will my flow rate be okay?
- Thread starter chirojosh
- Start date
Flow from the skimmer doesn't benefit you much, since it's almost always not coming out of the skimmer at angle that's gonna allow you to take full advantage of the flow. Hence I don't count the flow from skimmers.
As for 15-16 times (which effectively you have less than) turnover being to, much, well I start at 20x turnover for any tank, go up from there. Most people will tell you 10x turnover is fine for FO/FOWLR, but personally I find that the extra flow just helps so much more with filtration and oxygenation that I don't see a reason to spend the extra money to get more flow (for your tank this would cost at the most $100 to do - not that much in this hobby). Also, most nuisance algaes have a hard time colonizing in high-flow areas, meaning you won't get hit so hard when the usual algae blooms strike.
As for 15-16 times (which effectively you have less than) turnover being to, much, well I start at 20x turnover for any tank, go up from there. Most people will tell you 10x turnover is fine for FO/FOWLR, but personally I find that the extra flow just helps so much more with filtration and oxygenation that I don't see a reason to spend the extra money to get more flow (for your tank this would cost at the most $100 to do - not that much in this hobby). Also, most nuisance algaes have a hard time colonizing in high-flow areas, meaning you won't get hit so hard when the usual algae blooms strike.
never mind I think Im gping to get those Hydor Koralia powerheads. If I am going to get two which should I get the 3's?
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15955&inm=1&N=2004+22788+2035
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=15955&inm=1&N=2004+22788+2035
If you'll stick with FOWLER #3s should be fine. If you think there is a possibility you'll go reef in the forseeable future bump up to the #4s
I would just go ahead and get the 4's. It's only an extra $20 now vs. $120 later on to switch to the 4s. That extra $20 will get you pretty much set flow-wise for anything you would want to do with the tank.
By the way, this is where I'll be ordering them from.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18553/si2346562/cl0/hydorkoralia41200gph
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18553/si2346562/cl0/hydorkoralia41200gph
