powerheads and sand

Sundiego · 09/15/2007, 12:09 AM

I have 2 new powerheads. I have tried to re-direct them etc. I have fine argonite, and when the powerheads are turned up some sand is picked up by them.

I am considering putting crushed coral on top of the sand to keep the sand from moving around. Will this be ok?

I also have nassarius snails, and am wondering if I bury them under the crushed coral if they could get out. Will nassarius snails also be able to burrow under the crushed coral into the sand still?

My sand bed is 2-4 inches, and I would put the crushed coral on top about 1 inch thick.

Mark

BangkokMatt · 09/15/2007, 12:24 AM

You can use crushed coral but, IME, it discolours over time and is not that attractive. I had the same problem with my powerheads until I put a Wavysea on the return. Its an expensive option which worked for me.
The snails will get through the coral ok.

tanker · 09/15/2007, 01:14 AM

What kind of PH did you buy?? Why not put them higher?? Or can they be higher??

PS....2-4 inches of sand is a little much (IMO).

Sundiego · 09/15/2007, 01:45 AM

I have 2 vortechs. The flow can be adjusted, but I prefer to run them near max 3000gph each. My return is also rated at 1150gph.

They are at the top of a 2' tank, cant go any higher.

They are awesome powerheads, but create an underflow that disturbes the sand when near max power. The flow is very dispursed too...they just create a ton of flow. I will be going mostly sps so I need the flow.

If I do add crushed coral will the coral stay at the top of the sand?...I think I remember reading that the finer sand will stay at the bottom.

Maybe I can get a more coarse grain sand for the top layer.

Also my tank is about 5 weeks old. Maybe when more bacteria colonize the sand it will become more stable....any thoughts?

Mark

BangkokMatt · 09/15/2007, 03:22 AM

I would turn the PHs down. You have a hell of a lot of flow there which is not good if it is disrupting your bed. SPS will still be fine with less flow. Its much better to ramp them down than start adding coarse sand / crushed coral.
I run a 150g sps tank with way less flow and I still think I have a lot.

kawicivic · 09/15/2007, 03:30 AM

wow if you have a 100g tank.... you have over 71 turnover an hour... you could cut that back quite a bit and be fine

Sundiego · 09/15/2007, 11:27 AM

What's wrong with adding crushed coral to the top layer?

I have no corals in the tank now.

Mark

DB06 · 09/15/2007, 11:50 AM

I have 2 vortechs on a 90 and have experimented moving them around on the sides and back (also have a sand bed similar to yours). Have come to the conclusion, there is no way to run these full throttle without greatly disturbing the sand. I have cut them back and used rock formations to help direct flow patterns. I have great flow in the tank and from time to time open them up briefly to "sweep the dust off." I think they would be great for BB, but in retrospect, not sure sure if we are getting our $$ worth if trying to run a sand bed. Great pumps, just too much flow at full throttle for a deep sand bed.

Caveat to this is of course, a larger tank.

I know of reason you cannot add crushed coral to the top layer, but I suspect even that will be moved around at full throttle (unless you add a lot and then you get into aesthetics).

The sand will become "stickier" over time and less prone to dust storms, but even so, full open is still not an option.

DB

Shooter7 · 09/15/2007, 11:53 AM

Have never had crushed coral myself, but that's because during all my research before setting up a tank, all the advice in here was to avoid using crushed coral because it's larger structure tended to collect and harbor waste, which then sits and breaks down in the bed, releasing nitrates and phosphates into your water and fueling algae. Based upon all these previous comments I've seen, I would advise against it.

Again, as has been mentioned, you have 71x flow in there and it would not be harmful to your tank to turn it down a bit if you can. I have SPS going pretty well in my 120g tank with about 33x turnover. Wouldn't mind having a little more, but my sand is staying in place. I might add some smaller tunzes or something in the future, but the point is, you could easily turn yours back down to the 50 - 60x range and still be great with your flow level and possibly not be moving your sand around.

Sundiego · 09/15/2007, 12:30 PM

Thanks for the replies. I love my Vortechs just wont run them near full throttle.

Just a hair over half power and they start to move the sand. I have moved them numerous times...I guess when you have this much flow you have to deal with this.

I got some crushed coral today but wont use it.

Mark

Aquarist007 · 09/15/2007, 01:25 PM

consider getting a hydor koralina----you get a more turbulent circular flow--not just a straight jet light the powerheads
It makes them easier to place on the side of your tank--but close enough to the bed to get circulation but not a storm.

they are way cheaper then the tunze's

Sundiego · 09/15/2007, 05:07 PM

The Vortechs have great circular flow. There is no straight jet from these at all. But with 3000gph each they create some serious dispursed flow.

I love them I just have to keep then turned down a bit.

