Question on the return flow.

SirReefer · 10/24/2011, 08:01 AM

I currently have a 75g tank with a 950gph return pump attached to pvc and a ball valve. My question is at night time should I slow down the return flow or keep it steady ? Just wondering, not aure if this affects the fish in any way.. Thanks

PCFisher66 · 10/24/2011, 08:54 AM

I would keep it on, if you want to reduce the flow in the tank at night you can put one of your power heads on a timer, if you have multiple ones. Fiddleing with a ball vavle every night and then remembering turn it back the next morning would get to be a hassle in my opinion. Also, it wouldn't be that great on your pump.

bnumair · 10/24/2011, 09:59 AM

leave the return as is. power head u can put on timer.

SirReefer · 10/24/2011, 11:21 AM

Ok sounds good thanks. Funny you mention that fisher I find myself forgetting to open tje valve all the way some mornings. Ill just let it be and put powerheads on timer thanks guys.

billdogg · 10/24/2011, 11:25 AM

I leave all my pumps on all the time. IME/IMO, it is at least as important at night to have good circulation as it is during the day.

SirReefer · 10/24/2011, 12:59 PM

Makes sense, I was just worried for the fish, didnt want the flow to disturb them. Mainly my clowns, they sleep vertically on my overflow. Wrasse and tang usually hide between rocks and stuff.

Ron Reefman · 10/24/2011, 01:30 PM

How much 'total' flow do you have in the tank? The 950gph is at the bottom of the range for flow in a 75g tank. I run 2800gph from the pump in my sump and 2400gph with a CL. I shut the CL down a few nights a week, but I still have good flow from the sump.

Dustin1300 · 10/24/2011, 01:51 PM

950 is not a bad flow for the return on a 75 gallon and was exactly what I had with one. I also had about 4400 GPH with powerheads but don't include the return in calculations of the DTs flow.

pulit · 10/24/2011, 01:54 PM

on my 60 cube i have a tunze controllable pump . it runs a 40% at night witch is about 250gph and during the day it rampsup to 85 % witch is about 450 gph . i like a slow flow threw my fuge as it seems to keep my water quality alil more stable .

SirReefer · 10/24/2011, 01:54 PM

Well 950 return with about 3ft headloss. And in powerheads I have one 750 and one 1050..

pulit · 10/24/2011, 01:56 PM

950gph on a 75 sounds alil high to me . i try to replicate the ocean calming down at night . let the fish sleep LOL

SirReefer · 10/24/2011, 01:57 PM

So does flow at night interupt the fish from resting at all then? , cause I thought I had alot of flow but apparently not..

SirReefer · 10/24/2011, 02:04 PM

Well normally 950 is when the ball valve is open but I find myself constantly lowering it at night and the next day increasing it. Thats y im wondering if I should do this or just keep it steady and theyll get used to it. I dont want my fish cranky with bags under their eyes like due to lack of sleep me hehe..

Dustin1300 · 10/24/2011, 02:06 PM

With your returns and powerheads that is 36.67 Xs the DTs volume moving. I typically don't include the return gph in the calculations and that would only come out to 24. I'd recommend adding another 1000 GPH PH to the mix honestly. No reason to worry about dialing back the tank right now

10/24/2011, 08:01 AM	#1
SirReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Miami Posts: 707	Question on the return flow. I currently have a 75g tank with a 950gph return pump attached to pvc and a ball valve. My question is at night time should I slow down the return flow or keep it steady ? Just wondering, not aure if this affects the fish in any way.. Thanks

10/24/2011, 08:54 AM	#2
PCFisher66 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 138	I would keep it on, if you want to reduce the flow in the tank at night you can put one of your power heads on a timer, if you have multiple ones. Fiddleing with a ball vavle every night and then remembering turn it back the next morning would get to be a hassle in my opinion. Also, it wouldn't be that great on your pump. __________________ Tod Florida, where we skip the crappy seasons!! Current Tank Info: 75gal w/29gal sump

10/24/2011, 09:59 AM	#3
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	leave the return as is. power head u can put on timer. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

10/24/2011, 11:25 AM	#5
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	I leave all my pumps on all the time. IME/IMO, it is at least as important at night to have good circulation as it is during the day. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

10/24/2011, 01:30 PM	#7
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	How much 'total' flow do you have in the tank? The 950gph is at the bottom of the range for flow in a 75g tank. I run 2800gph from the pump in my sump and 2400gph with a CL. I shut the CL down a few nights a week, but I still have good flow from the sump. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/24/2011, 11:21 AM	#4
SirReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Miami Posts: 707	Ok sounds good thanks. Funny you mention that fisher I find myself forgetting to open tje valve all the way some mornings. Ill just let it be and put powerheads on timer thanks guys.

10/24/2011, 12:59 PM	#6
SirReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Miami Posts: 707	Makes sense, I was just worried for the fish, didnt want the flow to disturb them. Mainly my clowns, they sleep vertically on my overflow. Wrasse and tang usually hide between rocks and stuff.

10/24/2011, 01:51 PM	#8
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	950 is not a bad flow for the return on a 75 gallon and was exactly what I had with one. I also had about 4400 GPH with powerheads but don't include the return in calculations of the DTs flow. __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

10/24/2011, 01:54 PM	#9
pulit Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: new jersey Posts: 123	on my 60 cube i have a tunze controllable pump . it runs a 40% at night witch is about 250gph and during the day it rampsup to 85 % witch is about 450 gph . i like a slow flow threw my fuge as it seems to keep my water quality alil more stable .

10/24/2011, 01:56 PM	#11
pulit Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: new jersey Posts: 123	950gph on a 75 sounds alil high to me . i try to replicate the ocean calming down at night . let the fish sleep LOL

10/24/2011, 01:57 PM	#12
SirReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Miami Posts: 707	So does flow at night interupt the fish from resting at all then? , cause I thought I had alot of flow but apparently not..

10/24/2011, 02:04 PM	#13
SirReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Miami Posts: 707	Well normally 950 is when the ball valve is open but I find myself constantly lowering it at night and the next day increasing it. Thats y im wondering if I should do this or just keep it steady and theyll get used to it. I dont want my fish cranky with bags under their eyes like due to lack of sleep me hehe.. Last edited by SirReefer; 10/24/2011 at 02:04 PM. Reason: .

10/24/2011, 02:06 PM	#14
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	With your returns and powerheads that is 36.67 Xs the DTs volume moving. I typically don't include the return gph in the calculations and that would only come out to 24. I'd recommend adding another 1000 GPH PH to the mix honestly. No reason to worry about dialing back the tank right now __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

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