Power head or no power head?

atrain5851 · 01/28/2008, 02:15 PM

I got a 14g oceanic biocube set up for a reef i am going to take out the bio balls and cartridge and put in a protein skimmer... my question is should i add another powerhead in addition to the stock return outlet, or is that enough?

dileggi · 01/28/2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by atrain5851
I got a 14g oceanic biocube set up for a reef i am going to take out the bio balls and cartridge and put in a protein skimmer... my question is should i add another powerhead in addition to the stock return outlet, or is that enough?

Hey atrain! General rule of thumb seems to be that your flow should minimally be around 20x's your tank volume.

I have the BC 29 and I added a Koralia1 to mine to increase flow in addition to my sump return.

I don't remember what the flow rate of that return is on the 14 though.

It will also depend on what you plan to keep in there. But, I'm thinking if you even added a koralia nano instead of going up to the koralia1, it could still help keep debris and detrius off of your rocks.

atrain5851 · 01/28/2008, 02:23 PM

thats what i was thinking i dont think more flow would hurt anything i am planning on keeping mostly corals and inverts, a rainford goby and maybe a bicolor blenny. i have a nano koralia that i can switch to the bc.

atrain5851 · 01/28/2008, 02:25 PM

the pump rate is 137gph

dileggi · 01/28/2008, 02:27 PM

If you have one, I would definitely put it in there and see what happens.

When I put the koralia1 in mine, I was afraid of a sandstorm. I get more sandstorming from the return on the sump than I do from the Koralia. I guess it's because the koralia has such a wide flow bert and the sump return does not.

Not that it matters, but looking at the tank from the front, we'll call the side with the return from sump the left side. I put my koralia on the right side glass towards the top of the glass. I use the koralia to "blow" my rocks.

atrain5851 · 01/28/2008, 02:31 PM

so place it at the top blowing down and point the return across the top towards the front would be good?

dileggi · 01/28/2008, 02:33 PM

I'm not 100% sure, as it will vary depending on what you keep in there and where you place those corals. I've adjusted mine several times, but the configuration you mentioned is the exact same way I have mine at now.

atrain5851 · 01/28/2008, 02:53 PM

ok thanks i was also thinking about putting it at the bottom blowing up and across and pointing the return down and across i will try both out and see what works best thanks!

01/28/2008, 02:15 PM	#1
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	Power head or no power head? I got a 14g oceanic biocube set up for a reef i am going to take out the bio balls and cartridge and put in a protein skimmer... my question is should i add another powerhead in addition to the stock return outlet, or is that enough?

01/28/2008, 02:27 PM	#5
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	If you have one, I would definitely put it in there and see what happens. When I put the koralia1 in mine, I was afraid of a sandstorm. I get more sandstorming from the return on the sump than I do from the Koralia. I guess it's because the koralia has such a wide flow bert and the sump return does not. Not that it matters, but looking at the tank from the front, we'll call the side with the return from sump the left side. I put my koralia on the right side glass towards the top of the glass. I use the koralia to "blow" my rocks. __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

01/28/2008, 02:33 PM	#7
dileggi Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: S. Philly PA Posts: 1,171	I'm not 100% sure, as it will vary depending on what you keep in there and where you place those corals. I've adjusted mine several times, but the configuration you mentioned is the exact same way I have mine at now. __________________ Eric "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled, was convincing the world he didn't exist." - Usual Suspects Current Tank Info: 90g w/30g sump; skimmer; 2x175w MH & 2x super white actinic...3g w/.5g fuge 1x150w MH Viper

01/28/2008, 02:23 PM	#3
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	thats what i was thinking i dont think more flow would hurt anything i am planning on keeping mostly corals and inverts, a rainford goby and maybe a bicolor blenny. i have a nano koralia that i can switch to the bc.

01/28/2008, 02:25 PM	#4
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	the pump rate is 137gph

01/28/2008, 02:31 PM	#6
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	so place it at the top blowing down and point the return across the top towards the front would be good?

01/28/2008, 02:53 PM	#8
atrain5851 Moved On Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Schaumburg Posts: 156	ok thanks i was also thinking about putting it at the bottom blowing up and across and pointing the return down and across i will try both out and see what works best thanks!