power head placement

nazgul1979 · 11/03/2013, 08:18 PM

Any advice I can get for my 72 gallon bowfront would be appreciated. Currently I have 2 x 1250 gph power heads placed on both sides of the tank. One is toward the top facing the center-ish of the front glass and pointed slightly down, the other is halfway down the left side facing center-ish of the front glass and pointed slightly down.
Is this enough flow? Will this configuration generate some nice random flow?

oscarinw · 11/03/2013, 08:25 PM

It depends a large deal on your rockwork. This could be great or not enough as well as too much.
One general advice is to direct at least one of your powerheads to the water surface as this will create strong agitation and proper gas exchange i.e. oxygenation of your tank.
You can also point one towards the back and one towards the front which will generate a 'circular' pattern which might help avoid dead spots but certainly creates a 1-way type of flow which some people don't like...
Your best bet is to use your judgement and see how your livestock likes it better.
What seems obvious to me is that you have enough flow for your fishtank. Maybe even a bit on the high side so be careful with LPS not taking a direct hit of your flow. Now I'm rambling as I don't even know if you have corals...
Good luck anyway!

SpartaReef · 11/03/2013, 08:30 PM

Generally in the tank is best....

;-) do you have an overflow? If so where? Point one toward the surface and toward the overflow, then point one at the front center straight on... Or get a wavemaker... I love my jebao wp25.

I use the wp and one 1400gph power head and its almost too much for the tank at only 75% power

Reef Frog · 11/03/2013, 09:25 PM

I would assume the front bow would divert water in a different way than a flat pane of glass. This could be an advantage.

Sometimes when I dose the ALK in 2 part, I will use a small pipette to dispense it in many different areas. That way I can get an idea of flow direction and speed by watching the brief white cloud. It's very useful for identifying dead or slow spots.

Rilelen · 11/04/2013, 11:23 PM

I have a 72 bowfront as well and 2x1500 gph powerheads. Honestly I think it's a bit overkill for the tank (and the poor clownfish look pathetic when they try to swim in it!) so I currently have the powerheads deflecting off the surface and the front glass in a way that creates a variety of higher and lower flow zones in the tank...the lower flow areas are in easy to access locations where I can easily vacuum up any detritus that accumulates. I've moved things around several times and will probably keep tinkering as the tank evolves but for now all the inhabitants seem happy! I originally had the powerheads set up to create a gyre, which was awesome for flow but not so awesome for poor little clowns that insist on hosting the upper right corner of the tank...

11/03/2013, 08:18 PM	#1
nazgul1979 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Riverview, FL Posts: 92	power head placement Any advice I can get for my 72 gallon bowfront would be appreciated. Currently I have 2 x 1250 gph power heads placed on both sides of the tank. One is toward the top facing the center-ish of the front glass and pointed slightly down, the other is halfway down the left side facing center-ish of the front glass and pointed slightly down. Is this enough flow? Will this configuration generate some nice random flow?

11/04/2013, 11:23 PM	#5
Rilelen Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Virginia Posts: 245	I have a 72 bowfront as well and 2x1500 gph powerheads. Honestly I think it's a bit overkill for the tank (and the poor clownfish look pathetic when they try to swim in it!) so I currently have the powerheads deflecting off the surface and the front glass in a way that creates a variety of higher and lower flow zones in the tank...the lower flow areas are in easy to access locations where I can easily vacuum up any detritus that accumulates. I've moved things around several times and will probably keep tinkering as the tank evolves but for now all the inhabitants seem happy! I originally had the powerheads set up to create a gyre, which was awesome for flow but not so awesome for poor little clowns that insist on hosting the upper right corner of the tank... __________________ 72g: Percula pair, Foxface, Kole tang, Midas Blenny, Blue/green chromis, Yellow & green clown goby pairs Office Nano Tank System (29 Gallon + 20 Gallon): Saltwater mollies + fry

11/03/2013, 08:25 PM	#2
oscarinw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Western Massachusetts Posts: 1,091	It depends a large deal on your rockwork. This could be great or not enough as well as too much. One general advice is to direct at least one of your powerheads to the water surface as this will create strong agitation and proper gas exchange i.e. oxygenation of your tank. You can also point one towards the back and one towards the front which will generate a 'circular' pattern which might help avoid dead spots but certainly creates a 1-way type of flow which some people don't like... Your best bet is to use your judgement and see how your livestock likes it better. What seems obvious to me is that you have enough flow for your fishtank. Maybe even a bit on the high side so be careful with LPS not taking a direct hit of your flow. Now I'm rambling as I don't even know if you have corals... Good luck anyway!

11/03/2013, 08:30 PM	#3
SpartaReef Registered Member. Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Sparta, Wisconsin Posts: 783	Generally in the tank is best.... ;-) do you have an overflow? If so where? Point one toward the surface and toward the overflow, then point one at the front center straight on... Or get a wavemaker... I love my jebao wp25. I use the wp and one 1400gph power head and its almost too much for the tank at only 75% power

11/03/2013, 09:25 PM	#4
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	I would assume the front bow would divert water in a different way than a flat pane of glass. This could be an advantage. Sometimes when I dose the ALK in 2 part, I will use a small pipette to dispense it in many different areas. That way I can get an idea of flow direction and speed by watching the brief white cloud. It's very useful for identifying dead or slow spots.