90 AGA Owners Tell Me Your Flow and Turnover

PatMayo · 03/02/2006, 10:36 PM

I would like to know what flow-turnover you have and how your doing it.

Then maybe I can make some more decisions.

I have 2 ea. Seio 1100's on high. 2 ea. MJ 1200 altenatley on and off on 1 minute cycles, I have a mag 7 return so I think that gives me about 400 gph. (I think)

I calculate I have 3190 GPH or about 35 X turnover. Does that sound right. (granted the mj arent full on all the time so there is a little fudge factor there)

What is your flow and how are you getting it??

Regards,

Pat

landragon · 03/02/2006, 10:47 PM

I have an eheim 1260 at around 580 for my sump return but will turn that down to around 475. And a Dart on closed loop at around 3900GPH. It has a modified impeller and w/ no head pushes 4200. So 4700 gph or so or 52.2 times turnover. But I think this may be too much for most.

PatMayo · 03/02/2006, 11:09 PM

I must be calculating mine wrong. How are you calcualting that number?

Regards,

Pat

landragon · 03/03/2006, 12:25 AM

No you have it right. Mine turns over almost once a minute and yours every two. GPH/volume=turnover. How big is your sump. I have 64 gallons in my display and 35 in my sump so mine is more like 47.4747474747474747etc......... x turnover per hour

Mine is for two other tanks to go inand it seems a bit much for many of them. I got tthe Dart for that very reason as it can be turned back quite a bit through a valve on the pressure side that not only cuts flow safely, but also drops watt draw too! I am already regretting not just saving for 2 Tunzes and a controller as I only got the reef set up in late December and bought the dart in October. I easily could have afforded them. Then I could have put the tank much closer to the wall. As it is now withtthe plumbing for the Dart in the back , it sits about 7" from the wall, but this is ok for the most part as it gave me tons of space under for the Dart and a 55 sump. It is not quite done . Lots of finishing touches needed.

ReefTourist · 03/03/2006, 04:50 AM

PatMayo, I'm in the process of setting up my 90 AGA, and just like you will have 2 SEIO 1100's, plus a Mag9.5 return. So after head pressure I calculate ~30x turnover. I was contemplating 2 MJ's for some wave action as well, but don't want to overdo it.
Do you have a link to some shots of your tank? I'd like to see how the PH's look, and how you aquascaped.

landragon · 03/03/2006, 07:51 AM

Reeftourist. If you want some wave action, plumb your sump return to a s.c.w.d.. It will take care of things nicely, and not add any additional heat or watt draw. I forgot to mention mine is. It is nice because as the current switches, it ripples each side at different times. When I get my halides in today

I hope it causes a dynamic look as the shimmer lines dance from side to side.

PatMayo · 03/03/2006, 09:39 AM

ReefTourist,

Here is the link to my tank. I also have the 2 mj1200 in the tank. I have them on a wavemaker. They blow water to the back of the rock which keeps things moving pretty good.

If you have any questions please feel free to ask here or pm me.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=780206

Regards,

Pat

ApexPredator · 03/03/2006, 11:06 AM

I am running two 1500 seios and a mag 18 for a return on my 90 and I am really starting to wish I had done a close loop too. You can't ever have enough flow. I may add a seio 620 and 820 that I have laying around.

Entropy · 03/03/2006, 11:15 AM

When I had my 90g I was using a Dolphin 1200 pushing about 1000gph from the sump (using both bulkheads as drains in the overflow). I also had a Seio 820 and 620 providing additional flow. So I guess roughly 2440gph. I had the Seio's pointing across the tank perpendicular to the three sump returns so the pattern was slightly random as the two streams crashed into each other.

s10willy · 03/03/2006, 01:21 PM

I run a Mag 9.5 for my return. I use 2 Seio 1500's in the back corners, facing the middle of the front glass. I seemed to be getting a dead spot to the right of the MegaFlow, so I added a Maxijet 900 to the left front corner.

I guess that gives about 4000 gallons per hour, or about 44 X turnover.

I don't like the amount of heat generated by the powerheads, or their appearance in the tank. I am trying to decide whether to go with a Dart on a closed loop, with plumbing headaches since it will be over the back of the tank, or waiting on the new VorTech pumps, which will be a lot more expensive.

