may need to be adjusted depending on what you put in there coral wise..

I have a 7 foot tank with 4 1600 gph hydor wave pumps two Aimed at the bottom glass one across the front one behind the rock (bare bottom tank). The other two are both on the back of the tank 3/4 ways up aimed at a angle to where there flow meets about mid tank half way back from the front....
Plus the 1 1/2 inch Return line that carries 2600 gph From my Sump ..
I Try to aim the wave pumps in a way they are pushing water to work against each other. It causes a wave like Action... You can see it by watching the Corals moving from side to side not being blown in one direction...

 

[yankeeslover]

After seeing pic. I think you are okay with flow. Keep an eye on (what looks like) xenia on the right, if it stays inflated then you should be okay. Also, do research and consideration towards a sump and protein skimmer. With one fish it isn't a necessity though.

This reminds me a lot of my first SW tank. 46g bowfront, similar aquascape, HOB marineland filter (initially), a heater, and two Koralia pumps.

Those days were fun :fun4:

Thanks.. thats actually a pipe organ coral... I was gonna get xenia until i heard they can overrun a tank...The LFS had one frag of this pipe organ left..Put it in last week..so far so good.. I like it.. and I hear pipe organs dont spread they only grow i larger i guess. I do have a hob protein skimmer.. its a eshopps psk100h... also have two clownfish, 1 royal gramma, 1 firefish and multiple snails, crabs..

 

[Bmplank86]

Add a ball valve to adjust flow

 

[whosurcaddie]

Your at 44x turnover which is really good most people starting out actually dont have enough flow. Some think what they have is too much when in reality its just bordering on the right amount.

You have it right in the sweet spot for lps and softies and even some SPS. You may have to adjust the flow as your tank grows in, but your good to go right now.