some thoughts w/pics

gopens · 11/20/2006, 05:04 PM

well i have a 80 gallon bow front. recently i had to break it down completly (another story). when i had it up and running the first time, i noticed my flow was kinda weak. i was only running about 900 pgh from my return. well i am still only running that return, but yesterday i added some powerheads. three to be exact. they are the maxi-jet 1200. they are rated at 295 gph each. i have them on a wave power strip that turns them on and off in order. i didn't want to really have powerheads in my tank, but they actually don't look to bad. my lfs dude said it would work awesome. and it onlt ran me about 100 bucks. the pics didn't really come out great. the pics make the powerheads look huge. but there pretty nice. any thoughts. thanks

ACBlinky · 11/20/2006, 05:50 PM

MaxiJets are good pumps IME, but don't move an awful lot of water. I have a Mag 950 return on my 90g (moving about 600gph after head loss and dialing it back a bit) with a Seio 820 and Seio 1500. The Seios move 820 and 1500gph, and all three together provide fairly decent flow in my tank. I'm not sure 3 MJ 1200s with your return will give you as much flow as you're looking for, but if they don't you could research modding your pumps (check out www.mjmods.com for instructions). A modded MJ is VERY powerful, there's quite a bit of information about this in the DIY forum.

kamla · 11/20/2006, 05:55 PM

80 gals..... or 72...
LOL
i have a 72 bow front...
AC is right you might want to look @ MJ mods..
There is really long DY thread about them..
I cannot search... but some could post a link...

GL

gopens · 11/20/2006, 06:03 PM

it is an 80 gallon. i forget the company. but they made an 80. i had somebody else ask me if it was a 72. i think the name of the company is marine land or something along those line. i was going to use the seios, but i was told that you could not have them turn on and off with a wave maker type machine. with the 3 power heads and my return pump, i should be pushing around 1700 gph. which is a little over 20x turn over. i thought that 20x turn over was good. or am i figuring the turn over wrong. i am new to this. so i could be wrong

itZme · 11/20/2006, 06:05 PM

My friend has 4 MJ1200s on a 55g and it seems like just enough flow. I would think you are on the low end of the spectrum as far as flow. If you look into something called the "hacksaw mod" or the "nozzle mod" on maxi-jets you will find that a simple 5 minute modification will at least DOUBLE the flow of those 3 pumps.

Basically all you have to do is cut the round, tubular output nozzle on the MJ off with a hacksaw or Dremel. I cut mine down so that the round tube part was totally gone and it flows WAY more. There is another added benefit that the flow doesn't come out at 90 degrees from the pump anymore and when the wavemaker turns it on if the MJ spins the opposite direction the flow comes out at another angle adding to your random flow.

I have a 4mb video from my old 29g tank showing how it alternates the dirction of flow. I would just say to NOT cut off too much the first time as you can go back and cut more later. The more you cut off the farther apart the angle of flow will be when the pump reverses. Mine is just about 90 degrees apart. Just check out the video, it should explain.

http://www.thegeekhost.com/itzme3/wavemaker.mpg

HTH
-- Kevin

gopens · 11/20/2006, 06:16 PM

it is an 80 gallon. i forget the company. but they made an 80. i had somebody else ask me if it was a 72. i think the name of the company is marine land or something along those line. i was going to use the seios, but i was told that you could not have them turn on and off with a wave maker type machine. with the 3 power heads and my return pump, i should be pushing around 1700 gph. which is a little over 20x turn over. i thought that 20x turn over was good. or am i figuring the turn over wrong. i am new to this. so i could be wrong

gopens · 11/20/2006, 06:16 PM

it is an 80 gallon. i forget the company. but they made an 80. i had somebody else ask me if it was a 72. i think the name of the company is marine land or something along those line. i was going to use the seios, but i was told that you could not have them turn on and off with a wave maker type machine. with the 3 power heads and my return pump, i should be pushing around 1700 gph. which is a little over 20x turn over. i thought that 20x turn over was good. or am i figuring the turn over wrong. i am new to this. so i could be wrong

NaH2Ofreak · 11/20/2006, 06:19 PM

Well, I guess I'm the exception here, I think it will work fine for now. It also depends on what you wanna keep and also how you lay your rock out. If it were me, I would try and angle my return to blow down behind the back wall of the tank. This way the back would be covered and the MJ's could handle the rest.

Now, if you were doing all SPS right away, then that would be a different story. IMO.

Dennis

PS: The MJ's look pretty good in your tank. Im really not a fan of powerheads either but, that looks nice.

gopens · 11/20/2006, 06:29 PM

thanks nah2ofreak. what is a good turn over rate.

Harville · 11/20/2006, 07:09 PM

gopens,

I think what you got looks good. Keep doing what your doing unless it's going to an sps tank.

IMO Rock structure has a lot do do wth the water flow. Lots of people have a crazy amount of flow that's still not enough because they've stacked ther rocks like a brick wall against the back of the glass.

Keep plenty of open space around your rocks so to minmize "deadspots" and I really think you'll be ok for now. Youll probably want more later though. Depending on what you want to keep.

