What do you think of this circulation?

[Drewcipher]

We have a brand new 225. It is 72x30x24. There are 2 overflows each with 2 drains and 1 return. Also, there are 3 holes for a closed loop. My plan is to have the closed loop and the return from the sump be the same pump. This way if there is a failure I can have a spare pump to replace it with. I am leaning towards using Sequence pumps. I was wondering if you think I will get enough flow using 2 darts? I will be just over 5 feet of head pressure, so the pumps should be pushing about 1800gph each. Each overflow return will be aimed via an elbow, diagonally down towards the center bottom of the tank. The closed loop has 1 intake and 2 returns. Each return will be split in 2. One of each will be aimed towards the front corners of the tank and the other 2 will point straight forward. Lastly, I will have 4 Tunze 6000s on a multi controller.
If I ask this question in any other forum I would get all the responses saying more more more for when you want to upgrade to SPS. Well I am here to say I consider SPS to be a downgrade Anyway, think the darts with the Tunze is sufficient, not enough, or too much?

 

[lemonhead]

sounds good to me and i agree about the sps. to me lps is the most demanding.

 

[David Grigor]

If this is an LPS dominate tank, I would say what your proposing is more than enough. Me personally thinks its way overkill for a non SPS dominate tank. Tunze alone should be enough without the closed loop or vice-versa. I'm not a fan SPS or LPS to push that kind of flow through the sump. I would aim more toward keeping the circulation in the show tank and less taxing on the overflows. IMO: Overflows should be just enough flow to keep skimmer feed and flow across the heater. Anything around 1000gph +/- should be plenty.

 

[Drewcipher]

The problem is finding a good, energy efficient, and reliable pump smaller than the dart. I am ok with more than enough, but not too much. Also, the big reason for the Tunzes is the multicontroller, so they won't all be on at one time. They will also be tied into a UPS so that in case of power out I will have movement for as long as possible.

 

[blange3]

I agree with David on keeping more of the flow in the tank and not routed through the sump.

I haven't had the privilege of owning that large a tank and having that much flow, but it sounds to me like you'll be running those Tunze's at less than 100% most of the time. I would think 2 would be enough.

I'm with you on the LPS! I'll have some SPS someday, but right now I'm setting up a 75 gallon LPS dominated as my main tank.

 

[Drewcipher]

I contacted Roger at Tunze, and he liked the idea of 4, since even though they all won't be throttled up at once, they are only good for up to about 4 feet of length. We got a 6 foot tank and want to be able to aim in the 4 directions with varying speeds so that we have some chaotic movement.

I am just refining my thought process here and understand the point about flow through the sump, but do you have a better idea for a good, reliable pump to use. I prefer it to be the same type as the closed loop pump, but it isnt an absolute necessity.

I also, really don't want to do this and realize I have too little flow.
What do you think of using the Darts as planned, but putting a valve on them to restrict the flow if needed? Anyone do this with a Dart? Or do I need to go to a more beefy pump?

 

[David Grigor]

In my honest opinion, without you stating that this is an LPS tank, what you describe would be just fine for an Acropora dominate tank. I'm sure it will work but IMO, pretty overkill.

When I had 300g 8' long SPS dominate tank I have 4 Tunze Strams and a 2000gph return pump. What your proposing is about equal or even a little more than I had for that application.

On my 125g LPS tank just for comparison, I've got a 500gph return pump and two small MJ 900 powerheads hidden in the overflows ( 193gph each ) that alternate on a wavemaker. That's it, creates just enought flow to get movement from the corals and things couldn't be better. Most LPS Corals prefer the gentle waving.

I had a Mak4 pump as a return which comes in around 1000-1200gph and on a watt meter runs 108W. It's going to be tough to find a pump more effecient than that and IMO really all you need. Let the Tunze do the rest. There are no real price breaks on the Streams. Get 2 now, if it doesn't meet your needs you can always add the additional 2 later.

That's what I would do but obiviously your choice.

 

[JenDub]

I'd go with a dart for the return & 2 tunzes for the ups. We have a dart & 1 6080 for ups on our 60X30X17tall tank and it is A LOT of flow for lps (that dart moves some serious water!!!). The tunzes move a ton of water and are huge so less is more with them. No offense to the Tunze rep but I'd recommend lots of pumps too if I was selling them

~Charles~

 

[Drewcipher]

Thanks for the replies. Sorry David, it will be an LPS dominant tank with some clams. Ok, so a Gen-X pump? Was the Mak4 on your 125 lps or the 300 sps? Why is it there no longer?

Good advice. I will start with 2 Tunzes and then see. David, do you think a Mak4 on the closed loop and the return is a better idea? Or Mak4 on the loop and something smaller on the return(maybe a mag or something)? Or, to bring Charles into the mix, a dart on the loop, and a small pump on the return?

Can the Gen-X pumps be run with a valve so I can throttle it back if necessary? Ack, I thought once we designed the tank it was over, then the skimmer choice, then the sump building, now plumbing...Where does it end??? J/k I am having a ball putting all this together.