Flow Direction (Single direction better?)

vegaskid11 · 04/29/2009, 10:29 AM

I have a 300 gallon display that recently had a seam burst and now I have repaired the seam and am refilling as we speak. yay

I have decided now to go barebottom (in the house only of course...lol) and am using some HDPE for the tank bottom)

The tank is 96 x 30 x 24 with a single overflow at one end. The overflow is the full width (30") of the tank. I have 3 returns 1" on sea swirls spaced across the back of the tank. One in each corner and one in the middle.

Previously I had my 3 tunze 6100s all in different spots. One on the overflow wall facing in, one on the opposite end facing in and one on the rear facing diagonaly towards the overflow.

I am thinking of putting all 3 tunzes on the rear wall spaced in a large triangle and all pointing towards the overflow. So I would have all of the main water flow going in ONE direction towards the overflow. My sea swirls would of course provide a little bit of multi directional current. Also, I will have my multi controller hooked up to the tunzes.

What are any thoughts on this? Is single directional flow a good or bad idea or does it even matter. Thanks

Logzor · 04/29/2009, 10:34 AM

I think if you have the flow colliding you will have more random flow. Although, you may be able to create a really nice wave effect with the controller and all the tunze on one side. I think you should experiment with that idea and tell us how it turned out!

graveyardworm · 04/29/2009, 06:48 PM

Consider that the pumps are also gonna have to pull water back towards them so will still get some random flow areas where the water has to get around LR and corals. I have no personal experience with an 8 foot tank or how Tunze's perform in one, but I would be thinking that water flow might not reach the other end with much ummph due to the draw back. The pumps need to pull as much water back as they push out.

vegaskid11 · 04/30/2009, 12:31 AM

Thats what I was thinking as well, but then since I have a mixed reef I wonder if it would work to my advantage then to have my sps at the mid and far end while I have lps and softies near the overflow end getting the slower current.

hmm. I guess it cant hurt to try it out. I just bought one more magnet today so now all three pumps will be easily moveable.

johnanddawn · 04/30/2009, 05:14 AM

i'm currently doing/planning something similar on a much different shaped tank however (36" square). i will have over 10,000 gph of PH's on the bottom back all facing the front. three tunzes will point directly under the rock and 2 maximods flow unobstructed along the side walls.
The idea of course is that the pumps work together to move the entire voume of water in a circle (gyre). my system creates an upwelling along the front glass that moves along the top to the overflow and back glass
i am waiting on the third tunze and controler cables for the tunzes because as an after thought i decided to interupt them instead of just leave them open full blast and can't wait to see the effect.

i think that you should put the pumps down low on the over flow side so that it draws in from the water that is returning to the pumps

i like the effect i an already getting on my tank and know it will be even better when completed but do not know if this will work on an 8 foot tank - i'm not sure you will get the push all the way across the tank - worth a try though

04/29/2009, 10:29 AM	#1
vegaskid11 vegasreefers.com Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 742	Flow Direction (Single direction better?) I have a 300 gallon display that recently had a seam burst and now I have repaired the seam and am refilling as we speak. yay I have decided now to go barebottom (in the house only of course...lol) and am using some HDPE for the tank bottom) The tank is 96 x 30 x 24 with a single overflow at one end. The overflow is the full width (30") of the tank. I have 3 returns 1" on sea swirls spaced across the back of the tank. One in each corner and one in the middle. Previously I had my 3 tunze 6100s all in different spots. One on the overflow wall facing in, one on the opposite end facing in and one on the rear facing diagonaly towards the overflow. I am thinking of putting all 3 tunzes on the rear wall spaced in a large triangle and all pointing towards the overflow. So I would have all of the main water flow going in ONE direction towards the overflow. My sea swirls would of course provide a little bit of multi directional current. Also, I will have my multi controller hooked up to the tunzes. What are any thoughts on this? Is single directional flow a good or bad idea or does it even matter. Thanks

04/29/2009, 06:48 PM	#3
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	Consider that the pumps are also gonna have to pull water back towards them so will still get some random flow areas where the water has to get around LR and corals. I have no personal experience with an 8 foot tank or how Tunze's perform in one, but I would be thinking that water flow might not reach the other end with much ummph due to the draw back. The pumps need to pull as much water back as they push out. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

04/30/2009, 05:14 AM	#5
johnanddawn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 733	i'm currently doing/planning something similar on a much different shaped tank however (36" square). i will have over 10,000 gph of PH's on the bottom back all facing the front. three tunzes will point directly under the rock and 2 maximods flow unobstructed along the side walls. The idea of course is that the pumps work together to move the entire voume of water in a circle (gyre). my system creates an upwelling along the front glass that moves along the top to the overflow and back glass i am waiting on the third tunze and controler cables for the tunzes because as an after thought i decided to interupt them instead of just leave them open full blast and can't wait to see the effect. i think that you should put the pumps down low on the over flow side so that it draws in from the water that is returning to the pumps i like the effect i an already getting on my tank and know it will be even better when completed but do not know if this will work on an 8 foot tank - i'm not sure you will get the push all the way across the tank - worth a try though Last edited by johnanddawn; 04/30/2009 at 05:39 AM.

04/29/2009, 10:34 AM	#2
Logzor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kenwood, Ohio Posts: 4,073	I think if you have the flow colliding you will have more random flow. Although, you may be able to create a really nice wave effect with the controller and all the tunze on one side. I think you should experiment with that idea and tell us how it turned out!

04/30/2009, 12:31 AM	#4
vegaskid11 vegasreefers.com Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 742	Thats what I was thinking as well, but then since I have a mixed reef I wonder if it would work to my advantage then to have my sps at the mid and far end while I have lps and softies near the overflow end getting the slower current. hmm. I guess it cant hurt to try it out. I just bought one more magnet today so now all three pumps will be easily moveable.