Turn over water filter rate for 20 gallon nano mixed reef tank

[Haacheew]

What's the appropriate water filter turn over rate for a 20 gallons mixed reef tank with 36 LB live rock, bare bottom, couple SPS, mostly LPS and zoans, and 3 small fish? I read one article on Google search, its a bout 10 times. Is it too little? And whats yours for your 20 gallon tank?

Secondly, what would be a good GPH for a nano powerhead? (is 20 times of 20 gallons too much or little?)

 

[Alex114]

Generally 10x flow is the minimum you want. Most sps like higher flow though so I’d go with 20-30x flow if not more. You can move the power head around to get more flow in one area for the sps and lower flow in another area for coral that requires less flow if you need to.

I don’t have a 20 gallon but I have a 10 and 29 gallon. The 10 has a 240 gph koralia and the built in power head at the back. I estimate it’s about 350gph total, so 35x turnover rate. The 29 has 2x 425 gph koralia power heads, so 850 gph total. About 30x turnover rate. Ive got a variety of sps, lps, and soft corals which is why my flow is in the middle range at 30-35x

 

[Oldreeferman]

I found on my tank which has several corals that require high water movement (SPS) with the large amount of live rock ive got i had to place 3 Korlia 240s with 1 blowing across the back for no dead spots, & the other 2 on the sides blowing against ea other twards the front to make movement that was sort of on off random thru out the tank. Surprisingly i still have several nice just moderate flow areas for corals that like lower flow so its all in the placement took me a while to tweak it. This along with a HOB filter flowing in & my in tank skimmer produced a very nice movement with no mess laying about on the bottom anywhere, i still turkey baste my rocks once a week while filtering B4 a water change to make sure all is squeaky. Hard to have too much flow honestly only time its an issue is if its keeping corals retracted if so adjust direction of flow slightly or move the corals around. Remember to clean them (powerheads) every few months also as they will grow weaker as they build up coralline & gunk over time. And yes my tank is a 20 gallon.

 

[j.falk]

On my 20 gallon I'm running (2) Koralia Nano 425s plus an Aquaclear 50 (200 gph) power filter.

 

[Haacheew]

I thought power filter "should" pump more water per gph than that of display tank powerheads because of the filtering functions (e.g. water go through carbon, phosphates, bio-media, macro chaetos, algae scrubbers, etc.)

Look at your deployments, it seems more powerhead water movement gph than filtration movement.

 

[moondoggy4]

https://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Clear-F...ocphy=9031514&hvtargid=pla-319229273480&psc=1

I would get one that is double the size of your tank. I would also look at In-Tank for accessories for your filter, probably best to buy it all from them, but your choice of course.

 

[j.falk]

I thought power filter "should" pump more water per gph than that of display tank powerheads because of the filtering functions (e.g. water go through carbon, phosphates, bio-media, macro chaetos, algae scrubbers, etc.)

Look at your deployments, it seems more powerhead water movement gph than filtration movement.

It's the biggest that will fit on my tank with all of the rest of the equipment in place and it works just fine for my needs.