PatMayo · 03/03/2006, 01:40 PM

I think I had a dead spot as well to the left of the megaflow. However I moved the MJ1200 to that area and point the flap down a bit. I did the same for the other side, but I put the powerhead all the way on the RS end glass and point it to the back of the rock. There is plenty of room between the rock and the back glass, fish can get back there etc. but it just seemed the thing to do. Once I did this on both sides quite a bit of "stuff" moved into the water column so things definatley got moved around which is good.

I don't really want to do a closed loop thing, especailly since this tank is in the family room and I don't want the headaches either. Is the Vor Tech pumps the new pump that works magnetically with the motor on the outside of the tank? (had it been released yet and is pricing firm?)

Regards,

Pat

s10willy · 03/03/2006, 01:55 PM

You are correct. The VorTech pumps are due out with limited availability this month. I understand they set the MSRP at $345.

If I go the Vortech route, I am curious if just one would be enough for a 90 gallon tank. I know it will pretty much equal the flow I have now, but will it give enough erratic flow? I don't think I will spend the money for two pumps.

reg828 · 03/03/2006, 02:01 PM

for my 75 gallon i have two aquaclear 401 around 400gph. one penguin - 400gph. a seio 1500 and 1100. so i get around 50x flow.

PatMayo · 03/03/2006, 02:05 PM

Is anyone having any problems with your substrate getting blown around? If I get the PH's too deep in the tank they will create some rather nice looking sand dunes and once in a while it will go to glass. I just try to keep them oriented toward the top of the tank. Too close with the Seios and I get a vortex and massive air.

Yikes.

Regards,

Pat

s10willy · 03/03/2006, 02:09 PM

The sand below the Seio intersection point in my tank got blown around a lot even though I point the powerheads a little up. I just put a pretty large green star polyp colony there. No more sand shift from the pumps. My Diamond Goby is responsible for all off the other sand shifts.

Andy O · 03/03/2006, 02:15 PM

I am running an eheim 1262 (900 gph) for my sump return and a closed loop consisting of a Blueline (1270gph) external pump through an oceans motions 4-way.

I definitely get substrate blown around a bit and a ton of wave action on the surface.

thrlride · 03/03/2006, 02:20 PM

I have a panworld 50px-x return pump which probably is only providing 600 to 700 gph after head and then a tunze 6000 and tunze 6100 going full blast. So, 5725 gph or 63x flow.

PatMayo · 03/03/2006, 02:21 PM

Andy O,
Do you have glass tops or open?

Regards,

Pat

reg828 · 03/03/2006, 02:39 PM

I have a bb. its nice because easier to clean i have the sieo 1100 blowing in the very bottom and 1500 opposite side blowing on top, so my water is circulating well. i dont have fish there yet just corals, my fish are in qt for 4 weeks and well see if the fish will like lots of flow. my concep is to blow the bottom so that nothing will settle and will get to the overflow. this is new to me, and i am hoping this setup will help not settle if ich cyst is around, hoping will get blown into the sump with filter floss. now im fallow my tank for 6 or 7 weeks because i had an ich outbreak, took all my sand and went bb. well see how it goes.

PatMayo · 03/03/2006, 02:41 PM

reg828,

I would be very interested in how that works out for you. Keep me posted if you don't mind.

Regards,

Pat

Andy O · 03/03/2006, 03:15 PM

I have an open top with a custom canopy over it.

mogurnda · 03/03/2006, 03:25 PM

My flow:

Mag 9.5 on the return, throttled down (will finally replace with Mag 7 this weekend). Probably about 600 gph with head loss. Output goes to a loc-line Y aiming current behind rockwork.

Pan World 100 PXX (nominal 1270 gph) on a closed loop, with output to an OM Supersquirt. The outlets are set up so that two are open at the same time in the same direction, giving surgy flow. No dead spots that I can find.

The tank is open top, with eggcrate to keep the fish in.

JW Jersey · 03/03/2006, 05:30 PM

I run a mag 9.5 for my return and two tunze 6100's on a multi controller. I still need to get some flow behind my rock work. This is a BB setup.

