tunze for a 500 (retrofit)

[sarmo]

i have had trouble with my rio powerheads failing and everyone says tunze is the way to go. so my question is what do i need?

i have a tank that is 8ft X 3ft x 3ft, about 500gallons. i have a mix of SPS, LPS, softies and fish. i have about 500# of live rock arranged in two piles that are high at the ends and low in the middle. you can view the tank from both sides and see through from one room to the other. the tank seperates two rooms. the live rock piles come close but do not touch the ends, there is about 3 inches between the live rock and the tank ends.

currently i use 3 power heads 2 on one end and one on the other end. i use to use 4 but there was far to much current and nothing would stay in place. i use rio 26hf powerheads (1590GPH).

one more problem, my tank has a lip around the top that is about 5inches and the glass is 3/4inch thick(not to mention i can't access the ends because of the cabinet, magnets will not work)

do you have a solution for me that will use less electricity and last longer than the rio's?

thanks for any help.....

 

[rvitko]

I would use 2 6200 Stream with the multicontroller. While the flow is much higher than what you had the outlet is 2.5" so it is much more diffuse as well. Total this will use 120watts if you run both at the same time at full power. You could use holder accessory 3000.26 to make an L bracket that will go under the lip.

 

[sarmo]

two 6200's-- that's 10,560 GPH. wow, that's a lot of flow, is it to much? i only use 4800GPH now.

okay you're the expert, where do i put them? both on the same end, with one on either side of the live rock pile? or???? how does the bracket attach to the tank? would i have to drain the tank? at what depth should i put the pump?

what do you think of that rock holder thing? would that be an option? i could put one on opposite ends and opposite sides form each other? the flow would meet in the channel between the two piles but i thing there would be a lot of dead space at the ends w/o a tunze?

i've heard that tunze is the best and i assume because the power useage is less the heat into the tank sould be reduce also? plus there would be energy savings too?

thanks for getting back to me....

 

[rvitko]

As I said this flow is different from what you are used to. Imagine if the flow from your garden hose was coming from a fire hose, the larger outlet would greatly reduce the force. Besides that you will really just run one at a time and alternate which one is running on your controller. The flow covers a 7ft by 30" area and you will aim them at the front glass near the center and the bounce back will further diffuse the flow. The rock holder does not work on the 6200, only the 6100 and 6000. The 6100 has the same distance but only a 24" spread. In that size tank I expect the pumps will raise the temperature maybe 2 degrees but more likely 1.

 

[sarmo]

so locate the pumps on the same side and opposite ends? will that give enough flow to the sides that don't have a pump?

 

[rvitko]

One on the left back corner one in the righ back corner.

 

[sarmo]

thanks, where do i find this set-up and how much should i expect to pay?

 

[rvitko]

It should run about $1050. The pumps should be in stock at Marine Depot, Premium or Champion, their is a waiting list on the controller of about 10 weeks. Until you get the controller you can switch the pumps off and on every hour on timers. You can also turn them down in flow to as low as about 2500gph. When you get the controller return them to full power and use the controller to set up the pump speeds and intervals.

 

[sarmo]

thanks,
one last question---- will i have to drain the water to attach the rails that the pumps are hooked to? remember i have that rim around the top of the tank that is 7.5cm. the glass is 3/4 inch thick.

 

[rvitko]

No, they go one with screws, it is alot like a wood clamp and you tighten 2 screws and it clamps on to the brace.

 

[sarmo]

no , i mean how does the rain attach to the glass?

 

[rvitko]

With screws. It has a clamp on it that is just like a wood clamp, you turn two screws to clamp it on.

 

[sarmo]

guess i need to see it. you mentioned a different bracket bucause of my top, what was that?

sorry i'm such a pain and thank you....

 

[rvitko]

3000.26 which is the one I have been discussing. I am pretty sure their are some illustrations on our website if not Marine Depot my have some and I can check some of my photo files.

 

[sarmo]

i have an oceanic tank. at marine depot they show two types of attachments, 3000.244 and 3000.260 it looks like either would work but since i'd be mounting the pumps at an angle, do that system accomodate for that?

thanks you have been gerat.........

 

[rvitko]

They cannot be mounted at an angle, they have to be straight up and down, the 3000.26 is for perimeter bracing, the bracket goes under the brace and then down the wall, you fashion an L bracket from the parts that come with the pump and this set, alternatively if the tank is not filled yet or you can drain it part way you can silicon the bracket to the vertical pane with included pieces in the 3000.26. The 3000.244 is for heavy plastic trim like on Oceainc or All Glass tanks and that is now included with the pumps.