Help with Powerhead Placement

Patow · 04/29/2009, 12:14 PM

I'm not happy with the current placement of my powerheads as they are creating a sand ditch in the middle of my tank where I can now literally see the bottom glass. I'm also getting some detritus build-up in certain areas of the tank as the flow isn't nicely dispersed across the whole sandbed. Corals seems happy, but I'm not.

I'm hoping a few of you can help me with better powerhead placement arrangements to keep my sand a little "flatter" and more evenly dispersed?

I'm currently running one Tunze 6060 on the back of the tank rated at 1600gph, and 2 x Koralia 4 rated at 1200gph each at opposite ends of the tank, giving me a total of 4000gph in my 90 gallon display (approx 44x turnover).

Here is the current FTS:

Eventually I'll be getting 2 x Vortech MP40s and putting them at opposite ends of the tank, but that's not happening for a while, so I need to make these pumps work in the interim.

All suggestions are welcome!

Thanks,

Dave

small alien · 04/29/2009, 12:59 PM

Well, when you look at other people's tanks, you rarely see power heads so close to the sand. They tend to be up near the top which helps agitate the water surface for better gas exchange and also gets them more out of your main field of vision. Also, try banking the flow off a wall of the aquarium at an angle (like a pool shot). This will help disperse the power of the flow. Good luck.

Fizz71 · 04/29/2009, 01:06 PM

Although I agree with small alien that most people don't have them near the sand, from the looks of it your Tunze on the back is the problem, not the ones on the side. It looks like it's so close to the front glass that is reflecting down and back.

I would put it maybe a little higher and more to its left (our right) and aim it up and to the right (our left). That way it still hits the glass for random flow, ripples the surface for air exchance, and doesn't deflect so much water straight down.

PAZE · 04/29/2009, 03:34 PM

You just need the surface water to break to allow gas exchange, I have mine up top pointed down towards the corners, I fine the corners is where most dead spots are. Take those front covers off your pumps you'll have that water going all over the place. You'll have a bigger fan of water.

04/29/2009, 12:14 PM	#1
Patow Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 181	Help with Powerhead Placement I'm not happy with the current placement of my powerheads as they are creating a sand ditch in the middle of my tank where I can now literally see the bottom glass. I'm also getting some detritus build-up in certain areas of the tank as the flow isn't nicely dispersed across the whole sandbed. Corals seems happy, but I'm not. I'm hoping a few of you can help me with better powerhead placement arrangements to keep my sand a little "flatter" and more evenly dispersed? I'm currently running one Tunze 6060 on the back of the tank rated at 1600gph, and 2 x Koralia 4 rated at 1200gph each at opposite ends of the tank, giving me a total of 4000gph in my 90 gallon display (approx 44x turnover). Here is the current FTS: Eventually I'll be getting 2 x Vortech MP40s and putting them at opposite ends of the tank, but that's not happening for a while, so I need to make these pumps work in the interim. All suggestions are welcome! Thanks, Dave

04/29/2009, 12:59 PM	#2
small alien The fungus is among us. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Earth Posts: 3,884	Well, when you look at other people's tanks, you rarely see power heads so close to the sand. They tend to be up near the top which helps agitate the water surface for better gas exchange and also gets them more out of your main field of vision. Also, try banking the flow off a wall of the aquarium at an angle (like a pool shot). This will help disperse the power of the flow. Good luck. __________________ This moment is all we have. Current Tank Info: 75 mixed reef. F OSFF, Clingfish, M/F Leopards, M Mandy, Darwin Clown, Bullet Goby, Green Clown Goby, M/F Matted Files, Bluestripe Pipe, Tailspot Blenny, Canary Wrasse, Royal Gramma, Papua Toby Puffer, Snooty Maori Wrasse.

04/29/2009, 01:06 PM	#3
Fizz71 FragSwapper Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Lawn, PA Posts: 5,800	Although I agree with small alien that most people don't have them near the sand, from the looks of it your Tunze on the back is the problem, not the ones on the side. It looks like it's so close to the front glass that is reflecting down and back. I would put it maybe a little higher and more to its left (our right) and aim it up and to the right (our left). That way it still hits the glass for random flow, ripples the surface for air exchance, and doesn't deflect so much water straight down. __________________ --Fizz Current Tank Info: Current system is 8x2x2 240g peninsula setup with a single "chamber" 100g sump in the basement with an RDSB. All corals are 100% home grown from frags of fellow reefers (low natural reef impact).

04/29/2009, 03:34 PM	#4
PAZE Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 224	You just need the surface water to break to allow gas exchange, I have mine up top pointed down towards the corners, I fine the corners is where most dead spots are. Take those front covers off your pumps you'll have that water going all over the place. You'll have a bigger fan of water. __________________ Paul