Tumbling waterflow for Chaeto

[10" Red Devil]

Hello,

I have heard that Anthony Calfo suggests a water flow that causes the chaeto to tumble. Anyone have ideas on how to achieve this in a 20 gallon bare bottom long tank?

I was thinking of placing two powerheads on the bottom connected to pvc with evenly spaced holes on it and at the end a cap so the water is forced through the holes. Would this work, what gph powerheads would I have to have?

Thanks.

 

[graveyardworm]

Have you seen the return water/ramp setup which creates water motion that causes the cheato ball to tumble? It was an old thread in Anthony's forum.

 

[graveyardworm]

Here you go check page 3. There was another thread which I cant seem to find.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Thanks David!

 

[10" Red Devil]

Oh man I couldnt see what the heck he was talking about in that image of steven pros refugium.

Also he said 4-500gph of flow in the tank, what if you are using powerheads for circulation.

Thanks.

 

[graveyardworm]

It is hard to see in the image which is why I was looking for the other thread. You can see in one of the drawings how the water flows onto a piece of acrylic placed flat with the waters surface. Yes power heads count towards flow in the tank.

This drawing

 

[10" Red Devil]

Thanks David that helps a lot.

So basically the water falls from that tube onto the plate and then the water flows off the plate into the water and creates that tumbling motion. Okay I dont know how I could implement this in a stand alone 20 gallon grow out tank.

Oh and about the power heads, just wondering what gph I would need, like 2 250gph?

 

[graveyardworm]

It ma be possible with alittle experimentation to create flow with powerheads that will help the cheato to tumble. My 35 gallon fuge has 2 rio 600 PH's plus about 200 GPH return water flow. The cheato doesnt tumble, but grows well just the same.

 

[fishhaven]

Just a thought, but wouldn't it be easier to get the ball to spin? The ball wouldn't have to defy gravity at all and the light could be directed from the side??? No chnace the light would contact water that way either.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Well I tried using a maxijet 1200 on one side and a penquin 160gph flow, right next to an AquaClear w/ 127gph flow on the other side. I had them almost aiming right at each other and presto the chaeto began to clump and spin amazingly! However it did not last long, got caught on some live rock on the opposing side of the maxijet 1200. Im thinking I need to go get another maxijet 1200 to equal things out. Tank is going to get warm though with two 20watt pumps in there and two lights of america 65watt pc fixtures resting on egg crating on the tank.