Water Flow/Movement for 150gl DD 36x36 ???

[mssvp]

I'm looking into having the best water flow possible for corals on my new reef tank. Before I look into pumps/water circulators and/or supplies needed... what works and what doesn't?

What equipment produces the best water movement for a tank with dimensions of 36x36x27 (150 gal)?

[krshlln300]

Your best bet would be a vortech, either the mp 10 or the mp 40 they are easily programmed for wave and intermittent flow and cycles and produce a much wider coverage with strong but gentle flow that won't knock your corals off their mounts. As far as returns go, you want to consider if you will be doing a low flow sump with a fuge or just a regular sump. That will determine what size of return pump you would need as far as gph. I am aware you may already know this but it is just in reference to your question about the "Best" flow. Another thing to consider would be your rockwork and the way it is arranged as deadspots may be an issue if it is arranged in contrast to your pumps and circulation.

[krshlln300]

if you need any more help as far as equipment or anything else just shoot me a pm.

[mssvp]

thank you, i'll look into those. I was thinking along the lines of double island rock formation with some bridging in the middle... not sure though, i have to see how it plays out once i set the tank.

[username in use]

An MP10 wont even hold on to that tank with the glass thickness. You will want either multiple MP40's or an MP60. Also, you may want to look into sea-swirls on your returns to provide a little more alternating current.

[mssvp]

thank you... I was reading up on those sea swirls yesterday.

[Sandy Cheeks]

Maybe try fixing a power head on a Seaswirl; I've seen couple tanks with Seaswirls used as rotating devices for pumps.

[mssvp]

Might try that Thx.


mssvp

~~~~~ >((((

[shakar72]

I have 2 vortech mp40s on my 150g 5x2x2 with a iwaki 40rlxt for my return pump.

[mssvp]

Are the vortech's the best or are there others that you have had good results with?

Waveboxes??? Any thoughts


mssvp

><((((•>

[ThaBeast]

I had a tunze wavebox and loved its performance, but hated its footprint (huge) Running the larger tunze streams on a controller will have the same effect with a slightly smaller footprint. I haven't tried the vortechs yet, I have one on order for my new build

[Riblet]

I have 2-mp40's on my 120, and they are moving to my 36x36x18" build. You can't go wrong with a pair.

[Galantra]

I actually have the same tank and had it up and now currently putting it back up right now with some designs for good waterflow. When I had it up I had two vortech on each side and to be honest wasn't all that much flow specially with rock design. So what I did now is in the overflow drilled an extra 1inch drain pipe to give me more flow to the sump to have 2 return lines similar to a standard 150 or 180. So one still the regular within the overflow and a second on the opposite corner connected to a sea-swirl. I will still use the 2 vortechs (MP40) on the back ends I think I will also use the Mp10 on the lower back half of the tank to take care of my dead zones unless I can great something better. With the rock design I have done a Island with flat tables

[autodave]

2 Tunze 6095's would be nice

[mssvp]

Sounds good thank you, i havent decided on rock placement yet, but will probably end up getting 2 mp40's and placing in the back of the tank ... i have to see how the rock layout will be affected once i set it up.

any good sales or online stores out there with good prices on the vortechs ?
im seeing them on ebay for around 405.00 each including shipping bnib.

[Galantra]

buying used seems to be the way to go for now