Starting a 72 Gallon bowfront circulation help

Aresangel · 06/28/2015, 07:25 PM

Hello Everyone, I am starting a 72 bowfront for my house (I have had a 25 gallon Fish and Corals tank going for about 6 months). I am looking on advice on a few things. First here is what I am getting

I am purchasing a Reefbrite LED 48" XHO bar (possibly an additional actinic blue bar for highlights and night viewing) (same as on my 25 gallon)

I am planning on going canister filter (either aquatop or JBJ) The return on the canister is 290 or 390 gph so that is one water flow...

I will be buying a RO/DI unit definitely.

So I guess I am looking for ideas on what I will need for water flow. How many GPH blowers, and more than one? Or is one fine? Also what has worked for people with direction of flow. I have seen a lot of people with two blowers that are opposing each other as opposed to blowing on two separate locations.

Also if there is anything else that people may suggest with reasons on why I need it I will take all suggestions into consideration.

I plan on having SPS LPS and Softies, as well as fish and inverts so everything.

Sk8r · 06/28/2015, 09:12 PM

Depends on your main pump and your outflow. I run some 2000 plus gph in a 105, from the basement, and that means I could do without auxiliary circulation, but I also have a very deep tank, so I use it, but aim at the surface to aid gas exchange. The more chaotic you can make the flow the better, for moving things about, avoiding dead spots, and keeping your fish and corals happy in the inability of one pig to get all the food.

Aresangel · 06/29/2015, 07:11 AM

Thank you Sk8r,

So would you suggest 2 850's in conjunction with the return pump? I had planed on shooting the return somewhat up to push surface tension (and to float the food a bit longer before it settles to the ground)

Should the two circulation pumps be off set to create a whirl pool type motion that is what I was originally thinking. Also is there a good way to test for flow/dead spots in a tank?

06/28/2015, 07:25 PM	#1
Aresangel Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Leominster MA Posts: 62	Starting a 72 Gallon bowfront circulation help Hello Everyone, I am starting a 72 bowfront for my house (I have had a 25 gallon Fish and Corals tank going for about 6 months). I am looking on advice on a few things. First here is what I am getting I am purchasing a Reefbrite LED 48" XHO bar (possibly an additional actinic blue bar for highlights and night viewing) (same as on my 25 gallon) I am planning on going canister filter (either aquatop or JBJ) The return on the canister is 290 or 390 gph so that is one water flow... I will be buying a RO/DI unit definitely. So I guess I am looking for ideas on what I will need for water flow. How many GPH blowers, and more than one? Or is one fine? Also what has worked for people with direction of flow. I have seen a lot of people with two blowers that are opposing each other as opposed to blowing on two separate locations. Also if there is anything else that people may suggest with reasons on why I need it I will take all suggestions into consideration. I plan on having SPS LPS and Softies, as well as fish and inverts so everything.

06/28/2015, 09:12 PM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Depends on your main pump and your outflow. I run some 2000 plus gph in a 105, from the basement, and that means I could do without auxiliary circulation, but I also have a very deep tank, so I use it, but aim at the surface to aid gas exchange. The more chaotic you can make the flow the better, for moving things about, avoiding dead spots, and keeping your fish and corals happy in the inability of one pig to get all the food. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/29/2015, 07:11 AM	#3
Aresangel Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Leominster MA Posts: 62	Thank you Sk8r, So would you suggest 2 850's in conjunction with the return pump? I had planed on shooting the return somewhat up to push surface tension (and to float the food a bit longer before it settles to the ground) Should the two circulation pumps be off set to create a whirl pool type motion that is what I was originally thinking. Also is there a good way to test for flow/dead spots in a tank?