03/02/2006, 10:36 PM	#1
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	90 AGA Owners Tell Me Your Flow and Turnover I would like to know what flow-turnover you have and how your doing it. Then maybe I can make some more decisions. I have 2 ea. Seio 1100's on high. 2 ea. MJ 1200 altenatley on and off on 1 minute cycles, I have a mag 7 return so I think that gives me about 400 gph. (I think) I calculate I have 3190 GPH or about 35 X turnover. Does that sound right. (granted the mj arent full on all the time so there is a little fudge factor there) What is your flow and how are you getting it?? Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/02/2006, 10:47 PM	#2
landragon Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 892	I have an eheim 1260 at around 580 for my sump return but will turn that down to around 475. And a Dart on closed loop at around 3900GPH. It has a modified impeller and w/ no head pushes 4200. So 4700 gph or so or 52.2 times turnover. But I think this may be too much for most. __________________ "Experience is the only tool we aren't born with." Unknown

03/02/2006, 11:09 PM	#3
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	I must be calculating mine wrong. How are you calcualting that number? Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/03/2006, 12:25 AM	#4
landragon Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 892	No you have it right. Mine turns over almost once a minute and yours every two. GPH/volume=turnover. How big is your sump. I have 64 gallons in my display and 35 in my sump so mine is more like 47.4747474747474747etc......... x turnover per hour Mine is for two other tanks to go inand it seems a bit much for many of them. I got tthe Dart for that very reason as it can be turned back quite a bit through a valve on the pressure side that not only cuts flow safely, but also drops watt draw too! I am already regretting not just saving for 2 Tunzes and a controller as I only got the reef set up in late December and bought the dart in October. I easily could have afforded them. Then I could have put the tank much closer to the wall. As it is now withtthe plumbing for the Dart in the back , it sits about 7" from the wall, but this is ok for the most part as it gave me tons of space under for the Dart and a 55 sump. It is not quite done . Lots of finishing touches needed. __________________ "Experience is the only tool we aren't born with." Unknown

03/03/2006, 07:51 AM	#6
landragon Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 892	Reeftourist. If you want some wave action, plumb your sump return to a s.c.w.d.. It will take care of things nicely, and not add any additional heat or watt draw. I forgot to mention mine is. It is nice because as the current switches, it ripples each side at different times. When I get my halides in today I hope it causes a dynamic look as the shimmer lines dance from side to side. __________________ "Experience is the only tool we aren't born with." Unknown

03/03/2006, 04:50 AM	#5
ReefTourist Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Culpeper, VA Posts: 108	PatMayo, I'm in the process of setting up my 90 AGA, and just like you will have 2 SEIO 1100's, plus a Mag9.5 return. So after head pressure I calculate ~30x turnover. I was contemplating 2 MJ's for some wave action as well, but don't want to overdo it. Do you have a link to some shots of your tank? I'd like to see how the PH's look, and how you aquascaped.

03/03/2006, 09:39 AM	#7
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	ReefTourist, Here is the link to my tank. I also have the 2 mj1200 in the tank. I have them on a wavemaker. They blow water to the back of the rock which keeps things moving pretty good. If you have any questions please feel free to ask here or pm me. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=780206 Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/03/2006, 11:06 AM	#8
ApexPredator Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 101	I am running two 1500 seios and a mag 18 for a return on my 90 and I am really starting to wish I had done a close loop too. You can't ever have enough flow. I may add a seio 620 and 820 that I have laying around.

03/03/2006, 11:15 AM	#9
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	When I had my 90g I was using a Dolphin 1200 pushing about 1000gph from the sump (using both bulkheads as drains in the overflow). I also had a Seio 820 and 620 providing additional flow. So I guess roughly 2440gph. I had the Seio's pointing across the tank perpendicular to the three sump returns so the pattern was slightly random as the two streams crashed into each other. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

03/03/2006, 01:21 PM	#10
s10willy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 404	I run a Mag 9.5 for my return. I use 2 Seio 1500's in the back corners, facing the middle of the front glass. I seemed to be getting a dead spot to the right of the MegaFlow, so I added a Maxijet 900 to the left front corner. I guess that gives about 4000 gallons per hour, or about 44 X turnover. I don't like the amount of heat generated by the powerheads, or their appearance in the tank. I am trying to decide whether to go with a Dart on a closed loop, with plumbing headaches since it will be over the back of the tank, or waiting on the new VorTech pumps, which will be a lot more expensive.

