What does everybody use for flow in their tank?

octopus737

New member
Looking for what people use and like. I use a mp 40 in my 60 cube. Not all that impressed. I feel that i need another pump to help with my dead spots. Right now i am looking for ideas.
 
How high do you have it turned up? I have 2 MP40s on my 60x36x18. I may look into 2 MP10s or 1 more MP40. I like a lot of flow but 1 40 in a 2x2x2 should be plenty or is your scape not "flow friendly?"
 
Not flow friendly. It seems like the random flow almost cancels its self out. IDK. was thinking a random high flow powerhead may help my dead spots.
 
Also, how high do you have it positioned? I assume it's on a side not the back, which could also prove to be a solution. Have you moved the pump to different locations? Just throwing some suggestions out there.
 
Research "gyre flow".

I use 3 MP40s in my 200. No dead spots because it's set up as a gyre. The direct, laminar flow blasts a few spots. Gyres get the whole body of water moving. Doesn't look like theres as much flow, but believe me, the tank will respond.
 
I tried 1 mp40w in my 90 and wasn't happy with the result. I reverted back to using 2 modded tunze 6025's. They're lower profile than the koralias, completely silent, and can get up to 1200GPH. They cost about $50 per powerhead these days and use 7 watts of power.
 
I use 2 Irwaki 70's in a closed loop and an ocean motion in my 300. It's costly but it's not easy to move 300G of water ;-)
 
I have a 90 gallon tank and run 2 eductors off my OR6500 return pump and at the moment am also running the JBJ ocean streams pumps with the controller. They run opposite for 45 seconds each. Just guessing but around 2800 gph of flow
 
Looking for what people use and like. I use a mp 40 in my 60 cube. Not all that impressed. I feel that i need another pump to help with my dead spots. Right now i am looking for ideas.
looking for other ideas? How about repositioning your MP40 or using a different setting? Do you have water flow happening from returns in addition to your MP40?

What setting are you running the MP40 on?
 
fwiw

fwiw

I'm running two eductor capped returns plus one MP60 on my 220 SPS reef aquarium. Main pump is an Iwaki100. Water surface rocks and the bottom is moving. Must... have... flow
 
Gary, What setting are you using on your MP60 ?
I believe it's something like 2 minutes full power down to two minutes slowest speed. The MP60 works opposing the water returns. Video really doesn't show what's going on but those that have seen it know what happens in my aquarium is unique. I have water returns along the top inside of the aquarium drilled for anti siphon. These holes also create their own turbulance plus every once in awhile they create a vortex of bubbles that gets injected into the aquarium. If nothing else... it's all very entertaining even without fishes or corals.

flow from my MP40 hits the siphon break hole in my water return and WHOOSHH!

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a large rock was removed (where Foxface is in this pic) in order to make Junior's cave larger
 
Research "gyre flow".

I use 3 MP40s in my 200. No dead spots because it's set up as a gyre. The direct, laminar flow blasts a few spots. Gyres get the whole body of water moving. Doesn't look like theres as much flow, but believe me, the tank will respond.

So basically, you set up your returns and power heads to create a circular "vortex" motion within the display? Kind of like when you have a few people in a pool and they all start moving around the perimeter in the same direction creating a whirlpool effect. Interesting. Does this work in a rectagular tank as well?
 
I too, have gone the gyre route. I have 2 MP60s on either end of the tank. My two return lines are on either end too. The MP60 and return opposite my overflow (external on a short side) are 1/3 down from the water level. The MP60 and return on the overflow side are 2/3s down from the water level. The MP60s are antisynched and really get water column moving!
 
So with a Gyre type flow you are looking for more of a top to bottom circlular motion or a around the perimeter type flow like I mentioned earlier?
 
That was my goal. My thought is with the top to bottom circular motion, detritus may have a better shot at staying in suspension and going into the overflow. Either way, getting the whole water column moving is a good thing, and as long as that is happening, you probably can't go wrong.
 
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