For a mixed reef, I think you've got th right idea. Just build your rock structure carefully.

Good luck

gopens · 11/20/2006, 07:30 PM

thanks harville. but what is a good turn over rate..

11/20/2006, 05:04 PM	#1
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	some thoughts w/pics well i have a 80 gallon bow front. recently i had to break it down completly (another story). when i had it up and running the first time, i noticed my flow was kinda weak. i was only running about 900 pgh from my return. well i am still only running that return, but yesterday i added some powerheads. three to be exact. they are the maxi-jet 1200. they are rated at 295 gph each. i have them on a wave power strip that turns them on and off in order. i didn't want to really have powerheads in my tank, but they actually don't look to bad. my lfs dude said it would work awesome. and it onlt ran me about 100 bucks. the pics didn't really come out great. the pics make the powerheads look huge. but there pretty nice. any thoughts. thanks

11/20/2006, 05:50 PM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	MaxiJets are good pumps IME, but don't move an awful lot of water. I have a Mag 950 return on my 90g (moving about 600gph after head loss and dialing it back a bit) with a Seio 820 and Seio 1500. The Seios move 820 and 1500gph, and all three together provide fairly decent flow in my tank. I'm not sure 3 MJ 1200s with your return will give you as much flow as you're looking for, but if they don't you could research modding your pumps (check out www.mjmods.com for instructions). A modded MJ is VERY powerful, there's quite a bit of information about this in the DIY forum. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

11/20/2006, 05:55 PM	#3
kamla Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NJ Posts: 489	80 gals..... or 72... LOL i have a 72 bow front... AC is right you might want to look @ MJ mods.. There is really long DY thread about them.. I cannot search... but some could post a link... GL

11/20/2006, 06:03 PM	#4
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	it is an 80 gallon. i forget the company. but they made an 80. i had somebody else ask me if it was a 72. i think the name of the company is marine land or something along those line. i was going to use the seios, but i was told that you could not have them turn on and off with a wave maker type machine. with the 3 power heads and my return pump, i should be pushing around 1700 gph. which is a little over 20x turn over. i thought that 20x turn over was good. or am i figuring the turn over wrong. i am new to this. so i could be wrong

11/20/2006, 06:05 PM	#5
itZme Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: High Springs, FL Posts: 2,944	My friend has 4 MJ1200s on a 55g and it seems like just enough flow. I would think you are on the low end of the spectrum as far as flow. If you look into something called the "hacksaw mod" or the "nozzle mod" on maxi-jets you will find that a simple 5 minute modification will at least DOUBLE the flow of those 3 pumps. Basically all you have to do is cut the round, tubular output nozzle on the MJ off with a hacksaw or Dremel. I cut mine down so that the round tube part was totally gone and it flows WAY more. There is another added benefit that the flow doesn't come out at 90 degrees from the pump anymore and when the wavemaker turns it on if the MJ spins the opposite direction the flow comes out at another angle adding to your random flow. I have a 4mb video from my old 29g tank showing how it alternates the dirction of flow. I would just say to NOT cut off too much the first time as you can go back and cut more later. The more you cut off the farther apart the angle of flow will be when the pump reverses. Mine is just about 90 degrees apart. Just check out the video, it should explain. http://www.thegeekhost.com/itzme3/wavemaker.mpg HTH -- Kevin

11/20/2006, 06:16 PM	#6
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	it is an 80 gallon. i forget the company. but they made an 80. i had somebody else ask me if it was a 72. i think the name of the company is marine land or something along those line. i was going to use the seios, but i was told that you could not have them turn on and off with a wave maker type machine. with the 3 power heads and my return pump, i should be pushing around 1700 gph. which is a little over 20x turn over. i thought that 20x turn over was good. or am i figuring the turn over wrong. i am new to this. so i could be wrong

11/20/2006, 06:19 PM	#8
NaH2Ofreak Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,468	Well, I guess I'm the exception here, I think it will work fine for now. It also depends on what you wanna keep and also how you lay your rock out. If it were me, I would try and angle my return to blow down behind the back wall of the tank. This way the back would be covered and the MJ's could handle the rest. Now, if you were doing all SPS right away, then that would be a different story. IMO. Dennis PS: The MJ's look pretty good in your tank. Im really not a fan of powerheads either but, that looks nice.

11/20/2006, 06:29 PM	#9
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	thanks nah2ofreak. what is a good turn over rate.

11/20/2006, 07:09 PM	#10
Harville Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 320	gopens, I think what you got looks good. Keep doing what your doing unless it's going to an sps tank. IMO Rock structure has a lot do do wth the water flow. Lots of people have a crazy amount of flow that's still not enough because they've stacked ther rocks like a brick wall against the back of the glass. Keep plenty of open space around your rocks so to minmize "deadspots" and I really think you'll be ok for now. Youll probably want more later though. Depending on what you want to keep. For a mixed reef, I think you've got th right idea. Just build your rock structure carefully. Good luck

11/20/2006, 07:30 PM	#11
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	thanks harville. but what is a good turn over rate..