03/03/2006, 01:40 PM	#11
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	I think I had a dead spot as well to the left of the megaflow. However I moved the MJ1200 to that area and point the flap down a bit. I did the same for the other side, but I put the powerhead all the way on the RS end glass and point it to the back of the rock. There is plenty of room between the rock and the back glass, fish can get back there etc. but it just seemed the thing to do. Once I did this on both sides quite a bit of "stuff" moved into the water column so things definatley got moved around which is good. I don't really want to do a closed loop thing, especailly since this tank is in the family room and I don't want the headaches either. Is the Vor Tech pumps the new pump that works magnetically with the motor on the outside of the tank? (had it been released yet and is pricing firm?) Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/03/2006, 01:55 PM	#12
s10willy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 404	You are correct. The VorTech pumps are due out with limited availability this month. I understand they set the MSRP at $345. If I go the Vortech route, I am curious if just one would be enough for a 90 gallon tank. I know it will pretty much equal the flow I have now, but will it give enough erratic flow? I don't think I will spend the money for two pumps.

03/03/2006, 02:01 PM	#13
reg828 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 320	for my 75 gallon i have two aquaclear 401 around 400gph. one penguin - 400gph. a seio 1500 and 1100. so i get around 50x flow.

03/03/2006, 02:05 PM	#14
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Is anyone having any problems with your substrate getting blown around? If I get the PH's too deep in the tank they will create some rather nice looking sand dunes and once in a while it will go to glass. I just try to keep them oriented toward the top of the tank. Too close with the Seios and I get a vortex and massive air. Yikes. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/03/2006, 02:09 PM	#15
s10willy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 404	The sand below the Seio intersection point in my tank got blown around a lot even though I point the powerheads a little up. I just put a pretty large green star polyp colony there. No more sand shift from the pumps. My Diamond Goby is responsible for all off the other sand shifts.

03/03/2006, 02:15 PM	#16
Andy O Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201	I am running an eheim 1262 (900 gph) for my sump return and a closed loop consisting of a Blueline (1270gph) external pump through an oceans motions 4-way. I definitely get substrate blown around a bit and a ton of wave action on the surface.

03/03/2006, 02:20 PM	#17
thrlride Aka lemmywinks Join Date: May 2003 Location: Harrisburg, NC Posts: 8,017	I have a panworld 50px-x return pump which probably is only providing 600 to 700 gph after head and then a tunze 6000 and tunze 6100 going full blast. So, 5725 gph or 63x flow. __________________ Beer Snob Current Tank Info: 210 gallon FOWLR (H&S 200a-1260 , panworld 50px-x, 2x Vortech w/ WWD)

03/03/2006, 02:21 PM	#18
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	Andy O, Do you have glass tops or open? Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/03/2006, 02:39 PM	#19
reg828 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 320	I have a bb. its nice because easier to clean i have the sieo 1100 blowing in the very bottom and 1500 opposite side blowing on top, so my water is circulating well. i dont have fish there yet just corals, my fish are in qt for 4 weeks and well see if the fish will like lots of flow. my concep is to blow the bottom so that nothing will settle and will get to the overflow. this is new to me, and i am hoping this setup will help not settle if ich cyst is around, hoping will get blown into the sump with filter floss. now im fallow my tank for 6 or 7 weeks because i had an ich outbreak, took all my sand and went bb. well see how it goes.

03/03/2006, 02:41 PM	#20
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	reg828, I would be very interested in how that works out for you. Keep me posted if you don't mind. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

03/03/2006, 03:15 PM	#21
Andy O Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201	I have an open top with a custom canopy over it.

03/03/2006, 03:25 PM	#22
mogurnda not a bot Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: DC Posts: 737	My flow: Mag 9.5 on the return, throttled down (will finally replace with Mag 7 this weekend). Probably about 600 gph with head loss. Output goes to a loc-line Y aiming current behind rockwork. Pan World 100 PXX (nominal 1270 gph) on a closed loop, with output to an OM Supersquirt. The outlets are set up so that two are open at the same time in the same direction, giving surgy flow. No dead spots that I can find. The tank is open top, with eggcrate to keep the fish in. __________________ Dave ------ I don't want the world, I just want your half. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon SPS, softy & anemone; multiple tanks for the solar sea slugs.

03/03/2006, 05:30 PM	#23
JW Jersey Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brick, NJ Posts: 217	I run a mag 9.5 for my return and two tunze 6100's on a multi controller. I still need to get some flow behind my rock work. This is a BB setup. __________________ -John- Current Tank Info: 225 gallon is under way, Deltec 702,PF601 CaRx,Duel wavy seas supplied by a dart for return,Two tunze 6100's,3 lumrnarcIII reflectors with ice cap E/ballest's