Mark

09/15/2007, 12:09 AM	#1
Sundiego Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 221	powerheads and sand I have 2 new powerheads. I have tried to re-direct them etc. I have fine argonite, and when the powerheads are turned up some sand is picked up by them. I am considering putting crushed coral on top of the sand to keep the sand from moving around. Will this be ok? I also have nassarius snails, and am wondering if I bury them under the crushed coral if they could get out. Will nassarius snails also be able to burrow under the crushed coral into the sand still? My sand bed is 2-4 inches, and I would put the crushed coral on top about 1 inch thick. Mark

09/15/2007, 12:24 AM	#2
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	You can use crushed coral but, IME, it discolours over time and is not that attractive. I had the same problem with my powerheads until I put a Wavysea on the return. Its an expensive option which worked for me. The snails will get through the coral ok. __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

09/15/2007, 03:22 AM	#5
BangkokMatt Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Krung Thep Posts: 3,100	I would turn the PHs down. You have a hell of a lot of flow there which is not good if it is disrupting your bed. SPS will still be fine with less flow. Its much better to ramp them down than start adding coarse sand / crushed coral. I run a 150g sps tank with way less flow and I still think I have a lot. __________________ I've spent a lot of money on booze, women and fish. The rest I just squandered. Current Tank Info: 150g sps Reef (now FOWLR after a devastating crash due to chiller) , 2x400w MH (Icecap ballast, Lumenmax 2, Reeflux 12k SE), Deltec AP701, Grotech Tec III, Chiller, 2 x Tunze 6101, 1 x 6205 (+ m/c), bla bla

09/15/2007, 11:53 AM	#9
Shooter7 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Tolono, IL Posts: 6,754	Have never had crushed coral myself, but that's because during all my research before setting up a tank, all the advice in here was to avoid using crushed coral because it's larger structure tended to collect and harbor waste, which then sits and breaks down in the bed, releasing nitrates and phosphates into your water and fueling algae. Based upon all these previous comments I've seen, I would advise against it. Again, as has been mentioned, you have 71x flow in there and it would not be harmful to your tank to turn it down a bit if you can. I have SPS going pretty well in my 120g tank with about 33x turnover. Wouldn't mind having a little more, but my sand is staying in place. I might add some smaller tunzes or something in the future, but the point is, you could easily turn yours back down to the 50 - 60x range and still be great with your flow level and possibly not be moving your sand around. __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: 10 years salty - standard 29g reef - moved from 120 gal reef, 2x250w Reeflux 10k's on ARO electronics and VHO super actinics on Icecap ballast, 2xTunze 6060, MSX 200 skimmer, GEO 612 Ca reactor, mag 12 return

09/15/2007, 01:25 PM	#11
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	consider getting a hydor koralina----you get a more turbulent circular flow--not just a straight jet light the powerheads It makes them easier to place on the side of your tank--but close enough to the bed to get circulation but not a storm. they are way cheaper then the tunze's __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

09/15/2007, 01:14 AM	#3
tanker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: sf bay area Posts: 3,522	What kind of PH did you buy?? Why not put them higher?? Or can they be higher?? PS....2-4 inches of sand is a little much (IMO).

09/15/2007, 01:45 AM	#4
Sundiego Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 221	I have 2 vortechs. The flow can be adjusted, but I prefer to run them near max 3000gph each. My return is also rated at 1150gph. They are at the top of a 2' tank, cant go any higher. They are awesome powerheads, but create an underflow that disturbes the sand when near max power. The flow is very dispursed too...they just create a ton of flow. I will be going mostly sps so I need the flow. If I do add crushed coral will the coral stay at the top of the sand?...I think I remember reading that the finer sand will stay at the bottom. Maybe I can get a more coarse grain sand for the top layer. Also my tank is about 5 weeks old. Maybe when more bacteria colonize the sand it will become more stable....any thoughts? Mark

09/15/2007, 03:30 AM	#6
kawicivic Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Rockford Posts: 2,316	wow if you have a 100g tank.... you have over 71 turnover an hour... you could cut that back quite a bit and be fine

09/15/2007, 11:27 AM	#7
Sundiego Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 221	What's wrong with adding crushed coral to the top layer? I have no corals in the tank now. Mark

09/15/2007, 11:50 AM	#8
DB06 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Valrico, FL Posts: 202	I have 2 vortechs on a 90 and have experimented moving them around on the sides and back (also have a sand bed similar to yours). Have come to the conclusion, there is no way to run these full throttle without greatly disturbing the sand. I have cut them back and used rock formations to help direct flow patterns. I have great flow in the tank and from time to time open them up briefly to "sweep the dust off." I think they would be great for BB, but in retrospect, not sure sure if we are getting our $$ worth if trying to run a sand bed. Great pumps, just too much flow at full throttle for a deep sand bed. Caveat to this is of course, a larger tank. I know of reason you cannot add crushed coral to the top layer, but I suspect even that will be moved around at full throttle (unless you add a lot and then you get into aesthetics). The sand will become "stickier" over time and less prone to dust storms, but even so, full open is still not an option. DB

09/15/2007, 12:30 PM	#10
Sundiego Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 221	Thanks for the replies. I love my Vortechs just wont run them near full throttle. Just a hair over half power and they start to move the sand. I have moved them numerous times...I guess when you have this much flow you have to deal with this. I got some crushed coral today but wont use it. Mark

09/15/2007, 05:07 PM	#12
Sundiego Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 221	The Vortechs have great circular flow. There is no straight jet from these at all. But with 3000gph each they create some serious dispursed flow. I love them I just have to keep then turned down a bit. Mark