Water movement.

[Gizmo18405]

What will be the best way to move water in a 380 tank. I am planning on a closed loop with a dart pump and wanted something like a 1'' Scwd to switch the current back and forth. Maybe even an Oceans Motions but they are costly. If you have Ideas or have done this can you please post pics. Thank You

 

[leveldrummer]

what about some power heads? are you against them?

 

[Stylaster]

Im assuming your going to have a sump, so how about using 1" or 1.5" seaswirls for your returns?

 

[Gizmo18405]

I cant really use powerheads because the tank is being built into the wall and I have just enough room to fit the tank and basically have an 8 ft wide by 16 ft long hallway for a fish room. The tank will fit in that hallway with sheetrock removed.

 

[Gizmo18405]

This is my current set up. If I can figure out how to put up a pic.

 

[Gizmo18405]

Anybody have any good ideas. I'm looking to make my corals move back and forth as in the ocean but do not wand to use a wave box and will have trouble installing power heads due to space. I would like to see some pics of what some other set ups that work would be. I'm planning on a closed loop set up but do not how to get the flow I'm looking for.

 

[ca1ore]

IMO closed loops just aren't all that effective at providing in-tank flow as it's difficult to get enough movement. Vortechs, tunze, etc. provide broad flow and are pushing a ton of water - hard to do that with a CL.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Have any room above the tank where you could install a surge tank or two? Sure there's logistical issues with those as well but could be a way to get a burst of water movement. You're not going to get the "swaying" motion of of say a wavemaker but it could be useful.

As to the no room for power heads, IMO I'd try and redesign the space to allow you get an arm along part of the tank so you can throw a magnet back there. You could also use an older clip on style power head.

I'm with ca1ore, unless you have a LOT of power dedicated to moving water with closed loops you're not going to get much going on. If your rock scape is open you could try to get some sort of gyre flow with careful placement of outlets however not quite sure that'll work too well. You could also put a few DC pumps as part of a very integrated closed loop, 1 maybe 2 outlets per pump, then hook those to a controller to get ebs and flows, but your comment about an ocean motion cost makes me think you're looking more towards the cheap side of things (which IMO, you're already going the wrong direction with pumps outside the tank as your electric bill will be high)

 

[Gizmo18405]

Thanks. I have been looking and can fit my arm down between the wall studs and the tank. The other end I can attach to my overflow. Im not being cheap as that is never good in this hobby, just some things seem over priced for what they are. I can prob use 2 wp-60 wave makers or get 4 wp-40 and put them on controllers. I Just thought a closed loop was the way to go but I am wrong I guess. I have had my 180 going for 4 yrs and am always learning and will continue to do so. Im picking up my tank this sunday but it will be a month or so before I can start the install as the wife wants the bathroom remodel done first... LOL Thanks for the help.

 

[sfsuphysics]

Well you can make it work with a closed loop, I've seen it done on 300g display tanks in stores, it's just that it takes a lot more electricity (they also had multiple pumps plus a surge tank too). Overall it'll probably cost more to do an effective closed loop than to go with in tank pumps.

IMO, the waving back and forth motion of corals is overrated. Depending upon why they're waving it could actually be a not so good thing, I mean you think about it water movement is the only way they eat and how they get their waste products away from themselves. Imagine peeing in a stream, and then having that stream water come back and splash you in the face... not something you want

 

[Gizmo18405]

I agree with the waste and feeding. I was looking for something like 30 sec one way then 30 sec the other way and so on. I have my current tank set up this way and everybody seems happy. My first Acro frag is even starting to branch out.

 

[Aquatron]

Use an Ocean Motion or a Flowwolf flow diverter with your close loop for back and forth flow. Lots of research threads regarding flow here at RC along with many killer tanks under Large tank builds. The more you know the more you flow
Good Luck!

 

[sfsuphysics]

I agree with the waste and feeding. I was looking for something like 30 sec one way then 30 sec the other way and so on. I have my current tank set up this way and everybody seems happy. My first Acro frag is even starting to branch out.

If that's what you want to do, look into those Diablo,Speedwave, or other DC pumps, use 2 of them hooked up to 2-3 outlets each, one for each direction. While they don't have oscillation timers built in, Reef Angel I believe makes a cable that allows you to hook it up to their controller (and you can modify it to work with any number of other aquarium controllers), then you can get the back and forth timing that you want without needing something like an Ocean's Motion.

Downside is if you don't have an aquarium controller that by itself will cost you a pretty penny.

 

[Gizmo18405]

Thanks to all for the input. I guess I will stick to wave maker powerheads and a controller. I just thought a closed loop was the way to go with a long tank.

 

[ca1ore]

IMO, the waving back and forth motion of corals is overrated.

I agree. Plus I have yet to see a tank with a natural sway - it is always too fast! Don't think it is a pump problem, rather tanks are too small preventing a natural propagation. Frequency is always too fast. Consequently I don't try. Random flow suffices.

 

[petere1989]

what about closed loops with a massive pump?

 

[Gizmo18405]

I am going to get 2 wp-60s and prob run them in else mode, atleast that's the plan as of now. I think that should make things random and move a lot of water.

 

[Ldagger]

Just my opinion here, but for a long tank and if you don't want to mess with bulkheads or powerheads, use a large pump, or maybe even a medium sized one and run it over the tank from one end to the other. This ensures the water travels the entire length of the tank. So I am saying to have the plumbing go in via the top/surface on one end and then over the side and run it to the other end over the side. You will have to prime it the first time, but then the water will stay in the pipe unless the water level in the tank drops. If you have a sump the lever should not drop of course etc. Let me know if this does not make sense. Thanks.

 

[Ldagger]

On second thought-
Since there is almost no head for the pump to push against the flow will be strong. so a medium size pump will work fine. A large pump may actually be too much strength. For a large I would give it several outflow pipes to break it up some.

 

[Ldagger]

if you have room you can also sit the pump in a plastic container of correct size and put a bulkhead in the bottom going to a sump. If the pump ever does leak, it will leak back into the tank. Another advantage of having the pump up high.
best of luck.