What to do for a 50gallon cube????

[rpgraff]

I've been researching multiple powerheads with wavemakers, SCWD's and the new devices that are being talked about a lot on reefcentral. I have always seen alot of positive if not sometimes fevered comments about tunze streams so I decided to check out their web site.

Something occured to me while I looked at the pumps and the controllers........will running a single stream pump with the single controller give me enough flexiblity with water movement? it sure would simplify things with the setup and bedsides with a 24" cube tank and simuliarly sized stand there is only so much space for plumbing anyway.

So I have a few questions.......would a single 6060 pump be appropriate for a 24"cube tank? And if not what would be recommended?

How sensitive is the photosensor, would a couple of LED moon lights keep it from tripping the controller into night mode?

How exactly does the wave simulation work with a single pump and controller? From what I read on the Tunze site, you set a minimum and maximum pump output then a pulse time? what variations are there?

 

[rvitko]

In that size tank the Stream is too much. Further, only pumps labeled "Electronic" can be controlled- these are the 7100/2-7400/2 and the 6000 and 6100. 6060 cannot be controlled or used on a wavemaker. One 7300/2 or 7400/2 with a single controller would give you all the flow you need for this tank. Positioned in one corner you would get a swirling effect and with the pulsing it would add sufficient randomness. The controller allows you to set a high flow and a low flow and 1-7 seconds between these flow patterns. The photocell would be senitive enough to detect the moonlight, I am fairly scertain you could shield it or install it in such a way it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[rpgraff]

Thanks, I didn't catch the "Electronic" label...that makes sense. So you think a Stream 6000 would be to much the tank.....thats a shame, I like the design, visually and how it operates. The 7300 and 7400 series powerheads just have that typical powerhead look I don't want in the tank.

Oh well, back the drawing board.

 

[rpgraff]

The controller allows you to set a high flow and a low flow and 1-7 seconds between these flow patterns.

What is the range of the low flow and high flow settings? Couldn't I just throttle down a stream 6000 to use in a 24" cube tank?

 

[rvitko]

You could try this but despite the looks the 7300/2 and 7400/2 are far from typical powerheads and would give a better result. The turbulence is the result of a slow pulse of water colliding with a fast pulse of water so turning the pumps down defeats the purpose. The outlets on the powerheads are 1" and have a very low shearing force and produce an excellent pattern. I particularly like the ability to extend the intake to the bottom and form a T to sweep the water from under my rock work. The lowest flow setting is 30% of power, the highest is 100%. The Streams are tricky, from a 2" nozzle a low volume has no force to move water, imagine hooking a fire hose to your water faucet. The water would just bubble out the end.

 

[rpgraff]

Ok, I'll put some more thought to this then.......do you have a drawing with dimensions for the 7300/2? The tank hasn't been built yet so I'm thinking I might be able to incorporate it into the design of the over flow somehow (false extension maybe)...it would help if I knew how big they were.

So if I understand this right, the 7300/2 with the timer shoots out a slow pulse of water and then "slams" a fast pulse into that to create the turbulance....is that correct? Just want to make sure I have the concept correct.

One of the reasons the Streams are so popular is their ability to cut down the shear on corals.........You don't think I will have a problem with that with a 7300/2?

 

[rvitko]

1800gph through 2" nozzle is about the same as 800gph througha 1" nozzle in terms of shearing force. We have always worked to create a minimal shearing force as it was one of our founding principals- that and energy efficiency. I wouldn't try to incorporate it into anything, this sounds like trouble in the works. It is the same motor as a Stream uses and outside of the strainer it is no larger.

You have the concept correct. The exact dimensions are 3.9 by 3.9 by 4.1". The Strainer is 1" diameter and 7" long. My personal preference is to buy an extension pipe, a T piece and another strainer and place my intake at the bottom behind the rock and the powerhead right below the surface. This maximizes gas exchange and flow.

 

[JG1]

Roger,

Do the extension pipe, T piece, and stariner only come in the green color? Thats kind of whats holding me back from going with these. Black would be good. But green....yuk.

 

[rvitko]

It is all green, that has been the standard since Eheim came on the market so many years ago. Coralline covers it all in short time anyway.

 

[JG1]

True.

Ok, so I have a 30g cube (20.5"x18.5"x20.5"). So you would recommend one 7100/2 with controller and extension tube so it draws the water from behind the LR. Right?

Where would you recommend putting the pump on the back of the tank, and pointing it where?

 

[rvitko]

The 7100/2 is really more of a return pump than a powerhead. I would get the 7200/2 or 7300/2. The choice just depends how much flow you want. I would place it in one back corner and you will get a swirling effect if you aim it to the front corner.

 

[joedelt]

fwiw, i have 2 7400/2 on a multi controller. im still waiting for my tank to get here, but im planning on just using those 2 along with my returns for a bare bottom w/ liverock SPS reef.

/john