Alternating turbulance and powerhead questions.

SquidHC · 04/10/2007, 11:50 PM

Alright so Im completely redoing my 75g and I was VERY unhappy with my old flow setup. I got screwed on the tank and was running 2 crappy Rio 2100+ that I paid like 90 bucks each for. Anyway now that I got that out...

I want to move about 750 GPH out of 2 powerheads (assuming 10x flow just for water movement is good?) However I really would like to consider an alternating current system so in this case I would need a powerhead with the following capabilities.
a. 750GPH+ each powerhead
b. A powerhead that can handle being switched off and on all day every day and still have a good life span.
c. The smaller the better. Big bulky powerheads look like crap.

Also, do you feel that 10x water volume movement is good. Mind this is on top of a 600gph HOB skimmer return.

How do you deal with flow through all of your rock work to keep it from getting stagnant? I would typicaly put the powerhead at the top rear of the tank and aim the outlet forward and slightly towards the center of the tank. This makes the water crash off the front and creates good left to right flow of the water but doesnt force alot of water through the back of the rock work.

SquidHC · 04/11/2007, 12:22 AM

Had a few people tell me to look into Tunze powerheads so I did. Man the smallest one they make pushes like 1,100gph. Isnt this an insane amount of flow in a smaller tank like mine?

aquarius77 · 04/11/2007, 04:26 AM

Thats not insane at all, i have almost 900 gph of flow in a 20g high.

you can have upwards of 50x the volume of the display worth of flow depending on what you want to keep.

SquidHC · 04/11/2007, 08:42 AM

I intend to keep mainly softies/zoas/some SPS

04/10/2007, 11:50 PM	#1
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	Alternating turbulance and powerhead questions. Alright so Im completely redoing my 75g and I was VERY unhappy with my old flow setup. I got screwed on the tank and was running 2 crappy Rio 2100+ that I paid like 90 bucks each for. Anyway now that I got that out... I want to move about 750 GPH out of 2 powerheads (assuming 10x flow just for water movement is good?) However I really would like to consider an alternating current system so in this case I would need a powerhead with the following capabilities. a. 750GPH+ each powerhead b. A powerhead that can handle being switched off and on all day every day and still have a good life span. c. The smaller the better. Big bulky powerheads look like crap. Also, do you feel that 10x water volume movement is good. Mind this is on top of a 600gph HOB skimmer return. How do you deal with flow through all of your rock work to keep it from getting stagnant? I would typicaly put the powerhead at the top rear of the tank and aim the outlet forward and slightly towards the center of the tank. This makes the water crash off the front and creates good left to right flow of the water but doesnt force alot of water through the back of the rock work. __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

04/11/2007, 12:22 AM	#2
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	Had a few people tell me to look into Tunze powerheads so I did. Man the smallest one they make pushes like 1,100gph. Isnt this an insane amount of flow in a smaller tank like mine? __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

04/11/2007, 08:42 AM	#4
SquidHC Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon, USA Posts: 840	I intend to keep mainly softies/zoas/some SPS __________________ We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. Current Tank Info: 30x30 cube under construction!

04/11/2007, 04:26 AM	#3
aquarius77 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Highland, Il Posts: 2,198	Thats not insane at all, i have almost 900 gph of flow in a 20g high. you can have upwards of 50x the volume of the display worth of flow depending on what you want to keep.