Tunze pump selection

[jschultzbass]

I am currently running 4 Tunze 6105s on my 180 SPS reef. I just ordered my custom 300 gallon tank and needed advice on what to use for pumps. It will be a 77"x30"x30" peninsula style tank with a single overflow on the short side against the wall. I would like to only put pumps on that one side so I can have a clean look all the way around. I would also like to keep it a SPS dominant tank. Any suggestions?

 

[rvitko]

All pumps on one side will not work that well, the flow on the far side will be quite week, especially for SPS. The 6255's could do this but honestly if it were my tank, 2 6105 on each side with the wide flow housings at 24V and a wavebox 6215 would be what I would do. The 6255's are fine, but I prefer a bit of redundancy so if a pump is down for repair, their is no emergency. You could use Stream Rocks on one side to conceal the pumps.

 

[jschultzbass]

What is the reach of a 6255? What is the max flow rate?

 

[rvitko]

The maximum flow rate is 4800 gph that we can confirm, it is likely higher but we use a ultrasound meter and this requires that the water is pumped through a pipe, if it was unconstrained, it would likely be more. The flow reaches 7ft.

 

[jschultzbass]

How would you compare the 6255 to the MP60? The MP60 has a higher advertised flow rate but I know you guys do your own test on efficiency of flow and all that good stuff.

 

[rvitko]

Their are differences between the flow patterns. The 6255 output has that pronounced snout, this channels the flow and projects it so the current carries farther. The Ecotech pumps don't have this, so their is some immediate reuptake, some of the output is sucked back in, the carry is not as long but the gph is higher and it creates a greater undertow effect.

 

[jschultzbass]

I'm finally filling my tank with water and was wondering if I was to just use the 4 6105s how should they be placed in the tank and what should the pump profile look like? Thanks!

 

[jschultzbass]

Being a peninsula the rock work will be all down the center of the tank as well, does this change things?

 

[rvitko]

Placement is largely trial and error as is programming, a lot depends on rock and coral layout, I might start with one pump in all four corners aimed straight across and using interval mode run the pump in the back left and right front for 5-6 hours and then switch with the on pumps pulsing every 3 seconds between 30-100%.

 

[jschultzbass]

Basically getting circular gyre motion. That's what I was thinking. Would you still use the wide flow housing or narrow?

 

[aleithol]

Basically getting circular gyre motion. That's what I was thinking. Would you still use the wide flow housing or narrow?

If you've not seen it, this is an excellent brand new article on Advanced Aquarist showing flow differences of the various Tunze Powerheads including the impact between 6105 housings as the distance increases away from the opening. It helped me get a handle what I'm going to start with next week (hopefully, water at last in my own build!) with 6105s.

Good luck.

 

[rvitko]

I think you could use either, with the wide flow I would use Interval 2 as the pumps won't reach all the way, alternatively you could use interval 1 and a faster interval. The narrow flow should reach the full distance of the tank but the velocity may be too high near the pump for some corals.

 

[jschultzbass]

If you've not seen it, this is an excellent brand new article on Advanced Aquarist showing flow differences of the various Tunze Powerheads including the impact between 6105 housings as the distance increases away from the opening. It helped me get a handle what I'm going to start with next week (hopefully, water at last in my own build!) with 6105s.

Good luck.

Thanks for the link, very interesting read. I was thinking of trying with just 2 6255s on the one end since it is a peninsula tank but with what the article says they might be to big.

 

[jschultzbass]

I think you could use either, with the wide flow I would use Interval 2 as the pumps won't reach all the way, alternatively you could use interval 1 and a faster interval. The narrow flow should reach the full distance of the tank but the velocity may be too high near the pump for some corals.

Thanks Roger for all your help! I'll have to try a few things and see what I like best.