Question about flow

[DolphinzFan]

So what I have is a 93 gal cube tank. Some fish and CUC. I recently have added some Zoas and Ricordea mushrooms. I currently do not have a powerhead (wavemaker). What I have for flow is a 1800gph pump in my sump that is choked of to allow about 3/4 flow through it. It is branched of to 4 1/2" locklines going different directions in my tank and seams to move water decent sandbed is somewhat smooth where flow is but not stirng up sand at all.

So to my question. I have a 950 gph powerhead. Do I need to add this for proper flow or is what I have enough.

Thanks

[bnumair]

in your case with just 1800 gph from return (if after head loss) then ur at 19 x the flow and it shoul dbe fine in a tank with LR and fish with cuc and softies.
A little while back i wrote a guide for flow in tanks.
from it:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...4#post21679014


Flow inside the Main Tank:

Flow of water inside the main tank matters as to which rate we try to grow a healthy reef. Flow consists of only water inside the main tank. Flow inside refers to capacity of return pump after head loss, closed loops capabilities and power heads used.
All these add up to make the flow inside the reef. Flow should be random not straight. meaning: directing the flow in a way that it either bounces off the walls or smashes against each others waves etc. causing a turbulence rather than a straight line of water wave.
A good estimate to shoot for is as follows:

Combined gallons per hour (gph) in a

Fish only Tank: 5-15 times the volume
Fish with soft corals: 15-20 times
Fish with soft and lps and sps: 20-30 times
Sps dominated: 45 times and up.

for example: 120gal tank with a return pump (mag 12) no close loop 2 maxi jets 1600gph
This tank has 800gph from mag 12 after head loss plus 2x 1600gph=3600
so a total of 4400 gph.

This example Tank is producing 36 times the flow thus putting is suitable for mixed reef maybe pushing few hardy sps corals. in order to get into the sps dominated status this tank will need another source of flow increasing it from 36 time to over 45 times.

[DolphinzFan]

Thanks bnumair. This is some great advise and I will try to make sure I follow your advise. My return pump only has 2 elbows as I tried not to restrain it if I could help it. So sounds like from your advise I will be fine but somewhat on the borderline. I only plan on having Zoas and mushrooms.

Thanks.

[bnumair]

Originally Posted by DolphinzFan

Thanks bnumair. This is some great advise and I will try to make sure I follow your advise. My return pump only has 2 elbows as I tried not to restrain it if I could help it. So sounds like from your advise I will be fine but somewhat on the borderline. I only plan on having Zoas and mushrooms.

Thanks.

your welcome and if your just keeping softies (zoas and mushrooms) then at 19x your well within my guide lines for softies. you wont have to change a thing. But if you decided to keep some LPS then you will need to jump the 20 x mark.
Good Luck and Safe Reefing.