Flow on a 110 Gallon Reef Tank

tdkarl · 03/08/2009, 02:28 PM

Hey Gang,
I am upgrading my tank to a 110 from a 75 gallon reef tank. Currently I am running 2 - Koralia 3's and have a rio3100 (900GPH) return pump on the 75 gallon. I am planning to transfer this stuff to the new 110 tank when I swap out. I am trying to figure out what would be the best for flow in the new tank. I have been reading some on closed loops and wondering what my best bet would be on the new tank. I combo of closed loop and the Koralia's 3's? I dont have many corals right other than a bunch of mushrooms. But I want to be able to keep SPS and LPS once I upgrade. I know various corals need various flow but is there a good setup anyone would recomend?
Thanks!

cpllongjk · 03/08/2009, 02:42 PM

shoot for a total flow of 50-75x main tank volume.

for 110gallons it would be 5000gph-7500gph roughly.

tdkarl · 03/08/2009, 02:50 PM

So what's the difference between using a closed loop versus power heads?

GSMguy · 03/08/2009, 03:16 PM

Closed loops are less efficent and need to be carefully planned they also require more maintenance.
Prop pumps like tunze and vortexh are visible in the tank but offer many advantages to a closed loop.

cpllongjk · 03/08/2009, 03:16 PM

with closed loop youre using 1 big pump. with powerheads you have them in the display. Personally I prefer the powerheads because if you need flow in a certain area you can move the powerhead.

What are the dimensions of the tank youre getting?

tdkarl · 03/08/2009, 03:18 PM

48"x18"x30"

Rouselb · 03/08/2009, 03:20 PM

50-75x would be for an SPS dominate tank. It really depends on what type of corals you have. If you have softies and LPS in general they you can run with 20-30x. Another huge factor that most overlook is your rock work. This really hurts most people. You have to layout the rock work to aid in flow. Dont just pile it all up against the glass with no holes and caves. You should sketch out where the rocks are going to be placed, where the Ph are going to be placed. And go from there. The main difference between a CL and PH is that a CL draws more power to run. The benefit is that you dont see PHs in the tank. I personally use several PHs. Holes in a tank are always a potential for leaks. I have a 200 gal SPS dominate tank. I use PHs only. No CL and my return pump is only 800 gph. Try to sketch out where the rocks are going to be stacked, where the PH will be mounted to get flow everywhere, what type of PH (vortech, wave box, tunze, Mod Maxi), and try to figure out where you want to place corals. Knowing what corals you are going to have really helps layout a good system.

03/08/2009, 02:28 PM	#1
tdkarl Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 85	Flow on a 110 Gallon Reef Tank Hey Gang, I am upgrading my tank to a 110 from a 75 gallon reef tank. Currently I am running 2 - Koralia 3's and have a rio3100 (900GPH) return pump on the 75 gallon. I am planning to transfer this stuff to the new 110 tank when I swap out. I am trying to figure out what would be the best for flow in the new tank. I have been reading some on closed loops and wondering what my best bet would be on the new tank. I combo of closed loop and the Koralia's 3's? I dont have many corals right other than a bunch of mushrooms. But I want to be able to keep SPS and LPS once I upgrade. I know various corals need various flow but is there a good setup anyone would recomend? Thanks! __________________ Tony K. Jacksonville, Fl. "A reef tank is a hole between two pieces of glass you throw money into." Current Tank Info: 110 gallon mix reef

03/08/2009, 02:50 PM	#3
tdkarl Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 85	So what's the difference between using a closed loop versus power heads? __________________ Tony K. Jacksonville, Fl. "A reef tank is a hole between two pieces of glass you throw money into." Current Tank Info: 110 gallon mix reef

03/08/2009, 03:16 PM	#4
GSMguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northern New Mexico Posts: 17,420	Closed loops are less efficent and need to be carefully planned they also require more maintenance. Prop pumps like tunze and vortexh are visible in the tank but offer many advantages to a closed loop. __________________ Nick. Conehead. Shallow Reef club. Current Tank Info: 48"x27"x14" Envision Acrylic rimless, 6x39w ATi Sunpower, Custom ATB Deluxe Skimmer, 4x tunze nano stream,ATB flowstar 1500, ACJR, Tunze osmolator.

03/08/2009, 03:18 PM	#6
tdkarl Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 85	48"x18"x30" __________________ Tony K. Jacksonville, Fl. "A reef tank is a hole between two pieces of glass you throw money into." Current Tank Info: 110 gallon mix reef

03/08/2009, 03:20 PM	#7
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	50-75x would be for an SPS dominate tank. It really depends on what type of corals you have. If you have softies and LPS in general they you can run with 20-30x. Another huge factor that most overlook is your rock work. This really hurts most people. You have to layout the rock work to aid in flow. Dont just pile it all up against the glass with no holes and caves. You should sketch out where the rocks are going to be placed, where the Ph are going to be placed. And go from there. The main difference between a CL and PH is that a CL draws more power to run. The benefit is that you dont see PHs in the tank. I personally use several PHs. Holes in a tank are always a potential for leaks. I have a 200 gal SPS dominate tank. I use PHs only. No CL and my return pump is only 800 gph. Try to sketch out where the rocks are going to be stacked, where the PH will be mounted to get flow everywhere, what type of PH (vortech, wave box, tunze, Mod Maxi), and try to figure out where you want to place corals. Knowing what corals you are going to have really helps layout a good system. __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

03/08/2009, 02:42 PM	#2
cpllongjk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Modesto, Ca Posts: 1,066	shoot for a total flow of 50-75x main tank volume. for 110gallons it would be 5000gph-7500gph roughly.