Powerheads, is there ever too much flow?

[Statman]

My tank is 120 gallons, I dont have the dimensions in front of me but I know its 6 feet long, cant remember the height or depth. Anyway Im for sure getting a Koralia #4 for the left and right sides of the tank. Im also considering put either 1 or 2 #3's (or #2's if a better idea) on the back wall facing the front of the tank.
First, is this too much?
Second, I dont recall ever seening powerheads on the back wall facing the front. Is there a reason for that? Is it not a good idea?

Thanks ;]

 

[Grins]

I've seen it, and I've seen tanks with way more flow than that, but they also tend to be predominately SPS tanks. What are you keeping or wanting to keep?

 

[clown-lover]

I've seen Powerheads on the back wall.. And in quite a few tanks I've looked at. In fact I have one on my back wall as well. But I agree with Grins in that if you are going to have an SPS tank I've heard that they actually do better with the uber increased flow rates.

 

[Robin Alv]

Well gee...I'm beginning to think I have overkill! In a 37 gallon I have two Koralia #3's. Is that too much. The tank is fairly new so I have very few corals in it yet. However, it is basically a soft coral tank with a couple of fish. I have a canister filter and a skimmer also (no sump, etc.) Should I be worried that I have too much "flow?"

 

[BeelzeBob]

WELLLLLLL.

Most common suggestion is 20-40 X watervolume total turnover for a reef.

Now, if you go bare bottem, and wanna go sps, ive heard 40-60 X

then when i did research on the hole zoea-vit thing, they suggest a BB w/ 60-80X's.

i have 37 X in my tank, and im wantin more, but running out of room...

hmmmm, not really much of an answer....

 

[Grins]

Robin, unless you have a coral that really needs low flow I bet you're fine

 

[Statman]

I will be keeping corals, no idea what yet as that wont happen until next year when I can afford to invest in good lighting. I just didnt know if a #4 on either end would give enough flow to such a large area, so I thought a few smaller powerheads on the back wall in the middle would help out.

 

[Robin Alv]

Robin, unless you have a coral that really needs low flow I bet you're fine

Thanks Grins, the other numbers were beyond me. Feelin' safe again.

 

[Amphiprion]

I wouldn't say there are too many people who went overkill. I am an admitted flow freak. I have over 150x turnover, totalling just over 10000 gph in my 75. I have plans on it being 90%+ sps dominated, however.

 

[Ace25]

wow... 150x.. that is A LOT. Of course, can't compete with ocean currents.. but gotta be getting close.

On my 60G it has returns on both ends, each one split with loc-line spray arms as well as a closed loop setup on the back wall with 2 returns. I plan on having 60-70x turnover on that tank.