Will This Work In a 55 Gallon Reef?

cm11599ps · 09/28/2010, 10:05 PM

I don't have a wavemaker but I have a special chase bar from when I used to DJ. There are 8 separate outlets broken up into 2 zones. That means there's a zone A and a zone B and each zone has 4 outlets.

So Zone A has outlets 1,2,3,4
And zone B has outlets 5,6,7,8

So here's what I was thinking of doing. Getting 6 smaller powerheads, about 450 GPH each and placing them around the tank.

I would plug a powerhead into 1,2,3 & 4 and then program them to run for a 3 minutes or so each. 1,2,3 & 4 would all run for the same amount of time. They would always cycle on and off as 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 etc.......

I would then plug the same size powerheads into 5 & 6 and do the same thing and have them run 5,6,5,6,5,6 etc...... While 5 & 6 have to run for the same time period, they can still be run for a completely different time period as 1,2,3,4. 5 & 6 would run for2 minutes let's say.

So when all is said and done I'd be looking at a completely random cycle.

When I fire them up #1 will run for 3 minutes and #5 for 2 minutes.

After 2 minutes #5 would shut off and # 6 would fire. #1 still running.

A minute later #1 would shut off and #2 would fire and #6 is still running.

A minute later #6 would shut off and #5 would fire with #2 still running.

and on and on and on...... It would be a completely different flow every few minutes. #5 could come on at any time that 1,2,3 or 4 comes on and probably is on for a 1 and a 2 or a 2 and a 3 or a 4 and a 1 cycle. Same could be said for #6

How does this sound? I'd also be adding a sump for more flow as well. I'm still new at all this but I'm assuming I'd be at about 1,100 GPH since there are 2 450GPH powerheads on at any time and I figure 300 GPH from my sump return. That puts me at about 20 turnover rate. When the time comes and I upgrade my lighting to get sps I can change the cycle a bit to have more heads on at the same time.

Your thoughts?

Jarret · 09/29/2010, 01:06 AM

I think it's a little bit excessive especially on a 55 gallon tank. 55 gallons isn't very big and 6 powerheads would take up quite a bit of space. Plus, you'd have to look at them each time you looked at the tank.

I'd go with less powerheads at a stronger flow rate. Maybe 2-3 rated at 750gph or so. What do you plan on keeping in the tank anyways to constitute this many powerheads? Do you want to do SPS?

Also, the more powerheads you have the greater the chance of something go wrong.

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09/28/2010, 10:05 PM	#1
cm11599ps Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Port Jefferson Station, NY Posts: 1,413	Will This Work In a 55 Gallon Reef? I don't have a wavemaker but I have a special chase bar from when I used to DJ. There are 8 separate outlets broken up into 2 zones. That means there's a zone A and a zone B and each zone has 4 outlets. So Zone A has outlets 1,2,3,4 And zone B has outlets 5,6,7,8 So here's what I was thinking of doing. Getting 6 smaller powerheads, about 450 GPH each and placing them around the tank. I would plug a powerhead into 1,2,3 & 4 and then program them to run for a 3 minutes or so each. 1,2,3 & 4 would all run for the same amount of time. They would always cycle on and off as 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 etc....... I would then plug the same size powerheads into 5 & 6 and do the same thing and have them run 5,6,5,6,5,6 etc...... While 5 & 6 have to run for the same time period, they can still be run for a completely different time period as 1,2,3,4. 5 & 6 would run for2 minutes let's say. So when all is said and done I'd be looking at a completely random cycle. When I fire them up #1 will run for 3 minutes and #5 for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes #5 would shut off and # 6 would fire. #1 still running. A minute later #1 would shut off and #2 would fire and #6 is still running. A minute later #6 would shut off and #5 would fire with #2 still running. and on and on and on...... It would be a completely different flow every few minutes. #5 could come on at any time that 1,2,3 or 4 comes on and probably is on for a 1 and a 2 or a 2 and a 3 or a 4 and a 1 cycle. Same could be said for #6 How does this sound? I'd also be adding a sump for more flow as well. I'm still new at all this but I'm assuming I'd be at about 1,100 GPH since there are 2 450GPH powerheads on at any time and I figure 300 GPH from my sump return. That puts me at about 20 turnover rate. When the time comes and I upgrade my lighting to get sps I can change the cycle a bit to have more heads on at the same time. Your thoughts? __________________ LIRA Member Current Tank - 55 gallon. Custom CLF1 sump, fuge, overflow & SVS2-24 skimmer from Lifereef. 4x54 Watt AquaticLife T5 HO Light Fixture W/ 4 Lunar LEDs. 2 EcoTech MP40's, 70lbs assorted

09/29/2010, 01:06 AM	#2
Jarret Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 108	I think it's a little bit excessive especially on a 55 gallon tank. 55 gallons isn't very big and 6 powerheads would take up quite a bit of space. Plus, you'd have to look at them each time you looked at the tank. I'd go with less powerheads at a stronger flow rate. Maybe 2-3 rated at 750gph or so. What do you plan on keeping in the tank anyways to constitute this many powerheads? Do you want to do SPS? Also, the more powerheads you have the greater the chance of something go wrong.