Flow in your tank

Why are you counting powerheads in your turnover? Shouldn't it just be filters?

Also planted tanks usually have lower turnover rates, often by a large amount.

Im running about 10 X an hour in my 55. 2 - maxi jet 600 power sponges 1 - Rio ( came with my CPR BakPak ) and an old HOB filter..looks like an old Second Nature. I have so much water movement that my fish dont have to swim..they just catcha a current and ride for free

I try to keep a 9-10x turnover rate in all my aquariums.

Are those flow rates accurate though?

The rated flow rate for most filters is rated without media inside it. Once you put media in the filter the actual flow rate is almost cut in half. For instance, a Filstar XP3 is rated at 350 gph, but it actually only flows 187gph when it is packed with media.


My rated flow has a turnover of about 9x, but I'm actually only getting a turnover of about 5x.

chefkeith, thats a nice point of a sump since flow is determined by the return pump, any media placed in the sump or overflow does not change the flow rate of the system. Take the return pump size and remove the head value and any other flow restrictions and you've got your flow regardless of media.

Other than for reference, the numbers mean very little, as was already mentioned,flow varies based on head pressure, media restrictions in some filters, ect. in addition to that, in situations like an RFUG, there is high volume flowing through a high surface area which creates very little felt current in the tank.
In my 115g I have an RFUG with four 300 gph powerheads for a total of 1200 gph. I also Have an emp 400 and an AC 500 on that tank for an additional rated 900 gph. With sponges in front of the hob outputs, and intake sponges on everything the really is very little water movement by my standards (plants just barely wave in the current, and don't do so constantly) but I have roughly 19 X turnover per hour If I consider the rated outputs of my filters and powerheads.
My 15g and 10 g are similar in set-ups, and both come in between 18- 20 x turnover. The guppy tank is home to a lot of plants and a lot of fry, and there isn't enough current to bother or endanger either one.

Agree w/most of the above - calculated flow based on powerhead, pump, and filter rating have little to do with reality. All of my tanks are multi-filtered, such that many have "nominal" flows/turnover which seems quite high, while in reality most have fairly gentle currents.

Perhaps you guys should also comment on the clarity of the water. Considering that is the objective, not just a mine is bigger than yours game. I know that sounds real smart arse and thats not how I mean it. So, are all your tanks algea free?

Colt

mine is nice and clear

i have a AquaClear 20 on a 10 gallon tank

the water turns over 10 times every hour, my water is nice adn clear.!